One late summer evening August 25, 1968 I met a boy named Tommy Cormier. He was wearing Striped bell bottoms and a cotton shirt. I had a summer dress on as it was hot that evening. My sister said there was someone waiting at the door to see me. When I went to the door there he was with the biggest smile from ear to ear and big blue eyes! Are you Chrissy he asked? Yes I am, would you like to come in? Now I can't remember if Tommy came in that first day but I do remember talking to him out on the front porch till very late in the evening. We talked about the fact that he would be leaving soon to go into the Marines on the Buddy plan with his friend Nick Russo. I told him I was taking college classes and I wanted to become a nurse. We talked about music and the Beatles who we both loved and would have a favorite song attached to our courtship, "Hey Jude". We decided to go for an ice cream somewhere on this first date with my sister Sue and her boyfriend Bobby Gay who drove Tommy to my house that day to meet me. Tommy made me laugh so hard I could cry! I knew he was very special and he asked if I would write to him after he was in the Marines. I said I would and when he kissed me goodnight I could feel a tingling sensation all over my body!!!! I said to myself that I would marry this boy as this must have been a sign!
The next day Tommy and I would with my Fathers permission head out to P Town. Tommy actually let me drive his Studebaker Lark on our trip back home. I had never driven before and while I was driving he fell asleep and I was not paying much attention to anything but staying between the lines, I drove way past our exit and Tommy had to hurry to get me home before his Studebaker turned into a pumpkin, not really, I had a curfew and he was trying to make a good impression with my Father, Wally. For the next 5 days Tommy came over and we played cards, Kings and went bowling and met Tommy's friend Jimmy Carroll. Tom left for Boot Camp on September 3, 1968. As I wrote on the calendar Boo Hoo!!!! Tommy said he'd write, so I keep waiting!! When "Hey Jude comes on the radio it reminds me of him and saddens me that he's gone. I am a believer in talking to God so that's what I'm praying for; please tell Tommy to write!
Well by September 19, Guess who writes???? Yup, Tommy, it was like the Christmas story when Ralphy goes into the bathroom to figure out the secret code on his Little Orphan Annie dial. Yup I ran into the bathroom and read the card, even though it was just a post card I felt like it was another sign from God! I couldn't wait to write back and start our long distance courtship.
There were many letters to follow this one and our long distant relationship was about to blossom!
Again I was so thrilled to get this letter, I quickly wrote back but with the photo he wanted too.
Now it was Tommy's turn to send me a photo. I'm wearing the neclace he sent me.
That is my handsome Marine with his deer in the headlights look! I just love him!
