Saturday, October 4, 2008

Back to war time

We are now back in NYC. S is gone and there is not only the fighting in the trenches to worry about, but the journey over the Atlantic was fraught with danger. We read constantly about the U Boat fleet sinking troop ships and Merchant marine ships in the
Atlantic. I don't know how I knew he was bound for Europe. I was miserable and every thought circled around the danger of it all. Imagine my surprise and joy when the phone rang and it was S speaking. He said we have one night on leave. We are in New Jersey. I can come in this evening but you will have to drive me to the George Washington Bridge in the morning. We have to be there at 5.30 am. Do you feel like it is worth it. I said YES, YES, YES.

I called in sick to the hospital. I was shaking with apprehension. I had enough meat stamps to buy a couple of steaks and a bottle of wine. I think I even bought a bottle of gin for a Martini. And I bought flowers for the table. As if any of these things mattered. I was going to see S again.

When I opened the door and saw him, tears rolled down my face. He was the most beautiful sight. And It felt so divine to be hugged by him again. We had dinner and we talked and before we knew it, it was 4.00 am and we had to leave. The last thing S said when he walked over to the car that was taking him to New Jersey was : Send cigarettes.

The feeling of loss was greater than before and one wondered, was it worth going through this all over again.

7 comments:

Unknown said...

Svensto-- your stories really hit home with me. Last week I transformed my 99 year old grandmother into a blogger!

Well she herself doesn't use a computer but together we recorded this amazing video about her college degree at age 87, her four books written since then, why she supports Barack Obama, etc. I'm so proud of her.

http://www.nevertoolateforchange.com/

Thanks for everything.

Anonymous said...

Such incredible highs and lows of emotion in such short spaces of time...and not knowing if you would see him again!

Laura said...

Ms. Svensto, I've been an avid reader since you posted your first entry, and I must say - I'm hooked. Please keep sharing your life...my grandparents are either deceased or unwilling to speak about the past, so I feel like I've missed out on some wonderful stories. Your blog, however, has given me something wonderful.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Danielle said...

I can relate to this moment in your life. My husband received his orders to go to Iraq in 2004. He first went to Texas for a month long of training. I had the option to visit him when he was done with his training and before he got on a plane for Iraq...I chose not to go. I knew it would be so much harder to say goodbye the second time and I wasn't sure if I would be able to even do it. I admire your courage in seeing him again before he left for war.

Also, thank you so much for your memories...like Falnfenix commented, I too never heard my grandparents' memories (I have one grandfather still alive and he is not very talkative). So I enjoy reading yours very much!!! Thank you again!!!

Book_Moth said...
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Anonymous said...

Tears! I have tears! I love your stories and it makes me think of the ones that my great-grandmother told me and I cannot believe the way they have shaped my life today. I mean, I know how to make paste out of flour for God's sake (a story of hers from the great depression).

Plot Whisperer said...

How romantic!!!!