
Last week we were blessed to be able to spend several days with friends from long, long ago. Forty plus years back we developed a close relationship with another Army family at Ft. Carson Colorado. Then Captain Bill Akins was the commanding officer of an ASA company there and I was his First Sergeant.
His wife Ruth worked alongside my wife Donna at the base education center where they developed citizenship studies and an English as a second language (ESL) program primarily for the benefit of Foreign born spouses of military personnel. At that time this was entirely wives as there were few military women marring men overseas.

Despite military anti-fraternization policies which dictated no off duty social contact between officers and enlisted members we soon spent many evenings together enjoying dinner, games, and just having fun. We were at their home the evening that Donna announced that it was time for us to travel two block to the base hospital for the birth of our first child.

Of the many friendships which we developed on active duty this is the only one that has been maintained, and that is probably more from their effort than ours. I now very much regret that this is true. We have lost track of many fine friends and their families.
While Ruth and Bill were here we went to a baseball game. We picked one of the few games that the Indians have won recently. As we were walking back to our car and chatting about the game my Implanted Automatic Defibrillator (IAD) suddenly discharged. That was an entirely new experience. I am reminded of how transatory the things here are. I believe the only thing that will outlast us here is our relationships with God, family and friends.
2 comments:
sorry about your shocking reminder of real life, but I am glad you had a good time with Ruth & Bill.
Your last line is soooo true, we have to keep reminding ourselves of that fact, that if we truly beleive and except him we will be with him and our friends for ever. Take care and know I am thinking of you Dot
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