The First Encounter!

Well as I said before I arrived at Alvin's house around 5pm on Sunday evening! When I got here, there weren't many places to park so I found a spot that was just a bit down from where I thought the house was! As I got out of my car I noticed a man sweeping the driveway! The plan was for Bob, Alvin's son, to meet me around 5pm so I thought maybe this was Bob! So I am walking his way with a gigantic smile on my face cause I'm thinking surely he will realize it is me since he is expecting me but he doesn't say anything...he just smiles real big at me too! So I finally say are you Bob? He grins and says, "I wish I was!" hehehehe We both laughed and he said you are here to be Alvin's roommate, I have heard about you! He told me Bob wasn't there yet but should be soon!

The man's name is Jude and he live next door to Alvin! He has lived there since he was a kid! He and Bob grew up together! So we chatted for some time and he asked all kinds of questions about what my plans were! About 5-10 minutes later Bob pulled up! So we introduced ourselves and then we went in and I met Alvin!! When I walked in, he was brushing his teeth! I have to say, he is one of the cutest little old men I have seen! So I began to unpack my car and bring stuff in! He and Bob both helped me! So that evening we went out to eat at a little cafe called Cafe Rogue! It was very good...very expensive...it will probably be the one and only time I ever eat there but I enjoyed it! We just chatted...getting to know each other! Bob is an orthopedic surgeon! He works in Oakland! He is married to a woman named Hillary and she works with childrens books but I am not exactly sure what she does!

Alvin is a former marine as most of you know! His wife, Dorothy Louise, was in W.A.S.P. This stands for Women's Air Service Pilot. This group of women flew domestic flights so the men would be free to fly over seas and be in combat! He and Dorothy met while they were in the service. They met through Dorothy's sister, Ruth. Ruth was dating one of Alvin's service buddys and Alvin and Dorothy hit it off! Dorothy died about 15 years ago from a heart condition she had from a very young age! This is a story they shared with me about her getting into the service! Due to her heart condition she knew she would pass the tests to get into the service! So her doctor told her how she could hide the murmur in her heart by applying pressure to something, not sure but either way it made the murmur basically silent! So it came down to the final exams and everything and they were required to take x-rays of their chest. So while standing in line, she struck up a conversation with the young lady behind her. As they began to talk the young lady mentioned she really didn't want to go into the W.A.S.P., so Dorothy and this young lady switched x-rays so it appeared Dorothy had an excellent heart and the young lady had an enlarged heart! WOW! How crazy is that! Anyway, it is very apparent Alvin misses her greatly and loved and admired her dearly! Ruth, her sisiter, lives within about 2 miles of Alvin and regularly checks on him and talks to him!

Alvin is an interesting fellow because he has a very bad memory! I told him my name probably 15 times the first night I met him! I have heard many of the same stories many times! I have been asked many of the same questions many times! This morning he walked over to me and said, "Now I'm sorry but I have forgotten your name and what is our relationship to each other, why are you here?" It was very apparent he recognized me but wasn't quite sure what the arrangements were! I reminded him his son Bob had arranged for me to be his roommate! He said, "Oh great, how long will you be here?" I told him til December! He said, "Oh well I think I can live with that!" He said, "Now how long are you going to be here?" It is actually very sad to know he doesn't remember a whole lot! He is so sweet and very excited to have me here! He took me to the Senior Center today for lunch! The senior center is less than 1/2 mile from his home! He seems to be able to remember how to get to and from the center! He eats at the center everyday of the week! But apparently he forgets what day it is, so he soemtimes walks to the center on Saturday and Sunday (when they don't serve meals) and realizes they are serving meals so he has to find lunch somewhere else! He loves musicals and Oklahoma is one of his favorites! I have heard several times about his trip to see Oklahoma live! He was a paratrooper for the marines! I think I have understood him right! From what he has said he worked very closely with the Navy! He was an observer pilot! So he would watch for targets and then give the coordinates to either the land artillery or to the battleship and they would fire! I think I am saying all that right! I do know he has told me about a tower they build at some State Fair and then after that the Marines used it to practice jumps! They had some arm that would swing out and the troopers would practice their jumps from that tower! He has two sons, Bob, who has set this arrangement up and then Eric. Eric lives in Massachusetts! He is a yoga instructor! Eric has never married but is apparently dating someone at this point in time! Neither one of the boys have kids, so Alvin has no grandkids! Alvin is one of nine siblings. I believe this is correct! This would be one thing we have been over many times but it seems to change every time! He asks me how many are in my family and then he tells me how many are in his family! These are his siblings: Otto, Herman, Henry, Robert, Joe, John, Esther, Clara and then Alvin! Henry died in Solomon Islands in war. Herman died in France. I can't remember if it was in war or something else! Otto was a chef and I believe he has died. Clara and Esther live in Maryland! They live pretty close to each other and apparently keep in contact! Alvin is very fond of Esther and kinda sounds like she is his favorite! Not real sure why but that just is the vibe I get! Due to the rule made because of the Sullivan brothers, how brothers had to be split up, he and his brothers were split when they went to war!

Dorothy was a big church goer and she attended a Methodist church here in Berkeley! He said he has never felt like he needed to go to church! He said he has lived a good and moral life but never felt he needed to go to church! He never felt a connection! He didn't eloborate much but I'm sure this conversation will be continued down the road! Well that is all I have for now! There will be more I am sure!

I love you all!

Blessed Adventurer,

Liz