A. W. Sibley - The Soul Mate: A Love Story

The Soulmate

A Love Story

Dr. A.W. Sibley

Brighton Publishing LLC

435 N. Harris Drive

Mesa, AZ 85203

www.BrightonPublishing.com

ISBN13: 978-1-62183-507-3

Copyright 2019

eBook

SMASHWORDSEDITION

Cover Design: Tom Rodriguez

All rights reserved. No part of thispublication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by anymeans, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, orany information storage retrieval system, without permission inwriting from the publisher or copyright owner.

TABLE OFCONTENTS

DEDICATION

PROLOGUE

HOW IT ALL STARTED

MC NEESE COLLEGEFALL1956

END OF THE SEMESTER

1957

OUR FIRST CHILD

AND BABY MAKES THREE

NEW ORLEANS

SECOND YEAR OF DENTALSCHOOL

MORE SCHOOL

LIFE IN NEW ORLEANS

A SECOND BABY

LAST SEMESTER

DENTAL PRACTICE

FIRST REAL PATIENT

FIRST BANK DEPOSIT

ONE MONTH LATER (JULY 1964)

DENTAL WORK

GROWING FAMILY

OUR FIRST FAMILY VACATION

RUNNING A BUSINESS

TIME TO RELAX A LITTLE

A CHANGE OF PACE

ANNUAL FAMILY VACATIONS

A CATTLEWOMAN

MORE LAND AND MORE COWS

A NEW HERD

KIDS GROW UP

MARGARET ILL

KIDS MOVE ON AND LIFECHANGES

AFTER RETIREMENT

TO CUT BACK OR NOT TO?

OVERSEAS WE WENT

OUR NATION CRIED

STARTING TO TRIM THE HERD

GETTING OLDER

WHAT TO DO NOW?

WEDDING PHOTO

CURRENT PHOTO

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEDICATION

This book is dedicated to my beautifuland loving wife of over 60 years. It is her quite strength andpersistently positive attitude that has made our journey throughthis life together so amazing. It was her determination that droveus when we were young and penniless to seek a better life. It hasbeen her loving support through the years that has made my life theenvy of my friends. I would not be the man I am today without her.I love you Margaret, with all my heart, soul and mind. Thank youfor being my wife and Soul Mate and putting up with me for allthese years.

To my friend and publisher, Don: Thankyou for suggesting that I write this story. Writing it brought backa lot of good memories.

PROLOGUE

I know that a life without myMargaret, my Soul Mate, would be no life at all. I firmly believethat to be true.

While driving home at the end of mywork day, I could look out my truck window and see Margaret in themoonlight on the hood of my truck, especially if there was a fullmoon.

I find myself reaching to hold herhand and it is much the same as actually holding herhand.

Not too long ago I was fishing over inour pond and I walked to the barn to get my pocketknife when Ismelled my Margaret in the barn. I walked all over that barn,looking for her. I knew it had to be my wife. I thought she wasrunning from me, which she has been known to do, but I never caughther. I gave up and went around the barn when that Margaret smellhit me full in the face. There was a patch of Four- oclock flowersin bloom. I guess birds had spread the seeds.

I know that her spirit is always closeto me as we walk together in exactly the manner our Lord Jesus theChrist intended. All else aside, my love and admiration for thelady of my choice has grown mightily over the intervening years.Deep in my heart and soul I know she feels the same towardme.

Here is our story.

HOW IT ALLSTARTED

In the summer of 1956, I was atwenty-two year old Korean veteran attending McNeese StateUniversity in Lake Charles, Louisiana which is located in thesouthwest part of the state. I had completed one year toward adegree in chemistry, attending school on the GI bill and also had afull time night job.

Since I was still helping support mymother and younger sisters, I lived as frugally as possible.Consequently, I lived in a one of the dilapidated buildingsfurnished by the University for working students and veterans. Theywere aptly called the Vet Shacks. I was totally unattached to anyfemale so one of my friends and his girlfriend took great delightin telling me about a certain five foot, ninety pound, curly hairedhomecoming queen who would knock me off my feet. She was a highschool senior in their hometown of Merryville, Louisiana, and wascoming to McNeese soon to study music education.

MC NEESECOLLEGEFALL1956

In late August betweensemesters, I was off work walking across the campus, heading forthe cafeteria to eat supper. Ahead of me I saw a happy littlefemale skipping merrily along, singing a tune to herself. She wasalso headed for the cafeteria. I measured her height with my eye,and being of short stature myself, I thought, Son, you have at last found a female that you can standbeside and kiss on the top of her head. Surely that must be the onemy Good Lord intended for me.

When I entered the cafeteria, myroommate and his girlfriend, Maxine were talking to this beautifulcreature. My friend, James, turned and whispered to me, Careful,dont screw this up. Dont you agree that to see her is to loveher?

When she turned toward meI saw just how attractive and vivacious she was. It scared me as Iinstinctively just knew she would turn up her nose at me. I had anurge to grab her and hug her because I felt sure right now was theonly chance I would ever have. My tongue locked up when Maxine madethe introductions, so I mumbled something. I dont remember what Isaid but she laughed sweetly and allowed me to take the soft handshe held out. So now I knew the one and only Margaret Lois Jacobsand I silently pleaded, Mother, help me,what do I do now?

We got our meals and somehow I wasseated by this dream girl. While everyone was engaged in chatter,my friend James kept nudging me. As the meal ended, I decided totake the plunge and ask for a date. To my horror, all that came outwas, Young lady, I always thought my mothers four-oclocks werethe sweetest smelling things on earth, but you have them beat allhollow.

She turned red in the face and Iwanted to crawl under my seat. Everyone at the adjacent table musthave been listening as there was laughter from that direction.Maybe that is why she said loud enough for those at that table tohear. Thank you, I do love them myself.

My tongue loosened up so eventually Igot up the nerve to ask this heavenly creature for a date. Sheagreed before she had to rush off to her job. I had to watch as theeyes of every male in the room latched onto her. I really gotaggravated when I saw several athletes whispering amongthemselves.

Margaret did not like to swim but sheasked on that first date if we might go to the beach to just walkin the surf and talk. She probably suspected I didnt have verymuch money to spend on entertainment. I wore walking shorts and sheshowed up in shorts that showed off the most beautiful legs I hadever seen, or ever would see.

I have to relate part of ourconversation that will reveal just how goofy I had become. Shereally did smell so sweet that I had to ask how she managed that.She laughed and asked, Are you really from way back in thecountry?

Sure, all my folks are countrypeople.

Did you all have runningwater?

Heavens no! We had to haul our waterabout a mile in a barrel on a ground slide behind amule.

She smiled so sweetly that I badlywanted to just grab her up and kiss her like mad, but Ididnt.

Then you all only took a bath once aweek, right? Just how many were in your family?

I have two brothers and sixsisters.

And how many bathed in that one tubof water?

We all did.

She smiled and then went to laughing.Dummy me, finally I saw that I was trapped and had to defendmyself. I pointed out that when I was in the service I took ashower daily.

She caught my hand as she laughed andwhen her little hand closed on mine I got lost in a smoke haze. Shestopped laughing and said, A.W., I was just teasing, you smellevery bit as good as I do. You just dont smell like flowers.Lesson number one: from that time forward, I take a bath everyday.