C.Y. Bourgeois's Blog, page 5
August 1, 2019
First Meeting, Conclusion
Mark, oblivious to the sudden tension, stood up to pull out the fourth chair for Lois, who stood frozen in place her normal warm smile frozen on her face. “Schoppe, this is Lois Allen. Lois, this is Bill,” he said by way of introduction.
At Anna’s touch, Bill came back from wherever he’d been. He blinked and normal color returned to his face. He took a deep breath and pushed his chair back. “Sorry for my lack of manners,” he said. “Glad to meet you.” He stuck out a hand and smiled. “Lois.”
Bill’s dark stare pinned Lois’s green-hazel eyes. She hesitated and for a minute he thought she would refuse his hand. Then she reached out and he enveloped her hand in his big, warm, rough mitt.
“Glad to meet you too,” she said and exposed her straight white teeth in a big, warm smile. Her eyes crinkled slightly at the corners over her high cheekbones and her dark, curly hair glowed in the dim light filtering through the swirling smoke.
Smoke. Goddamn, I need a smoke. Bill reached into his breast pocket, pulled out a crumpled pack of Camel’s and stuck one of the cigarettes between his lips. He dug around in his pants pocket for his lighter, pulled out a battered silver Zippo lighter and flipped the lid open. He lit the end, sucked in a lungful of calming smoke and blew it out his nostrils. “Care for a smoke?” He held the pack out to Lois.
She wrinkled her aquiline nose and her thick dark eyebrows pulled inward. “No thank you, I don’t smoke,” she said. She averted her face to talk to
Anna and sipped bubbly brown liquid from a sweating glass.
“Buy you a fresh drink?” Bill pointed to her glass.
Anna stopped talking and Mark sat back with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“No thank you. I don’t drink,” came the haughty reply.
“Looks like you’re drinking something. I’ll get you another.” Bill waved a hand in the general direction of the bar.
Lois set her glass down and turned flashing eyes on him. “It’s Coke and I said no thank you.”
Bill sat back and ran a hand over his head. “Jeez, lady. I’m just trying to be friendly.” His heart thudded. Beautiful and feisty. Just like Eloisa.
“I have plenty of friends.” Lois said through a tight smile.
Mark burst out laughing. “She just shot you down old boy.”
Anna grinned. “Guess you can’t win them all, Bill.” She tipped her glass his way before taking a drink.
“Come on, gang, drink up. Let’s get some dinner.” Mark chugged down the rest of his drink. “Then maybe go dancing?”
“Yes, that sounds swell,” said Anna.
“Swell,” Bill agreed, glancing at Lois from under his dark brows.
Lois shrugged. “Sure, I have nothing better to do.”
Mark guffawed. “Hot damn, baby,” he flung an arm around his wife and pulled her close, “this is gonna be fun!”
“Indeed, it is,” she said. She smiled at her girlfriend and winked.
Lois shrugged and drank the rest of her Coke in silence.
*Note: This account of how Mom & Dad met is my version of what Mom told me. The conversations are made-up and I've given their friends names because I can't remember their real ones. Also, the part about the picture is fictionalized, but based on a real picture Dad had in his WWII memory box, which as far as I know is still in there.
July 30, 2019
First Meeting Part III
Anna tossed her brown curly locks and laughed. “You are incorrigible.”
“And you, my dear,” he lifted his beer and tipped it in Mark’s direction, “made him the luckiest man on earth when you agreed to marry his sorry ass.”
Anna giggled and blushed.
Mark laughed. “Thanks a whole lot, pal.” He raised his glass and clinked it to the beer bottle. “But we all know you’re right.”
Bill grinned and sucked down a big swallow of ice-cold beer. “Ahh, man-oh-man, does that ever taste swell.” His chair creaked when he sat back. “So?” He caught Anna’s blue eyes with his dark brown ones. “Who’s this dame you brought with you?”
“She’s not a dame,” Anna laughed, “She’s my friend from work. Lois Allen.”
“She works at the Can? Have I seen her?”
“Probably, she supervises the paper cup line.”
“She that dame gives all the guys the cold shoulder?” Bill’s lifted his eyebrows and took another swallow of beer.
Anna laughed. “Well, yeah, but maybe she wouldn’t if any of them were worth a look.” She winked across the table. “Like you.” She raised her glass.
Mark laughed and raised his too. “So the dames say, anyway.”
Bill smiled and did the same. Their glassware clinked together.“So who says what?”
Bill turned his head towards the source of the husky female voice. His fingers went numb. He almost dropped his beer. And his teeth. Eloisa! The bottle clunked down on the table.
Anna, who’d been smiling up at her friend, startled and swung her gaze to Bill. His olive complexion had gone pale with an undertone of green. “Bill?” She reached out a hand to touch his, still gripping the bottle so hard his knuckles were white.
*Note: This account of how Mom & Dad met is my version of what Mom told me. The conversations are made-up and I've given their friends names because I can't remember their real ones. Also, the part about the picture is fictionalized, but based on a real picture Dad had in his WWII memory box, which as far as I know is still in there.
July 25, 2019
First Meeting, Part II
Part II:
“Hey, Schoppe. Over here.” Mark waved from a booth in the far corner of the club.
Upon hearing his name, Bill stepped inside, squinted through the smoke and, finally locating his friend and coworker, waved back. He laced his way through the jam-packed tables. He waved at Lon, the bartender, and Lon lifted a beer in his direction. Bill nodded and Lon motioned at Jean to take it over to the booth. The leggy blond met Bill at the table and handed him the beer.
“Thanks doll,” he said with a wink.
“You are always welcome, handsome,” she said with a smile and a toss of her beehive ponytail and a shake of her round backside.
Mark laughed. “Don’t tell me you know all the girls that work here too.” He tipped his glass up at the big man.
“Oh, Mark, don’t encourage him,” Anna said. “Bill, you need to think about settling down.”
Bill bent down and gave Anna a peck on the cheek. “Yeah, so you keep saying. How about for now, I settle into this here chair?” He pulled out one of the two empty chairs and settled his long legs under the table. He took off his brown fedora, set it on the table and ran a big hand over his increasingly high forehead. Soon he’s be bald with just a fringe around the back of his head, just like Grandpa. And just like Grandpa, he didn’t really give a damn.
*Note: This account of how Mom & Dad met is my version of what Mom told me. The conversations are made-up and I've given their friends names because I can't remember their real ones. Also, the part about the picture is fictionalized, but based on a real picture Dad had in his WWII memory box, which as far as I know is still in there.
“Hey, Schoppe. Over here.” Mark waved from a booth in the far corner of the club.
Upon hearing his name, Bill stepped inside, squinted through the smoke and, finally locating his friend and coworker, waved back. He laced his way through the jam-packed tables. He waved at Lon, the bartender, and Lon lifted a beer in his direction. Bill nodded and Lon motioned at Jean to take it over to the booth. The leggy blond met Bill at the table and handed him the beer.
“Thanks doll,” he said with a wink.
“You are always welcome, handsome,” she said with a smile and a toss of her beehive ponytail and a shake of her round backside.
Mark laughed. “Don’t tell me you know all the girls that work here too.” He tipped his glass up at the big man.
“Oh, Mark, don’t encourage him,” Anna said. “Bill, you need to think about settling down.”
Bill bent down and gave Anna a peck on the cheek. “Yeah, so you keep saying. How about for now, I settle into this here chair?” He pulled out one of the two empty chairs and settled his long legs under the table. He took off his brown fedora, set it on the table and ran a big hand over his increasingly high forehead. Soon he’s be bald with just a fringe around the back of his head, just like Grandpa. And just like Grandpa, he didn’t really give a damn.
*Note: This account of how Mom & Dad met is my version of what Mom told me. The conversations are made-up and I've given their friends names because I can't remember their real ones. Also, the part about the picture is fictionalized, but based on a real picture Dad had in his WWII memory box, which as far as I know is still in there.
July 24, 2019
First Meeting, Part I
Part I:
Bill glanced down at the sidewalk to make sure he wasn’t about to stumble over anything, then went back to the old black and white photograph he’d pulled out of his wallet. A pretty, dark haired girl smiled back at him. The black and white picture didn’t do her justice. He stopped walking and closed his eyes and there she was in living Technicolor. Straight white teeth, green eyes, high cheekbones, full red lips, and almost black hair.
They’d been so young then. But in the middle of the horrors of the war to end all wars, far across the sea in a tiny town in Belgium, against all odds, they’d met. And fallen in love. Eloisa had been his first love when he was a scared and lonely eighteen-year-old Kansas farm boy, far from home and missing everything and everybody.
“’Scuse me, mister.”
Jostled out of his reverie by a young guy brushing past him to scoot through the doorway Bill had somehow managed to reach. Lost in thought, he stood motionless on the stoop and blocked the entrance with his big, six-foot-two frame. The big man blinked his deep brown eyes and gave his head a little shake. “Sorry, fella,” he muttered, but the guy had already disappeared inside the dimly lit, smoke-filled cavern on the other side of the threshold. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and carefully placed the photograph back inside.
*Note: This account of how Mom & Dad met is my version of what Mom told me. The conversations are made-up and I've given their friends names because I can't remember their real ones. Also, the part about the picture is fictionalized, but based on a real picture Dad had in his WWII memory box, which as far as I know is still in there.
Bill glanced down at the sidewalk to make sure he wasn’t about to stumble over anything, then went back to the old black and white photograph he’d pulled out of his wallet. A pretty, dark haired girl smiled back at him. The black and white picture didn’t do her justice. He stopped walking and closed his eyes and there she was in living Technicolor. Straight white teeth, green eyes, high cheekbones, full red lips, and almost black hair.
They’d been so young then. But in the middle of the horrors of the war to end all wars, far across the sea in a tiny town in Belgium, against all odds, they’d met. And fallen in love. Eloisa had been his first love when he was a scared and lonely eighteen-year-old Kansas farm boy, far from home and missing everything and everybody.
“’Scuse me, mister.”
Jostled out of his reverie by a young guy brushing past him to scoot through the doorway Bill had somehow managed to reach. Lost in thought, he stood motionless on the stoop and blocked the entrance with his big, six-foot-two frame. The big man blinked his deep brown eyes and gave his head a little shake. “Sorry, fella,” he muttered, but the guy had already disappeared inside the dimly lit, smoke-filled cavern on the other side of the threshold. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and carefully placed the photograph back inside.
*Note: This account of how Mom & Dad met is my version of what Mom told me. The conversations are made-up and I've given their friends names because I can't remember their real ones. Also, the part about the picture is fictionalized, but based on a real picture Dad had in his WWII memory box, which as far as I know is still in there.
First Meeting
Part I:
Bill glanced down at the sidewalk to make sure he wasn’t about to stumble over anything, then went back to the old black and white photograph he’d pulled out of his wallet. A pretty, dark haired girl smiled back at him. The black and white picture didn’t do her justice. He stopped walking and closed his eyes and there she was in living Technicolor. Straight white teeth, green eyes, high cheekbones, full red lips, and almost black hair.
They’d been so young then. But in the middle of the horrors of the war to end all wars, far across the sea in a tiny town in Belgium, against all odds, they’d met. And fallen in love. Eloisa had been his first love when he was a scared and lonely eighteen-year-old Kansas farm boy, far from home and missing everything and everybody.
“’Scuse me, mister.”
Jostled out of his reverie by a young guy brushing past him to scoot through the doorway Bill had somehow managed to reach. Lost in thought, he stood motionless on the stoop and blocked the entrance with his big, six-foot-two frame. The big man blinked his deep brown eyes and gave his head a little shake. “Sorry, fella,” he muttered, but the guy had already disappeared inside the dimly lit, smoke-filled cavern on the other side of the threshold. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and carefully placed the photograph back inside.
*Note: This account of how Mom & Dad met is my version of what Mom told me. The conversations are made-up and I've given their friends names because I can't remember their real ones. Also, the part about the picture is fictionalized, but based on a real picture Dad had in his WWII memory box, which as far as I know is still in there.
Bill glanced down at the sidewalk to make sure he wasn’t about to stumble over anything, then went back to the old black and white photograph he’d pulled out of his wallet. A pretty, dark haired girl smiled back at him. The black and white picture didn’t do her justice. He stopped walking and closed his eyes and there she was in living Technicolor. Straight white teeth, green eyes, high cheekbones, full red lips, and almost black hair.
They’d been so young then. But in the middle of the horrors of the war to end all wars, far across the sea in a tiny town in Belgium, against all odds, they’d met. And fallen in love. Eloisa had been his first love when he was a scared and lonely eighteen-year-old Kansas farm boy, far from home and missing everything and everybody.
“’Scuse me, mister.”
Jostled out of his reverie by a young guy brushing past him to scoot through the doorway Bill had somehow managed to reach. Lost in thought, he stood motionless on the stoop and blocked the entrance with his big, six-foot-two frame. The big man blinked his deep brown eyes and gave his head a little shake. “Sorry, fella,” he muttered, but the guy had already disappeared inside the dimly lit, smoke-filled cavern on the other side of the threshold. He pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and carefully placed the photograph back inside.
*Note: This account of how Mom & Dad met is my version of what Mom told me. The conversations are made-up and I've given their friends names because I can't remember their real ones. Also, the part about the picture is fictionalized, but based on a real picture Dad had in his WWII memory box, which as far as I know is still in there.
July 22, 2019
P.S.x3
July 9, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska
...final installment
P.S.I don’t think we can go wrong with all these swell people here pulling for us. Am going to look around and see if I can find some kind of transportation to get around in.
Love & kisses, Bill
P.S. Am sending you a list of the next roll of colored film which you’ll get already developed. I bought them in Canada and the price of developing was included. Hope they’re good. How’d the B/W pictures turn out?
Love always, Bill
P.S.Tell Billy I liked his pictures very much and hope he sends me some more of them soon. They were real good and keep up the good work, he’s doing very good. By the way, have you seen Irene lately and if so has Neil told her what’s happened yet? Bet he hasn’t.
Sure gets lonesome at night without you to snuggle up to.
Your loving husband, Bill
*Note: See what I mean? Three postscripts. He had a lot to say! :-)
July 17, 2019
Miss You All Very Much
July 9, 1962
Fairbanks, Alaska
...continued
By the way sweetheart, how is our pet Tiki doing? Sure hope she’s alright now. Know how much you and the kids would miss her if anything happened.
Tell the kids daddy sure does miss them and wish they were here. Also, I’ve been saving pennies and a few silver dollars for them. Sure miss you all very much.
This afternoon Jim Sweeney (he’s one of the cooks here), Jerry, another guy, and myself are going for a ride to Cripple Creek. There’s an old place there called the Malamute Saloon and it’s quite a tourist attraction because it’s fixed up just like it was in the old days. It’s got sawdust on the floor and the people wear old-time clothes.
Well sweetheart guess I’ll close for this time cause I can’t think of much more to say. Except I love you very much and wish you and the kids were here with me now.
Tell everybody hello for me and when I get more time will write to more of them.
Love & kisses,
Always,
Bill
XXXXXXXX
...to be continued
*Note: When he says, "...guess I'll close for this time cause I can't think of much more to say," I have to laugh because the next post consists of the three post scripts he added to this (for him) already pretty long letter! :-D
Fairbanks, Alaska
...continued
By the way sweetheart, how is our pet Tiki doing? Sure hope she’s alright now. Know how much you and the kids would miss her if anything happened.
Tell the kids daddy sure does miss them and wish they were here. Also, I’ve been saving pennies and a few silver dollars for them. Sure miss you all very much.
This afternoon Jim Sweeney (he’s one of the cooks here), Jerry, another guy, and myself are going for a ride to Cripple Creek. There’s an old place there called the Malamute Saloon and it’s quite a tourist attraction because it’s fixed up just like it was in the old days. It’s got sawdust on the floor and the people wear old-time clothes.
Well sweetheart guess I’ll close for this time cause I can’t think of much more to say. Except I love you very much and wish you and the kids were here with me now.
Tell everybody hello for me and when I get more time will write to more of them.
Love & kisses,
Always,
Bill
XXXXXXXX
...to be continued
*Note: When he says, "...guess I'll close for this time cause I can't think of much more to say," I have to laugh because the next post consists of the three post scripts he added to this (for him) already pretty long letter! :-D
July 12, 2019
Sure Miss You Honey
July 9, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska
continued...
Enough for that Honey, now for the latest. Neil is still working 5 & 6 days a week but I can’t figure out what he does with his money, he always seems to be broke, as a matter of fact he borrowed $20 from me the other day. He also bought an old pickup truck for which he paid $150 & he says it’s a gas hog and uses a lot of oil. He found him a cabin, outside toilet and carries his water. $90 per month.
Bub left last night for home so you ought to see him pretty soon. He’ll have some money for you too. He’s really a good kid and everybody liked him real well and hated to see him go. He only had enough money for his plane ticket so I let him take the $50 I was going to send to you so he’d have enough. Said when he got home, he’d bring the money out to you and tell you what has been happening here. Jerry finally got a full-time job and seems to like it pretty well.
Well, Sweetheart, how are things going there? Good, I hope. Things are sure starting to look a lot better all round. How are the two Indians? Staying out of trouble, I hope. Sure miss you honey and wish you were all here right now. Boy, it’s sure been a long time hasn’t it?
How are all the folks and everybody else? Fine, I hope. Now that I’m going to be working steady and get squared around, I’ll have more time to write to the folks and other people. Oh, I finally got a letter from Kenny, didn’t have much to say though but was sure glad to hear from him, got to answer his letter too.
July 10, 2019
That's Right, I Said Bus Driver
July 9, 1962 Fairbanks
Dearest Lois, Billy & Carla:
Well sweetheart, I finally made the grade, believe it or not I’m now a bus driver. That’s right, I said bus driver. With the help I’ve had I got a job working for the Alaska Overland CO. I’ll be driving 6 days a wk. And the pay will be about $165 per wk. Not too much but it’s year-round. That’s the main thing. Another thing, it’s an easy job but we have to look nice & neat.
You know I didn’t bring any dress clothes with me but I have some now. Noel and his wife gave me a suit, 5 or 6 pair of slacks & trousers plus 2 or 3 shirts. Boy you can’t beat that. I went and bought me a gray shirt and black tie but I don’t think I’ll have to wear the tie. At least not all the time. We go to work at 5 in the morning and get off at 2:30 in the afternoon. It’s the shuttle run out of Eielson A.F.B.*(Air Force Base) Get paid every 2 weeks so I’ll be able to send you some more money real soon.
I start steady on Mon. And I think I’m going to like the job O.K. I’ll have a little coming for the few days I managed to get in last wk. I worked Mon., Wed., Thur., and Fri., which will give me some money and maybe I can send you some more as soon as I can.
To Be Continued...
*(Author's Note)
June 29, 2019
Dearest Lois
July 7, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska
Dearest Lois:
A little something for your birthday, to let you know I haven’t forgotten a very important day. Also to let you know how much I love and miss you.
Hope Billy and Carla like what I sent them and that you like these.
Couldn’t find a little card so am sending a little note.
All My Love and Kisses to You and the kids:XXXXXBill
*Note: He sent her an ivory and gold nugget totem pole necklace and earring set. I still have it.
