Tuesday, December 22, 2009

~DECEMBER 1952 ...THE LOCKET..~


That week, immediately after graduation, Pat joined the Marine Corp and entered boot camp. He finished boot camp in September and went on to other training at Camp Mathews rifle range and eventually was stationed at Camp Pendleton. He was gone all summer and during this time I attended summer school and prepared for school to start again in September. Pat was stationed on Camp Pendleton, more training, and I continued on with school, a slight break and then regular school began. Pat was able to come and see me just a few times as I lived a distance from the base.

Finally it was December..and the time for him to leave was upon us. He was going to Korea. To the front lines. To him it was an adventure..to me it was not real. It seemed nothing existed between the times I saw him. Nothing. I don't think I realized completely what being sent to Korea meant. I didn't realize they were going to be trying to KILL him over there! Does anyone ever really believe that...totally? Of course, I was a child...

A year seemed an eternity to me. I refused to believe the time would come when he would really leave.

One morning during a few days leave, instead of taking me to school..we drove off into the Laguna Mountains south of San Diego. We drove to the different lodges and were having the time of our lives. It had begun to snow so we reluctantly decided it was time to head home and we started down the mountain driving though meadows edged with tall pines all covered with snow.
The road was deserted and totally covered in white. Pat stopped the car, turned off the engine. The only sound was soft Christmas carols on the radio. He turned it off and we sat watching the drifting snow listening to the sounds of silence in that white, snow covered world, and for that few moments there was truely no one on earth but us. My head was against his chest and I could hear his heart beat.
I will always believe that God gave us that bit of peace, the peace of the innocent, before we had to face the real world.

He was a part of me from that first moment I saw him and whatever the world handed us..we could make it. We were in love.

Christmas was just a couple of days away..it was our last few moments and he gave me his gift. A tiny gold heart with a Marine Corp emblem on it.
And then suddenly, he was gone.
...and the time stretched out before us.
A year to the young is a very long time, war is just a word, and danger is never real.

The tiny locket is in my jewelry box, still shiny and bright with promise. It has been there for 56 years this December ..and today is the day he left for Korea...in 1952.
Love,
Mona

13 comments:

  1. Wow, Mona,
    What a great story. Thanks for sharing. So he had to leave right before Christmas! That must have been extra hard.
    D

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  2. A wonderful memory!
    Have a great day now!
    Christer.

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  3. Ahhh, 1952...it was a very good year! Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful memories with us Mona. I see how Christmas time stirs up all these lovin' thoughts of Patrick. The locket is beautiful, I'm so glad you have to to treasure.

    God bless lovely Mona and have the best day!!!

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  4. Good Morning Dear Mona,
    While I was reading your story, I think my heart skipped a beat. What a beautiful love story and how precious that you have the locket. I can just see the two of you all snuggled up, in the car, watching the drifting snow. Thanks for sharing and giving us such a lovely gift.
    Merry Christmas!

    ~~hugs~~ Sissie

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  5. That's the loveliest story I have ever read in all of the blogging community. Seriously.... it must be so heart warming to hold a memory like that and have the little locket to bring it all to life for you, Mona.

    My your Christmas be merry and bright this year surrounded by all of your loved ones.

    Di
    The Blue Ridge Gal

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  6. Thank you for sharing your precious memories. It is difficult to love someone who is in the military and whether you are young or old, you never let your mind "go there" as far as them not returning to you. My hsb retired 5 yrs ago I still can't think abt his deployments. My son currently is serving and I still can't "go there" I hope your Christmas is filled with joy and happiness...old and new

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  7. Thank yo for sharing your most precious memories. This is a beautiful love story. The locket is beautiful and I cannot begin to imagine how many wonderful memories are attached to it.
    Blessings and Merry Christmas to you and your lovely family.
    Hugs, Sue

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  8. What a sweet, sweet memory, Mona. It must have been a very long year for both you and Patrick. Thankfully he came back home to a wonderful life with you. Thank you for sharing your memories.
    Merry Christmas to you!

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  9. What a touching story.Wonderful memories.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours,
    Balisha

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  10. Thanks for the visit to my blog..I liked your sweet story here..and the thunderbolt-shock feeling you spoke of here..I felt that too when I met my husband! Come say hi any time :D

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  11. What a wonderful memory you have. Blessings to you this Christmas.

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  12. Mona, I so love reading your story. You write so beautifully and have me haning on every word!
    I missed this post before Christmas, so glad I caught it today.
    Hugs,
    Dawn

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  13. Mona, truly a sweet story full of the "forever after" magic!

    I reallly have to get to bed, but had to stop and read this one before I do!

    Blessings & Aloha!

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