Setting The Stage
Back when dinosaurs and I freely roamed the Earth (early 1980s – mid 1990s), a story unfolded the telling of which will surely brand me a big fat liar. Or surely delusional. Nonetheless, every word is absolutely true and factual.
First of all – never even once did I cheat on my wife – not once. This activity was subsequent to my being divorced. Although, while deployed, viewing of porn many times did occur. My many blessings did not include either the equipment or the stamina to perform any of the feats depicted on the screen. Counterintuitively, by the way, extra small condoms are more expensive than Magnum size.
As a Marine Corps officer, my physical conditioning was maintained at a fairly high level. My short stubby legs were a challenge for running and swimming, or similarly propulsive legwork. And a career in modelling of shorts or underwear was out as well.
A few years as a Naval Officer in the U.S. Navy followed, serving with a deployable, shore-based organization required a level of physical conditioning that exceeded that of the majority of the Navy.
Divorced. Onward and inward.
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1-Watering Hole
Our unit had just returned from deployment and my current duties as a Naval Officer require my presence in the courthouse on U.S. Naval Station, Port Hueneme, California.
It is quite warm, and the judge allows frequent but brief breaks in the proceedings. Because my daily routine includes a great deal of strenuous activities, as soon as the judge releases us, I head for the shared office water bottle. Everybody drinks bottled water, usually from a very large bottle inverted on a stand.
After a couple of visits to the water bottle, My breaks included “bumping into” an early ’20s enlisted Navy female. Five three or perhaps five four. Very Slender with slightly darker skin. Brunette. Our conversation was limited to her saying “Good morning Sir”, or “Good afternoon Sir” with her wide toothy, alluring smile. My acknowledgement was always immediate and pleasant, but not too much so. There were rules against fraternizing between officer and enlisted.
My breaks were at the pleasure of the presiding judge – not the clock, yet there she would be – a few moments after my arrival at the bottle. Not being a total imbecile, by weeks end, it dawned on me that our meetings were not random chance.