The Story of Peggy & Dave ~ The Call of Duty

We had only been married for six months when Dave was drafted into the Army. I remember the time leading up to his departure, I was very sad that he was going to be away for a couple of months.  Not only was I going to be missing my husband, but being in the Army also posed the possibility that he could be shipped off to Vietnam. I had known people from high school who went to Vietnam and never came home. So of course I was concerned that Dave might have to go as well. 

Dave's father Henry, and step-mother Lynne, suggested that I come live with them during his time at boot camp. After thinking it over, we decided to put our things in storage and have me stay with Henry and Lynne while he was in boot camp. Living with them allowed us to save money, and Dave knew I would be in good hands and very well taken care of. It was a very good living situation and allowed us to get to know each other better. I was very taken care of and had the opportunity to live in a comfortable life style. Once before I had experienced that in my life when my mother sent my sister Pat and I to live in Miami with my Aunt Veronica and Uncle Eddie. She was a beautiful woman who was a runway model before she married Uncle Eddie. He was a marine pilot, and truly and outstanding man. They were loving to each other and to us, and we were always taken care of. On both accounts, I experienced living abundantly and living in very happy and peaceful environment. There was an abundance of love and and abundance of money. Very different than what I had been accustomed to at home.

Living with my in-laws was a good distraction to missing Dave, and I learned how to live a good life. Henry taught me much about money and how to best manage it, as well as living with integrity, honesty and good solid ethics. Lynne taught me how to enjoy the finer things in life. She always dressed impeccably and was the epitome of a woman of grace and elegance. Between Lynne and my Aunt Veronica, I learned so much about style, grace, elegance and beauty. They were very strong mentors in my life, as was my father-in-law.  I am who I am today as a result of my time with them. 

Time seemed to pass quickly and then Dave and I were together again.  He was to be stationed at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico. After a two week break and time with his folks in St. Louis, it was time to make our way to New Mexico. So we packed our things from storage on to a U-Haul trailer, which we towed, and drove to New Mexico. It was a very long drive from St. Louis to New Mexico and by the time we arrived at Albuquerque it was dusk and seemed like we drove onto the moon. Quite spooky really. In daylight it appeared as a big desert with a city plopped right in the middle. We were a long way from home! 

Dave was the pharmacist at Sandia Base Hospital and ended up staying at Sandia for his entire tour of duty in the Army. Whew...no Vietnam! As it turns out, we ended up staying in Albuquerque after he was out of the Army for total of five and a half years.  More to say about that later.