Just a reminder for those procrastinators, Valentine’s Day is sneaking up on you. I’m hooked on watching the Hallmark Channel movies. The girl always gets the guy and they live happily ever after. My favorite love story isn’t on the Hallmark channel. Bill Flesher was 18 when he joined the Marines. He had never been away from home much less flown on a plane. As the homesickness set in, a mutual friend gave him LaJean Poe’s address and the pin pal’s love story began. LaJean was in the middle of her senior year at Paul’s Valley High School. She had written to her pin pal Marine and dated him when he came home on leave. December 19th, 1955 Bill had come home for a 3-day leave. Lajean was supposed to be babysitting but instead, they took another couple for witnesses and headed to Texas where they eloped. My dad loaded up his new bride and headed back to California to finish his last few months with the Marines. Years later after they raised their family, Mom went back and got her GED. She didn’t even have a driver’s license until after she married my dad. She only mentioned that once and I didn’t ask who taught her to drive. Figured there was a test of patience in that story. She did tell me she didn’t know my dad when she married him. I was the second of three children and the only girl. Yes, I was a daddy’s girl and my brothers would probably be a bit spoiled. When I was born daddy was working on a rig an hour away. Cellphones weren’t a thing and the hand that was supposed to deliver the news waited over an hour before he told my dad of my arrival. We moved 22 times following the oilfield. When my older brother started school we settled in Hennessey. As for me I really didn’t think school was necessary since I hung out with my dad watching him clean cattle guards and check wells. When I did go to kindergarten mom would let me out the car door and I’d try climbing in the back seat. That’s a different story for another time! Back to the pin pal love story. Bill and LaJean Flesher were married for 49-plus years. I watched the love and respect my parents shared come full circle during the last 21 months of my dad’s life. My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. I watched my mom stay by dad’s side as they walked through his cancer journey. At one point he told her to put him in the nursing home and she didn’t miss a beat explaining he wouldn’t get biscuits and gravy at 3 in the morning there! During that time daddy told us many times life goes on. He just didn’t mention the hole that was left in our hearts. 5 years after my dad’s death I found myself standing by my mother preparing for a valve replacement surgery. The last thing she told me was she was going to be ok either way. She went to heaven a few days later. I know you think this was a sad ending but I know their love lives on in our memories. Mom always said she would be singing alto in God’s choir and daddy said he would be fishing. They left this earth loving each other and I think they set the bar pretty high! Daddy would tell you to pinch someone for Valentine’s Day. Mom would tell you to give someone your smile! The gift they gave me and my brothers was the love they shared. It certainly manifested in this world! Happy Valentine’s Day!
