Monday, October 13, 2014

Life Creates the Best Stories by Linda S. Glaz



I’ve always told folks I’ve had so many life experiences that I have a lot to write about. A friend asked me what happened in the Air Force that would make a good story. There are so MANY things. Where would I begin?
I’ll tell you just one and you see if somewhere in your mind you can’t see a story slowly developing.
I was lucky enough, and yes, that was pure sarcasm, to be the dorm chief of my flight. That meant any and all problems from the other WAF landed in my lap.
Now, we had inherited the old condemned men’s barracks which had supposedly been refurbished for us. I honestly didn’t see anything remotely related to refurbishing. It must have been something beforehand, that’s all I can say.
The very first day of boot camp, a young lady who I’ll call Airman Doe, rushed up to me in the evening with a mound of shampoo in her hair. Her fingers were digging for gold.
“Sharon, what on earth are you doing?”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she danced foot to foot. “Airman Mapes! Airman Mapes! You’ve just gotta come see the handy little shampooer they put in the bathroom just for us girls!”
Yup!
Urinal…I didn’t really know what to say as my mouth unhinged.
After talking with her more that evening, trying to explain some of the intricacies of a barracks, I learned she had also brought one black and one red cocktail dress with her for “all the parties they said we’d have. I guess the jokes on me, Airman Mapes.”
Sharon was one of the best airman I worked with. She cared about others and didn’t take offense at a single thing in her life. She thought the recruiter had played a real fine joke on her.
I know she’ll find her way onto a page one day, and who knows, she might even take the urinal with her.

10 comments:

Davalyn Spencer said...

What a great scene. Absolutely has to make it into a book!

Linda Glaz said...

Isn't it crazy? You just can't make up stuff like this.

Janet Grunst said...

Funny, Linda. It makes me wonder how many writers out there are recalling foolish things I have said and are eager to put them into print. Yikes!

Linda Glaz said...

hahaha
I never thought of that, Janet. I might have the same problem. Laughing with you!!!

Diana Flegal said...

That's hilarious! Reminds me of the movie Private Benjamen with Goldie Hawn. Love that movie!

Linda Glaz said...

I do too, but then again, I love almost anything she does. Hilarious!

Rick Barry said...

That one caught me totally by surprise. Hilarious!

Linda, I'm betting your explanation to Airman Doe caught her looking like a deer in the "head" lights.

;)

Linda Glaz said...

Haha, yes, Rick. I really caught her by surprise. She gulped and yucked all the way to the shower. Laughing as she went. What a great sport that sweet kid was.

anne said...

Wow, just wow. ;)

Linda Glaz said...

I know, Anne. Hard to imagine, isn't it? But she was the real deal. She ended up a cook, the one job everyone dreads, or used to, but she laughed all the way. What a wonderful human being. I wonder if she ever got to wear those cocktail dresses???