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Everything went well for one week. I was fitted with the gown and got my bags packed but before the second week there was a Small Pox scare in our home town and everyone should be inoculated. Well, I was vaccinated and finally the day came to get on the train and head for Virginia. I don't recall how many hours we were on the train but I knew something was wrong with my arm where I had been injected. That's right - I was having a reaction to the Vaccine.Â
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Well, finally arrived to our destination. We stayed in a Rooming House near the Base. By that time my arm had swollen so that they had to cut the sleeve of my Blue Gabardine Suit. Good thing the sleeve on my gown was a puff sleeve and would not be tight on my arm.
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Saturday afternoon was the wedding. It was a beautiful Military wedding. I just stayed long enough for pictures and a piece of the Wedding Cake and then one of the guests offered to drive me to the Bus Terminal. I would have to get a Bus to Washington, DC.
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Here I am in Washington, DC. These are War years remember. I went to the Ticket window, asked for a ticket to Steubenville, Ohio. The Ticket Agent told me there would not be a bus to Steubenville until Monday morning. The closest I could get would be Little Washington, Penna. and that bus would not leave until Sunday afternoon.Â
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I had a friend in the Waves stationed in Washington and I could reach her by phone. She could not leave her Base until after 5 PM but she would come by then.  The Terminal was packed with Service Men. I went to the Lunch Counter to get a bite to eat and a Private came and sat beside me. We started talking and I told him I was there until the next afternoon. I got a real shock while we were talking when two MP's came by and took him by the arms and started away with him. They told me he was AWOL.Â
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Believe me when I tell you I looked for a corner seat where I would be hidden from the crowd and stayed there until my friend from the Waves came by. She suggested we get away from the Terminal for a while so we went Bowling. It was a welcome diversion.  We went to a nice Restaurant and had dinner and then she took me back to the Terminal.Â
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Finally time for the bus.   It was a tiring trip but I was happy to be on my way home. When we arrived in Little Washington, Penna. I called my Father and asked him to please come get me.Â
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I have only traveled alone once since and Joann saw me on the Plane in Tampa and a friend was at the Gate waiting for me in Pittsburgh. On that trip there was a Lady in the window seat by me and she was so helpful. We still e-mail to keep in touch.Â
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That's my story and I am sticking to it!
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Love and prayers from here to there
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