Oh, Yes! And by The Way . . .

October 25, 2002

J ust in case – If anyone is interested, here is how Glenda and I met . . .

       Returning from a two year tour of duty in Turkey and the Mediterranean our ship crossing the Atlantic was tossed about, going through – not around, a hurricane. The captain didn’t think it would be that bad, but the pounding broke the shell just in front of the “sail locker” area of the ship. The front flooded and we came limping into port sinking quite low in the front of the boat.

       This meant we would need to make port in Portsmouth, Virginia. We were to learn that it would require about six months to repair the damage. I had a close friend, Charles Bogue who was married and already had his wife living in Portsmouth and he invited me to stay with them. That was a most generous offer. No one liked to stay aboard ship any more than was absolutely necessary so I accepted. That set me on a course that would lead to finding my soul-mate, Glenda Ann Carraway. It turned out that about the same time we arrived in Portsmouth, Glenda came to live in Portsmouth with her mother, Kathleen Caraway. This placed Glenda directly across the street from where we lived.

       The occasion of our meeting was the day I decided to pull the Ford Thunderbird across a ditch in front of the house – leaving me enough space underneath to enable the changing of oil. I got the car saddled across the ditch and in my time of frustration I couldn’t help but notice this sweet little girl across the street. She seemed to be having much pleasure at my distress. I don’t recall the exact moment we were introduced, or how we met, but it was love at first sight. I knew . . . Glenda knew, and it has been that way ever since.

       Of all the girls I had met before that day, none has had such an impact on me as Glenda. She is my life. I live for her.

       I am unable to speak for Glenda, but she has said that the first time she saw that tall dark and handsome sailor she made up her mind that she would marry him. :-)

Bob Craig