Le Ann – More than Love

I had awakened at 4:30 AM and was waiting on the front porch for Bobby. He told me that it was only a mile today since he wasn't in training. We loped together at a more leisurely pace. I see by the way that he expressed himself that Jerry Lee liked Avery, but he was not quite sure she would fit in with his hectic life style. Bobby divulged to him that he hoped it would work out, but Jerry Lee did not have a good track record.

At breakfast, Martha asked Jerry Lee what he thought about Avery. He responded, "Avery is a wonderful woman. She is beautiful, and I feel relaxed with her. I promised her that I would write her. Nothing would keep me from coming back to see her." Martha extended a big smile.

In the car on the way to Chanute I asked, "Did you mean what you told Martha?"

"I meant every word." He assured me, "She will make me happy."

Jerry Lee secured a hop back to Lackland. He called Bobby and told him that on the plane, he was day-dreaming of ways to change his life to accommodate Avery. Not wanting to make the same mistakes previously committed, he was excited by the time the aircraft landed at Kelly Air Field. After returning to Lackland, he called Avery. She was excited to receive his call.

Later in the week, he received a letter from Avery telling him what she had done since they had talked on the phone. She had signed it, "Love, Avery." The next three letters received closed with, "Love, Avery." The fifth correspondence was signed, "Your friend, Avery." He confessed he was demoted to the status of friend.

He called her. She responded immediately. Upon recognizing his voice, she was hesitant about speaking. "Is there anything wrong?" She began to cry, and responded, "I have met someone. A mailman who works seven to three, five days a week, and is home every night. He asked me to marry him. I responded, "Yes."

Jerry Lee's mind was assaulted with silence. He went blank and did not know what to say. She queried, "Jerry, are you still on the phone?" He whispered, "I'm still here." She resumed, "I have known him all my life. His wife died a year ago. I did not know he had feelings for me until recently. We have been dating. He proposed. It was a surprise!"

Jerry Lee replied, "That is alright. We did not know each other well. I will be fine. Do not worry about me."

He shared with Bobby that he felt isolated, confused, and disoriented. There was no regret in his voice over what had happened. He declared, "After all, I have a great job. Assuring Bobby that he would bounce back while his words trembled, and food seemed to nauseate him.

Bobby returned his call, and enquired, "Is everything going OK? I know Avery is getting married and Martha is mad. She thought you and Avery made a great couple" He used old clichés, "You win some, you lose some. Maybe if I had not gotten involved. Life goes on."

"If you need someone to talk to, call me. You were there when I needed you!"

A few months later Jerry Lee was transferred to the Los Angeles AFB- a Rocket and Missile Base. They were located near the Los Angeles International Airport. He was the Non-Commission Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of the detachment housed in the Air Force Reserve area of the Airport. They were responsible for regular Air Force planes that flew into and out of their own air strip adjacent to the commercial runway.

Jerry Lee would occasionally lunch at the 'Rocket House Grill' in the main terminal building. The food was great, and, Rita, one of the waitresses, flirted with him. He dated her for five months, and was totally infatuated with her. She was a little wild, and dressed in revealing party outfits.

He proposed marriage to her. She consented. They went to the court house and secured a judge. Ten minutes later and a fee of twenty-five dollars, they were married. The marriage was wonderful for six months.

Then he confessed that he got too busy at the office, with FFF, and ignored Rita. He took her for granted, and did not give her priority in his life. She filed for divorce. He knew it was his fault maintaining he deserved the pain and the heartaches.

The agony that he inflicted on her was worse than he imposed on himself. Her lawyer seemed to be on the shady side, but she deserved the settlement. Jerry Lee could not believe that the same mistake had been made as with his first two wives. He should have known better! How could he have been so blind? It was too late to relive this past year, and change what he did. There was a drone, disastrous and doubtful down lift to his voice.

A few months later he was given orders assigning him to Don Muang, Thailand. Bobby revealed, "That is where I had been. He imparted that his friend Chiang Mai John was in the Northern part of the country, and was aware that his other friend Grand Champion Tuk had been transferred to Chiang Mai where he was General in charge of the Thai Royal Guard."

Bobby was aware that General Tuk's daughter, Kulabta-his ex, was residing in the family home in Don Muang with her aunt. She was manager at the Golden Dragon Inn. He was hoping that Jerry Lee would not mention that they were friends, but being close to Bangkok was great.

His divorce from Rita was final. Thus, he had no reason to stay in Los Angeles. Thailand will give him the opportunity for a refreshing new start. Maybe he could refocus on the priorities of his life.

We did not hear very much from Jerry Lee. He wrote a couple of brief notes that he had been elevated to his reserve rank of colonel in the regular Air Force, and that he met a Thai woman named Nang Chom.

Bobby was reflecting on his time at Don Muang. Anyone could see the grimace on his face as he pondered the time he had lived there. With all his success, failure dominated his thoughts when he reflected on Thailand. Ninety- nine percent of his time was great, but that one percent overshadowed his point of view.

His feelings were tempered with bad notions. Nevertheless, Bobby practiced the Thai language once a week. He had a book with two long playing records that the United States government had produced.

Since Jerry Lee was out of the country, Bobby was bombarded with requests to be the highlighted fighter at charity fund raisers. He accepted six a year spaced out every other month. The matches had to be on a Saturday-Sunday combination. He had published a booklet on what the sponsoring group would have to do.

Robert Olander III is two, and Martha Leanna Olander is one. We call her Leanna. Bobby and I want at least one more. Maybe we are greedy. But we have a lot of love to share. I'm elated. Excitement permeates our dreams and hopes. The life we have shared promises us a great future.