Deborah Mc Elroy:  

What Happen to my highschool sweetheart ? I dated Chris who was the Drum Major for the Flying L's at Fort Lauderdale High School. We went to church together with our other in common friends like Henry Hudson, David Chansey, wayne Fetz. Where have you lived? Why did you move ? When my father died in my junior year it upset me greatly that he (Chris)was not there for me, I sure could of used the emotional support. My father had given his blessing on our marriage when he was on his death bed. He liked the way Chris treated me, sending me roses, having me home not only on time but a little early.He wanted to see Chris in fact Chris was dad's last request. Dad died without getting his wish to see Chris. As Chris was off at a Miami Dolphins Football game not far from the VA Hospital where we were at. It made me very angry Chris would not come visit with my father. So angry I ended my relationship with him. I figured if you can not be with me in my time of need then I do not need you. After dad died mom gave her sunday school class to me to teach as she took up drinking agian. I was already busy with Cadet's class as I was going to go into the ministry when I graduated. I used to wake up in the morning stumble out to the kitchen and trip over passed out men all over the house. It was the men in the band from the bar she was at the night before. It sure made me feel unsafe to wake up in a house with drunk men in it. I often wondered what was she thinking? Surely not about the safety and welfare of her 3 daughters at home. You had no idea what hell I was going through. looking after my 2 little sisters while mother was out drinking Come 1976 I moved to El Paso Texas. Did a tour of duty in the Army at Ft Bliss. 252 air defense By this time I married and had a baby on the way. I had a 8lb 14 0z baby boy. Yes it was a natural birth. and I sat on pillows for a while afterwards. My husband was happy, he had a son. Life in Texas were some of the best years of my life. I should of re enlisted. We discussed it I thought about going to Germany, as we had to pick an overseas post when we re enlisted. we could come back to the USA when we were due to enlist agian. My husband just would not go for it. Things were beginning to get heated with Iran at the time. You know what they say hind sight is 20/20. I would of been honored to of been there for the Gulf war, or even to be part of a team in Iraq today. It just eates me up that I did not re enlist. When I came back to Florida I lived in Ft Lauderdale until 1985 when I went to Illinois where the rest of my family had moved to. I was the only one still in Florida. I worked in factories and at the mission helping the homeless. I got tired of the cold and how I was always sick from it. I hated to have to dig my car out every morning to go to work. I came back to florida. This time I live just west of Gainesville . I took computer classes, got my CNA from Lake City Community College, I got my state certification and worked as a case worker for childrens protective services. I worked with the Sheriffs office and went to college to get my AA in criminal justice. I am a qualified Legal Assistant. I honestly have not been back to Ft Lauderdale since 85 or 86. I am sure a lot has changed since then In fact they had just finished the jail next to the courthouse it had not been open long when I left . Life doesn't always turn out the way you expect. What's been your biggest surprise? This is my second marriage. My husband did not know any English when I met him the first time. He quicly learned to speak and write in english. He is from the middle East. he is teaching me Arabic so I can communicate with his family when we go to the middle East. At this point he is a Major in the Military Police. We had to learn a lot about each other and about how to communicate without spoken language since our languages are difficult for both of us. If you would of asked me years ago about Mr. Right I would of said he is tall dark and handsome. I have not found him yet. Today the love of my life is short chubby tan and bald. His English is much better and he is oddly enough a happy person all the time. I find that odd with life in war all the time in the midd...Expand for more