Love

Love is something that everyone looks for in life. It is something we all hope to find but sometimes it could happen in places and times that we were never really looking for it.

During the Korean War there was a U.S. soldier in the army stationed in Alaska, Robert Roy. Normally he would be loading ships with cargo, weapons, and fuel to send to Korea for the troops fighting. Robert was dealing with a training exercise. They were getting in their explosives training. It this exercise they have to get comfortable placing explosives and arming them properly. It was routine for Robert. He ran over to his area and placed his charge. Once it was placed he ran away. While he was running back to his safe location the explosive went off early. The explosion sent him forward a few feet forward. He was knocked out from the blast. When he woke up, it was hours later in the medical tent. They wanted him to take some time off so he could heal and rest up after what happened to him. He was given a trip home for a month.

At a convent in Canada there is a young woman who is working becoming a nun. Merlida Baren was trying to get away from her family. She needed to feel like she was doing good in the world instead of being home with her alcoholic of a father taking any amount of money she saved to spend it on drinking. She was going to be ready to take her final vows to become a sister in the order. It is something she has been looking forward to since she started in the order. As it closer to her big day was beginning to feel ill. She was doing her best to hide it from the other women but they figured out that she was ill. They did there best to nurse her back to help but they told her that she had to go home. They did not want to risk the health of everyone else in the order.

When she arrived back at home, she was to rest up and get better before she could go back to the order and take her final vows. While she waited, she tried her best to make sure that her father was not going out and drinking all the family’s money. There was one night where her father did not come home right from work. She knew right where he would be, drinking at his favorite bar at the edge of the city. She drove herself to the bar. When she got inside, there was a large crowd of people inside. She was looking around and could not find her father in the crowd. She walked up to the bar and found her father drinking at the bar. He was arguing with another man at the bar. As she got closer to her father, she could hear the conversation between the two men. The man said, “There is no way in hell I am the best pool player around. I am not going to lose ever.” Merilda’s father responded, “I am telling you there is no way you could beat anyone in my family.” Merilda walked up to her father and whispered in his ear, “Dad we need to get out here. Let’s get going and go to bed at home.” Merilda’s father said, “I am telling you that my daughter hear can beat you in pool with ease.” The man said, “There is no way your daughter is going to be able to out play me at pool.” Merilda said, “Dad we really should be leaving.” Merilda’s father responded, “No not until you beat this asshole in pool.” Merilda said, “If I do that can we leave and head home?” Merilda’s father answered, “Only if you win.” The man said, “Sorry beautiful but you are not going to win.” Merilda said, “Just grab a stick and lets get to playing.” The man set up the pool table to play the game. The man said, “Lady's first.” Merilda went over to the cue ball and took her break shot. She got two of striped balls into the pocket. The man said, “How about we make this game more interesting?” Merilda responded, “How do you suggest we do that?” The man answered, “If I win I get to take you out on a date.” Merilda asked, “What happens when I win?” The man answered, “Whatever you want.” Merilda asked, “So what is your name?” The man answered, “Robert Roy and yourself?” Merilda answered, “Merilda Baren anything I want so I could have you leave me alone when I win.” Robert responded, “You could if that is what you wanted.” They were playing the entire time they were talking. Robert had three solid balls left on the table but Merilda only had the eight-ball left. Merilda said, “Eight-ball corner pocket.” She took her shot, and the eight-ball went right into the corner pocket that she called. Robert said, “It looks like you win this game. I guess I will leave you alone.” Robert began to walk away. Merilda said, “Where do you think you are going? I am sure that I won this game and I get whatever I want.” Robert stopped in his tracks and went back over to Merilda. He asked, “What is it you want from me then?” Merilda answered, “I would like you to take me out on a date.” Robert said, “Of course.” They planned to go out on a date over the weekend.

Merilda left the order and never became a nun. Robert went back to Alaska for a few more months before the war was over. When he got back, they started their life together. They were married and had six children together. They were married for more than fifty years before they passed. The two of them were not looking for love at the time they met, but they found it anyway. Love is something you should always be open to even if you are not looking for because you never know when it will find you.