Changing My Mind Changed My Life written by writing prompt winner: Dorothy Baroch
CHANGING MY MIND CHANGED MY LIFE
Wednesday, April 10, 1957.
Harford County, Maryland.
A run-of-the-mill, unexciting work day…until lunchtime.
“Dorothy, have you ever gone to a USO club?”
“Isn’t that where soldiers go for coffee and donuts,” I asked my girlfriend.
“Well, sometimes on weekends. But I’ve heard they have a dance at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds every Wednesday. Would you like to go tonight”
I thought about it for a minute and said, “I don’t think so Margie. I have some things to do at home. But thanks for asking.”
We finished our lunch and went back to work.
By four o’clock, boredom had set in. I told Margie I had changed my mind and asked her if she would still like to go to the dance.
“Sure. Let me give you directions to my house. Why don’t you pick me up at seven o’clock.”
“Great, but let’s agree that if we don’t like being there, we’ll change our minds and leave before the dance is over.”
Margie and I arrived early for the orientation that was required for first-time visitors. There was a list of rules and regulations, which put a damper on the idea of dancing…but we were told it was important for us to follow them.
The music started at 7:30. A group of men, mostly in their 20’s, came in and started asking the girls to dance. After two dances, I decided to sit on the sidelines and watch, wondering if I wanted to stay much longer. A short, heavy-set man with a scraggly mustache and very bad breath asked me to dance. I thanked him but politely refused. “Maybe next time,” I said.
One of the rules that we had agreed upon was that if we refused a dance, we couldn’t accept anyone else for that dance. Being a follow-the-rules person, I was in a quandary when a handsome young lieutenant appeared out of nowhere and asked me to dance after I had said “no” to the bad breath guy.
I couldn’t resist. I changed my mind about following the rules, accepted his offer, and the two of us danced with no one else the rest of the evening.
Another quandary. As Margie and I were getting ready to leave, the lieutenant asked if we would take him back to the base. He said his buddies had left early and he didn’t have a ride home. Follow the rules of safety and refuse, or change my mind…once again…and drive him to the front gate. I told myself that since Margie was with me, we’d be safe.
On the short drive to the gate, from the back seat Ed asked me for my phone number. Nonchalantly, I gave it to him, but my heart was racing. He was SO good-looking, and SO much fun.
I raced home from work the next day, hoping he would call. He did, and asked if I’d like to go to the movies. “Sure, I said. I’m free Friday night.”
More dates followed, as did hugs and kisses and eventually a wedding. For the next 65 years I didn’t give another thought to changing my mind. Ed was a keeper!
October 24, 2022
