Dear Folks, I know that I've posted every story that I want to include in my book, but this evening when I was editing the one I posted back in 2001, I just HAD to share it with you again. It was one of my special glory moments when I was in the Navy back in the 1950s. I hope you'll enjoy that moment that I'm sharing with you again. vee You've Got a Guest on the Quarterdeck October 27, 2001 When I was earlier stationed at NAS Oakland in 1955 I had dated our Personnel Officer, a pilot. Of course that was a no-no (officers don't fraternize with enlisted) but our dates were always outside the base and no one was the wiser. At the same time that I was sent to NATTC Memphis, he was transferred to NAS Glenview, Illinois, near Chicago. He promised that he would fly down to see me in Memphis as soon as he could. We corresponded with each other and within a month or so he let me know that he was flying down, when and what time. Oh Happy Day! The evening of his arrival I got all dolled up in my most glamorous dress with bouffant petticoat, high heels, hair done just right, slightly perfumed, and I sat in the smoking lounge in the barracks breathlessly waiting for him to arrive. Note: I hadn't told any of the girls about my date; only that I had one. Then the moment arrived. As was the custom, whenever anyone came to the barracks to visit one of the WAVES, the girl on watch on the quarterdeck announced the arrival through the PA system. On that evening, she announced, "Lauer [my last name at the time], you have a guest on the quarterdeck." Oh be still my heart, he had finally arrived! Not one to just dash out to the quarterdeck, I took my time to butt my cigarette out and gather up my things. But within seconds of the announcement, one of the girls dashed into the smoking lounge. She had been standing out on the quarterdeck and had seen my date standing there in uniform waiting for me. In utter disbelief she said to me, "Lauer, but he's a LIEUTENANT COMMANDER!" I replied softly, "Yes, I know." Oh my goodness, I felt so sophisticated at that moment. I knew that most of the younger students in the barracks had barely come face to face with an officer, let alone a lieutenant commander, and here there was one on our quarter deck who was picking me up to go out on a date. I walked serenely out to the quarterdeck feeling like Bette Davis, smiled up at Ben who was looking so handsome in his officer aviation khakis and I could see by the look in his eyes that he approved of how I looked that evening Even more so I remember the girls who had gathered on the quarterdeck who just stood there with open mouths witnessing the moment. They just couldn't believe it. A LIEUTENANT COMMANDER! Ah yes, "You've got a guest on the quarterdeck!" What beautiful words and what a beautiful memory. Not only that but it sure knocked the socks off the girls in the barracks! J Oh, to be 24 years old again and to feel so sophisticated!