I had a lot of friends here but they were casual friends. They were people I liked who liked me at least I always thought they did. I was still not into making friends, at least close friends easily. And what was the point? If I made a close friend, when the course was over, we all go our separate ways and probably never see each other again.
Sunday afternoon, the laundry done, no duties and time on my hands with little money to spend, I joined a couple of guys who were going to check out the USO in Petersburg. It was a tiny little place on the top floor of an old brick building. There was a game room with a pool table, a living room with tables for cards and music.
There was an almost empty room with nothing but an old upright piano. It was cold in there because they didn't heat the whole place. Sometimes a bunch of us would go in there and I'd sing for them till I was horse and we were all shivering too much to stay longer. It kept me from being homesick and it made a lot of guys happy.
One night Joe, a young blond guy asked me to write a poem or a song he could send to his girl to let her know how much he missed her. I wrote "Missing You" that night. It seemed like for a long time, I couldn't stop writing. I still have that little black book of poems I wrote about here. Later, I would write more poems. It got to be a habit but its a habit I now have broken because I don't write them anymore.
Missing You
Your loving thoughts reach out to me
across these many miles.
I close my eyes and picture you
the sweetness of your smile.
I hold your image to my heart
the warmth your touch can bring
melts winter's chills and icy winds.
You make all my winters spring.
I miss you most when in a crowd
I look but you're not there.
I count the minutes, seconds, too
And wish that you were here.
I long to hold you in my arms
and keep you close each night
To find you in the morning
safe within my arms held tight.
I don't think its all that great but he and his girlfriend back home loved it.
I have a lot of photos to put here but most of the names are lost. I will never forget the faces. At least I hope I never do.