" When we recall the past, we usually find it is the simplest things - not the great occasions - that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness "

Bob Hope

Monday, July 28, 2025

Granny Was Not A Sissy

 





     Linda was not only beautiful, she was smart and strong willed. She knew what she wanted and she found a way to get it, I was probably the only thing she wasn't sure about wanting but I won her over. When faced with adversity she came up with a plan then put it into play, I think the Army called it "adapt and overcome".

     The instance that came to mind and caused me to write this piece came about in the summer of 1968, Linda had just turned 19 a few months earlier. I hadn't been back from Vietnam very long when we realized the cost of living was higher than the paycheck could cover. I decided that returning for another tour in Vietnam where my check would not be taxed and would increase another $65 a month was the thing to do so off I went.The object of this move was that Linda would receive the extra money and everything would be OK but she came to a different conclusion. About a month into my tour, I got a letter telling me she was back in Florida and working at her old job. 

     I have to admit that I was upset at first after all this was something that most young girls would not do back then but most girls were not Linda. The car we had was a stick shift, she was alone and her destination  in Florida was a hair under 2500 miles. She made the trip with a couple of problems but she was lucky enough to have found some very nice people who helped her out.

     When I got out of the Navy, we had been married 2 years but we had only spent about 10 months together. It didn't take too long for me understand that I should never tell Linda she couldn't do something, it was like waving a red flag at a bull. 

     This streak of tenacity served her well over the years, many was the time she dug her heels in. I hope MJ developes some of the strength of her grandmother, it's in her genes.