Lest We Forget - Volume 17 www.legionnl.ca 129 continued .... A Shattered Soul – War takes its toll Between the medical treatment in Grand Falls and St. John’s, my health slowly improved. I started dating my queen of Springdale; Jennie Clarke, a real looker and outgoing charmer, too. She worked at the local royal stores and could tickle the ivories and sing. I compared her to an opera soprano; when she imitated Vera Lynne. “There’ll be bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover, tomorrow just you wait and see. There’ll be love and laughter and peace ever after, tomorrow when the world is free.”(9) So we courted, danced and sang until August, 1946. Then we got married and united as each other’s lifelong pick. “For you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly, more dearly than the spoken word can tell. For you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly, more dearly than the spoken word can tell.” (3) We were a vibrant couple, who built on Crescent Heights Hill, we had so many children, our home was always filled. We were so very potent, birth became a regular scene. We gave up the rhythm method when we finally conceived thirteen. Lloyd let’s go to the Legion, to consume a couple of beers. We can sit and relax, and war time tales, we will mutually share. Remember Si, you shot that spitfire down, that actually belonged to us. That was you, Lloyd, you numbskull, you always screw that up. Let’s go to our naval reunion, have a few, tell lies and have a little fun. It helps me to forget and to sleep, when we toast a treat, of that tasteful, old black rum. “What shall we do with a drunken sailor? What shall we do with a drunken sailor? What shall we do with a drunken sailor? Ear-lye in the morning. Way, hey, an’ up she rises, way hey, an’ up she rises, Way hey, an’ up she rises, Ear-lye in the morning.”(10) Help! Help! I can’t feel my legs! Wallace over here! Is that you Lloyd? Wallace is over there! Oh my God! Dad is here! Help me Dad! I’m glad you’re here! Lloyd is there! Wallace is there! Over here! Don’t you fear! Dad will help us, just swim over here! They’re gone! Where! Where! Where!
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