Nothing Ordinary

All I knew about Korea was the silk pajamas. Remenants of the war hung from our bedroom windows as curtains-navy blue wool blankets. My father was in the Air Force. When he signed his parents were concerned. It was another conflict and although planes were used in WWII, congress was not finished contemplating the use of air planes against North Korea. In this picture he was thin very thin fed on a normal military diet of powdered eggs, canned stew and canned ham. He couldn't wait to get back to the states for a home cooked meal. While he traveled from Korea to Japan to Wake Island on to California and over to New York he thought about the food, all the good foods his mother used to make and food he was hoping his nine month pregnant wife could possibly prepare. He left the plane and took a bus back to military housing. His digestive juices sprung from his glands. As he opened the trailer door he met his wife, relieved to see him and having contractions 5 minutes apart. He ignored the disappointment and grabbed the suitcase. The young couple jumped into the black Ford and sped away. Hospital noise, exhaustion and one new baby later, this soldier drove home cracked three eggs in an iron skillet, toasted two slices of bread and poured himself a tall glass of whole milk.

Thank you dad. Danielle Love 2009