so Much for Privacy!)
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| THE 1950'S | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| I SIMPLY HAD TO GET AWAY FROM HOME | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| I knew by the fifties that I had to do something drastic to get my life in order. I couldn't stand living with my parents any longer. Their constant argueing and bickering was driving me mad. My mother was very domineering over my Dad and constantly tried it on me. I couldn't take it and I also found that it was lowering my respect for my Dad. Strangely, some 40 years later after they had both passed on, I found myself telling another relative that: I loved my mother with all my heart, but I didn't like her as a person. On the other hand, I liked my Dad as a person, but I never learned to love him. Anyway, one day in April 1951, I was at home alone because I had taken off work with a severe cold. I suddenly got a brainstorm. I would join the Army. That would get me out of the house and may also make a man of me and get rid of these childish daydreams of other men. The Korean War was going on and Canada was taking part so they were calling for more enlistees. So I jumped on a bus to the enlistment office in downtown Toronto and before I knew what hit me, I had signed the papers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Just after my 21st birthday in Feb '51 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Everyone was upset with me. My Mom was furious. (She still hadn't forgiven Dad for joining up for the war when he didn't have to.) My Sister was worried that I wouldn't be able to stand the training and physical strain to say nothing of the discipline and following orders. My boss at the bank was convinced I was throwing away a promising career at the bank. My friends just thought I was a complete idiot. Of course, all this just made me want to show them all that I could do it. The only one who seemed pleased, was my Dad, and for the first time, I think I finally realized and understood just why he joined up in '39! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| That's me second from the right with friends on Basic Training. Obviously, I had learned to like beer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| They were right about one thing though. The basic Training wasn't pleasant. Even though I was going into the Pay Corps, I had to go through the same training as the infantry soldier. Personally, I thought this idiotic. I never did learn how to aim a rifle and couldn't hit the side of a barn unless I was inside it. But there were several things I did learn. I learned how to drink beer and liquor; I learned how to swear like a trooper; I learned that there were thousands of gays in the army. (I had always thought they were in the Navy. And I didn't want to join the Navy because I couldn't swim.} But above all, I learned that I was just as good as the next guy and that I didn't have to take a back-seat to anyone. But this sort of backfired because it just made me go deeper into my denial of my sexual identity. After basic training, I was posted to Edmonton Alberta and within six month, I was promoted to Corporal. My doubters back home were beginning to quieten down. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Really! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Barracks so Much for Privacy!) |
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| Having a brew in a favorite German pub called Ma"s | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Late in Dec 51, I received word that my Dad had contracted Polio. The Army granted me compassionate leave to return to Toronto for 2 weeks. It turned out that he was recovering without any permanent paralysis so I decided to return to Edmonton in time for the New Years Ball at the base. I had arranged for one of my friends to find a blind date for me to take to the Ball. It turned out to be Linda, a beautiful 17 year old girl 4' 11" tall, with hair down to her waist and I fell hook line and sinker in love. (In order to preserve the privacy of my ex- wife and my children, I have given them each aliases. I'm sure you will understand.) Early in January 52. Linda and I were discussing our up-coming birthdays, and what we would buy each other. I had noted that she didn't have any rings on her hands so I asked if she would like a ring for her birthday - meaning a birthstone ring. She screamed and cried and immediately ran and yelled to her sister. "I'm engaged!" I kicked my ass all the way back to the barracks for not correcting her, However, I ultimately decided 'why not?'. After all I was so sure I loved her and that this marriage was not only right, but may just be the answer to my problem. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| However, before we could set a date, I was handed posting instructions to proceed to Germany as part of the Occupation Force for one year. We decided to get married before I left and had the wedding in northern Albera where her family lived. We then took the train to Toronto for our honeymoon at my parents home as they had not been able to go out west for the wedding. For various reasons that I won't go into, the honeymoon was a disaster and after one week, Linda had to return to Edmonton alone while I continued on to Germany knowing that I had left behind a 'virgin' bride. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| CLICK: to see just how stupid this ass becomes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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