CHAPTER EIGHT

Bobby – Getting Away

The phone calls became nonstop. I invited the family to 'The Nineteenth Hole' Restaurant on Golf Course Road near the Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. It's 'prime rib night. We all wanted to have freedom from the phone. Rufus, Martha and Le Ann agreed. We felt a little guilty running from the phone, but we were happy to celebrate the great news. Our hearts were filled with gladness.

It was a pleasant relief. Soft music was being played. Several couples were dancing. We had ordered the prime rib special. Le Ann tugged my hand and pulled me to the ballroom floor. She whispered, "I love you." I held her tight.

Several officers I knew and their wives were dining at the restaurant. One after another came over and congratulated us about the good news. Le Ann answered, "Linda." I shook my head and jokingly remarked, "She and Marcy must be related. Martha divulged, "They are. Linda is her niece." Rufus stated, "We cannot get far enough away from home." We all smiled.

At the base the next day George handed me a cigar that had two paper bands around it. One band had 'Girl' on it; the other had 'Boy.' I thanked George for the cigar, even though I do not smoke.

By the beginning of July, the Servicemen's Wives Club had scheduled the exhibition fight for Saturday, September 17, 1960. An article ran in the Air Force Times offering a prize of five thousand dollars for anyone who won. Registration for challengers was two hundred dollars. Spectators could get tickets for a donation of five dollars for adults and two dollars for children under twelve.

Elimination fights would determine the top five who would face me. Elimination bouts began at 9:00 AM on Friday, the day before. By the first of August eighty men had already submitted their non-refundable registration fee. Three thousand adult tickets were purchased.

The base had a large pavilion that could hold five rings set up under the roof. There was a large field in front and behind the structure.

The Air Police (APs) assured us they would work crowd control. Off duty policemen from Urbana and Champaign volunteered to help the APs. Evidently someone had done her homework. I called Marcy and thanked her for her efforts.

Linda might be a snoop like her Aunt Marcy, but she and her aunt were great in organizing this large event. Her aunt was unable to get a sponsor to cover a prize of three thousand dollars. However, she convinced five sponsors to cover one thousand each to secure a prize of five thousand dollars. This was a feat beyond comprehension.

Since we returned from our honeymoon I was running two miles at 5:00 AM to build up my stamina. Le Ann was walking her mile sort of skipping and turning rather than running. I increased my FFF workout time to two and one half hours after the evening meal.

Le Ann would join me for an hour and then disappear. Her eyes were sparkling, and she laughed very loudly at things that usually did not phase her. She hopped from foot to foot with joy ringing in her voice. It was evident that she could not contain her happiness. Her eyes held love and serenity.

I was somewhat entertained by her actions that bordered on puzzlement. I knew she was excited about the baby, but it was more than that. She felt at harmony and thrilled at the same time. Carrying a baby made her feel more than complete, and the notoriety I was receiving excited her.

I noticed Martha and Rufus smiled longer. They were constantly singing or humming to themselves. Both added a strut to their walk. Affection was oozing from their hearts.

Together they exuded an assurance and respect for me and Le Ann. I was proud to be their son-in-law, but they treated me like a son. Harmony prevailed as good providence would have it.

I was a pilot flying one of the most advanced cargo aircraft in the United States Air Force. Additionally, I was a father to be, and I was married to the most beautiful woman alive. What more could a man want? I did not want this to end.

However, there was this nagging below the surface-a feeling of being a failure the last couple of days I was in Thailand. It exhibited its ugly face, ever so often, causing me to worry.

When this happened, I felt a deep consciousness of melancholy. My body tightened. It was difficult to walk or think. I would tremble to the point of blubbering. Publicly I smiled, but underneath I felt extremely despondent. I held on tight to a one Baht coin that I could not throw away.

It did not last long, maybe a couple of seconds. Then I would bounce back to the now and forget my dejected thoughts. I did talk to Le Ann about it. She assured me with time it would fade and then disappear. I hoped that she was correct and I experienced a calmness.

Sunday at church the preacher preached on forgiveness and mercy. Something smashed into my mind. Have I been too judgmental? Perhaps I needed to forgive and forget as the preacher suggested. Le Ann, repeating the preacher, indicated that if you hold a grudge too long it will contaminate your thinking. I resolved that day to forgive Kulabta. The little nightmares seemed to be erased from my heart. I came into contact with an unexplainable quietness within.

The next day at work George reported that at the end of August Linda and Marcy received another forty deposits to reserve a place as a challenger. They wrote them back reminding them that the elimination bouts would begin Friday, September 16, 1960 at 9:00 AM. I told George that was satisfactory. I did not have to be present that day, but I would try to look in on the activities.

As we continued intoSeptember, coordination problems developed. Linda and Marcy handled them withease. I acquired an admiration for them. It was pleasant to let someone else dothe organization, setup and follow through. The right people were doing a greatjob. They impressed me by h    

The phone calls became nonstop. I invited the family to 'The Nineteenth Hole' Restaurant on Golf Course Road near the Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. It's 'prime rib night. We all wanted to have freedom from the phone. Rufus, Martha and Le Ann agreed. We felt a little guilty running from the phone, but we were happy to celebrate the great news. Our hearts were filled with gladness.

It was a pleasant relief. Soft music was being played. Several couples were dancing. We had ordered the prime rib special. Le Ann tugged my hand and pulled me to the ballroom floor. She whispered, "I love you." I held her tight.

Several officers I knew and their wives were dining at the restaurant. One after another came over and congratulated us about the good news. Le Ann answered, "Linda." I shook my head and jokingly remarked, "She and Marcy must be related. Martha divulged, "They are. Linda is her niece." Rufus stated, "We cannot get far enough away from home." We all smiled.

At the base the next day George handed me a cigar that had two paper bands around it. One band had 'Girl' on it; the other had 'Boy.' I thanked George for the cigar, even though I do not smoke.

By the beginning of July, the Servicemen's Wives Club had scheduled the exhibition fight for Saturday, September 17, 1960. An article ran in the Air Force Times offering a prize of five thousand dollars for anyone who won. Registration for challengers was two hundred dollars. Spectators could get tickets for a donation of five dollars for adults and two dollars for children under twelve.

Elimination fights would determine the top five who would face me. Elimination bouts began at 9:00 AM on Friday, the day before. By the first of August eighty men had already submitted their non-refundable registration fee. Three thousand adult tickets were purchased.

The base had a large pavilion that could hold five rings set up under the roof. There was a large field in front and behind the structure.

The Air Police (APs) assured us they would work crowd control. Off duty policemen from Urbana and Champaign volunteered to help the APs. Evidently someone had done her homework. I called Marcy and thanked her for her efforts.

Linda might be a snoop like her Aunt Marcy, but she and her aunt were great in organizing this large event. Her aunt was unable to get a sponsor to cover a prize of three thousand dollars. However, she convinced five sponsors to cover one thousand each to secure a prize of five thousand dollars. This was a feat beyond comprehension.

Since we returned from our honeymoon I was running two miles at 5:00 AM to build up my stamina. Le Ann was walking her mile sort of skipping and turning rather than running. I increased my FFF workout time to two and one half hours after the evening meal.

Le Ann would join me for an hour and then disappear. Her eyes were sparkling, and she laughed very loudly at things that usually did not phase her. She hopped from foot to foot with joy ringing in her voice. It was evident that she could not contain her happiness. Her eyes held love and serenity.

I was somewhat entertained by her actions that bordered on puzzlement. I knew she was excited about the baby, but it was more than that. She felt at harmony and thrilled at the same time. Carrying a baby made her feel more than complete, and the notoriety I was receiving excited her.

I noticed Martha and Rufus smiled longer. They were constantly singing or humming to themselves. Both added a strut to their walk. Affection was oozing from their hearts.

Together they exuded an assurance and respect for me and Le Ann. I was proud to be their son-in-law, but they treated me like a son. Harmony prevailed as good providence would have it.

I was a pilot flying one of the most advanced cargo aircraft in the United States Air Force. Additionally, I was a father to be, and I was married to the most beautiful woman alive. What more could a man want? I did not want this to end.

However, there was this nagging below the surface-a feeling of being a failure the last couple of days I was in Thailand. It exhibited its ugly face, ever so often, causing me to worry.

When this happened, I felt a deep consciousness of melancholy. My body tightened. It was difficult to walk or think. I would tremble to the point of blubbering. Publicly I smiled, but underneath I felt extremely despondent. I held on tight to a one Baht coin that I could not throw away.

It did not last long, maybe a couple of seconds. Then I would bounce back to the now and forget my dejected thoughts. I did talk to Le Ann about it. She assured me with time it would fade and then disappear. I hoped that she was correct and I experienced a calmness.

Sunday at church the preacher preached on forgiveness and mercy. Something smashed into my mind. Have I been too judgmental? Perhaps I needed to forgive and forget as the preacher suggested. Le Ann, repeating the preacher, indicated that if you hold a grudge too long it will contaminate your thinking. I resolved that day to forgive Kulabta. The little nightmares seemed to be erased from my heart. I came into contact with an unexplainable quietness within.

The next day at work George reported that at the end of August Linda and Marcy received another forty deposits to reserve a place as a challenger. They wrote them back reminding them that the elimination bouts would begin Friday, September 16, 1960 at 9:00 AM. I told George that was satisfactory. I did not have to be present that day, but I would try to look in on the activities.

As we continued intoSeptember, coordination problems developed. Linda and Marcy handled them withease. I acquired an admiration for them. It was pleasant to let someone else dothe organization, setup and follow through. The right people were doing a greatjob. They impressed me by h