Page 154 - Anthology

Shirley and I first met at a Derby party down on the lake. She had on a Derby hat that was the cutest hat
I’d ever seen. Sometime later on, the Lions Club had a barn dance at her farm; her brother and sister
played music.

I remember the first time I went to one of these barn dance events, I rode with some friends out to the
barn. He had car trouble, so I got out and worked on it. I had grease on my hands, when we got out to
the farm, I knocked on the door and asked Shirley if I could wash my hands. She told me I could use the
faucet on the side of the house. So, I guess you could say the first time I had a close-up encounter with
her; she threw cold water on me. It would have been nice to have had hot water.

I have learned that nothing is free, you must work for everything. Hard work does payoff. You appreciate
the military but hate the war.

Future generations should appreciate the life veterans have left for them; they should work hard and
never give up on God.