Love at First Sight!

It was a rare kind of summer morning in Mobile, Alabama in 1944. A heavy rain shower had lasted most of the night and left the air smelling muddy, but the temperatures were noticeably cooler. A light wind added more relief from the normally humid weather. Dark clouds were hanging low with a promise of more storms to come. It was such a change from the usual muggy days of summer in the South that it seemed everyone was outside. It was a perfect day, and the mood was joyous and celebratory. The children seemed to especially love it. They were laughing, chasing each other, and splashing in muddy puddles in the street.

It was on this day that a young man named Michael met a soft-spoken young lady named Caroline. Actually, Michael already knew Caroline from school. Even though he was a senior and she was just a sophomore, he had noticed her brown wavy hair, dark brown eyes and soft smile. She wasn’t what you would consider exceptionally beautiful, but she was cute and charming with a quiet confidence and gentleness that made him pay attention. He remembered the first time he saw her. She was laughing with her friends, her arms juggling a stack of textbooks. She glanced his way, pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, and smiled. That was all. But from that moment, Michael knew he wanted to know more about her. Some might even have called it love at first sight.

A Magical Rainstorm?

So, it must have been fate or some cosmic force, but Michael and Caroline were on the same street at the same time when those dark clouds burst open with a torrent of rain. Mammoth drops as big as your thumb pelted the ground. Mamas called their squealing children to come inside. Michael, soaking wet and laughing, still sat on the curb with his hand in the air. He looked up to see a quiet girl standing in front of him. She was a mess! Her green flowery dress stuck to her legs. Her stringy brown locks dripped water in her face, but she had the loveliest sweet smile. She held a faded blue polka dot umbrella over her head. She just stood there looking at him, and he couldn’t help but smile at her.

“Need some help?” she asked softly, twirling her umbrella. He started to say no, but hesitated. He smiled back at her and stood up. She handed him the umbrella and they huddled under it, still getting soaked. “I just live on the next block,” he said.

“I know,” she whispered. They walked slowly down to the corner, staying closely against each other pretending they only wanted to stay dry. They didn’t say a word for several minutes. Then Michael broke the silence to introduce himself. “I’m Michael Jameson” he said, holding out his hand.

“I’m Caroline. Caroline Ramirez,” she replied holding his extended hand a bit longer than she should.

Storm? What Storm?

Just as the rain clouds had burst, so did their awkwardness. They walked far beyond Michael’s house, talking non-stop about everything from school to their families to their dreams for the future. They stopped at the playground at the park and rocked back and forth on the swings, still talking and laughing like lifelong friends or soon-to-be sweethearts discovering love for the first time.

It was mid-afternoon when they finally noticed that the rain had stopped. Caroline sighed. “Well, I better get home. My mama has to work tonight. I have to watch my little brother and sister.”

Michael nodded and held out his hand. She took hold of it, and they walked slowly and quietly back to Caroline’s house. Michael smiled, “See you tomorrow?”

Caroline hurried up the steps, turned around one last time, and smiled, “Of course.” She opened the door, calling “Mama, Aqui estoy!” as the door banged behind her.

What is this Feeling?

Michael just stood there watching her as she went in the house. What was that warm feeling he felt in his stomach? Was this what love feels like?

That next day turned into many days, weeks and months. They were almost always together. They loved being together and never wanted to be apart.

After graduation, Michael worked in his dad’s construction office, delivering mail, running errands, and learning how to build houses. Caroline babysat her brother and sister as well as the four-year-old twins next door.

Summer days were getting shorter. Fall came and Caroline went back to school.

Growing Closer

As time went by, Michael and Caroline’s love grew stronger. One day Michael walked Caroline to a work site and showed her the foundation of a home they were building. He told her to imagine the rooms. They laughingly pretended to have tea in the living room. They imagined her cooking dinner in the kitchen with two little ones calling her, “Mama.” They stopped in one of the bedrooms. Without saying a word, Michael pulled her into his arms and softly kissed her forehead. “Someday.…” he said.

Life seemed perfect. They were so happy. Even though they never said it in so many words, they knew they were in love. They had each other and a beautiful future ahead of them.

Bad News

One day Michael came to Caroline’s house and just sat on the steps with his hands twisting nervously in his lap. He didn’t even knock. Caroline happened to glance out the screen door and saw him sitting there. She opened the door, “Hi! Why are you just sitting out here? Come on inside.”

Michael looked up and tried to force a smile. “I need to talk to you.”

Her smile disappeared. She asked softly, “What’s wrong? Is it your grandpa? Your dad?”

“No, everyone is fine. It’s just that I have some news.”

She sat down beside him on the step and took his hand. He looked at her small fingers entwined with his, studying how their hands fit so perfectly together. Was he even alive before he met Caroline? His heart was so full of love, but he was worried about what he had to tell her.

He took a deep breath. “I got a letter yesterday. I’ve been drafted. I have to report to Fort McClellan a week from Saturday.”

Talk of War

Caroline looked down. Tears weighed heavily in her eyes, but she was determined not to cry. She didn’t know what to say. “Will you have to fight in the war?”

“I don’t know. Probably. President Roosevelt wants us to be ready. I just can’t bear being away from you for a minute.  I, I love you, Caroline. With all my heart.”

She couldn’t hold back the flood of tears any longer. “I love you, too, Michael. I have loved you since the first day I met you.”

Michael looked at her and wiped away her tears. She saw he was crying, too. She touched his face and gently kissed his cheek.

A Bright Idea

He held her tightly for several minutes without saying a word. When he pulled away, he grabbed her hands in his. “Marry me, Caroline!”

“What?” she replied, laughing.

‘You know we want to spend the rest of our lives together. You are everything to me. The love of my life now and forever! Marry me. I want to remember how you feel in my arms when I’m away from you.”

Caroline looked at him, then she nodded and smiled, “Yes. Yes!” They kissed and laughed at the same time. “Are we crazy?” she asked.

“Of course,” Michael laughed. “We are crazy about each other!”

Wedding Plans

The next few days were a blur of activity planning a quick wedding. Their parents objected at first; they were both too young. But they knew that Michael and Caroline were in love and determined to get married whether they approved or not.

The plan was for them to live in the basement of Caroline’s house until Michael had to report for duty. Caroline would then stay there, finish school, and help her mama with the kids.

Five days before Michael had to leave, they were married at the courthouse. Caroline wore a lovely white dress with little buttons down the front and a pink satin ribbon tied around her tiny waist. White patent leather shoes, lacy white gloves, and a little white hat with a net over her eyes truly made her look like a bride. She carried a bouquet of white daisies with a pink ribbon tied around them. She was all smiles and took Michael’s breath away.

Michael had never seen her more beautiful. His heart was about to explode. He loved her more than he ever thought possible. He had tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat. As the judge pronounced them husband and wife, Michael kissed her lips, then picked her up and twirled her in his arms.

The next few days flew by too fast. Before they knew it, it was time for Michael to leave. When they arrived at the bus station, there were many other young couples hugging and crying as they said their goodbyes.

Tough Goodbyes

Michael looked at Caroline and ran his fingers down her cheek. “I want to remember every detail of you, my wife.”

“That still sounds funny to me, but I sure love it!” she replied smiling. “I will write to you every day, and I will be praying you come home to me soon. Stay safe, my love!”

They kissed one more long kiss and Michael slowly boarded the bus. He sat next to the window and couldn’t take his eyes off of her. He waved and mouthed, “I love you!” as the bus pulled away.

Writing Love Letters

Caroline was true to her word and wrote Michael every day. She signed every letter, “With all the love my heart can hold, Your Wife.” She even sprayed a bit of cologne on the paper.  He wrote back, telling her about their training and the buddies he had made. His friend, Daniel, also was a newlywed. He told Michael that right before he left, he found out that his wife was expecting a baby.

Michael wrote, “When I get home, we will start our own family! I can’t wait to have a lovely little girl that looks just like you!”

Caroline touched her belly. Maybe there is already a baby on the way, she thought.

Two months after Michael arrived at Fort McClellan he was told he was going overseas. His letters became more infrequent, but Caroline never stopped writing to him.

Sick or Maybe Something Else?

She was feeling sick every day. She thought it was because she was so worried about Michael and missing him. Her mama insisted she see the doctor. Her suspicions were confirmed when the doctor told Caroline she was going to have a baby. She had so many mixed emotions. She loved that this baby was a part of Michael, and it made him feel closer to her. But more than anything, she wished she could share this special time with him. She was scared that he was so far away and couldn’t be home when the baby came. Her mama patted her hand and reassured her that everything would be fine.

She couldn’t wait to write and tell Michael the good news. Her excitement outweighed her fears. She didn’t want to share those with him, so she just told him to start thinking of baby names. He would love this baby as much as she did; she just knew it. She hoped this news would give him something to hang on to during the tough days of fighting.

Fighting Through Fear

Michael was fighting. After his infantry landed in England, they fought as part of the invasion at Utah Beach. They moved into Belgium and Germany battling the enemy nearly every day. It was a scary time for those young men. Michael wished he was more brave and less afraid.

When they had a moment to rest, the men slept, played cards, and read the rare letters that made it from home. Michael was one of the lucky ones to receive the letter from Caroline telling him about the baby. He cried as he looked at the photo of her holding her little protruding belly. Of course, he wrote back to her quickly.

He told her how happy he was about the baby. Was it a boy or a girl? It really didn’t matter. He assured her that he would love that baby no matter what. He couldn’t wait to be home with his little family.

Dreaming of Home

He ran his fingers on her photograph and kissed it. Gently he placed the photo in his shirt pocket and leaned against a tree. He closed his eyes and dreamed he was holding Caroline in his arms. It was summer and they were sitting on a creek bank with their bare feet in the cool water. He had his fishing pole beside him. She had made cheese sandwiches which they enjoyed with juicy peaches and bottles of cold soda. They were laughing, happy, and so in love.

He never heard the explosion. He opened his eyes and cried, “Caroline!” And then he closed them one final time.

A Bleak Future

Caroline went to the mailbox every day, but there were no letters from Michael. One day a Western Union courier came to the house with a telegram. Caroline shook her head, fell to her knees, and whispered, “No! Please, no!” She refused to touch it, so the man handed it to her mother. “We regret to inform you….”

The days of grief turned into months as Caroline tried to cope without Michael. Her pain was endless. Then she gave birth to a precious little baby girl. As the baby grew, she looked more and more like her daddy, and Caroline felt a new kind of love. When she saw the baby smile, she knew that Michael would be with her, always and forever.

Always Remember Their Sacrifices

Is this a true story? Well, the characters’ names and the details aren’t true, but this was the story of thousands of soldiers and their families during World War II. In fact, more than 405,000 Americans died in that war alone. From the American Revolution until now, more than 1,305,000 soldiers have died for our freedom.

This is why there is a Memorial Day. It’s not a holiday we “celebrate” with a barbecue and fireworks. It is a time we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, even when they just wanted to be home surrounded by the love of their families, kissing their wives, and holding their babies.

Spend some time today to stop and remember. (This is a link about the meaning of this unique holiday: https://www.floridatoday.com/story/opinion/2021/05/28/memorial-day-take-moment-honor-holidays-meaning-opinion/7452625002/)

God bless America.