With my forefinger and my middle finger, I “tap-squeezed” Wilson.
To acknowledge what he said.
Then we “de-hugged”. And as we separated I said, out loud,
“I’m so happy to see you.”
“Me too.” Wilson said.
Everyone chimed in with a “Yeah”, or a “Hell Yeah”, or a “Oo-rah”.
That’s when Cookie yelled over everyone,
“Let’s eat!”
With all the emotions everyone was displaying, especially me,
I had forgotten how hungry I was.
My reply was,
“Amen to that.”
The next few hours was nothin’ but lots of good food,
and lots of good drink around the dinner table.
Albeit, they were outside picnic tables.
And Cookie sure knew how to “put on a spread”.
Whatever secretive aura, or awkward suspense,
were present earlier,
and they were very, very slight at that,
they were gone now.
Just happy comradery.
It was nice.
But,
it made me wonder why Wilson’s words were spoken.
At about 11:30 I’d had all the revelry I could take.
I felt myself “goin’ down” big-time.
I stood up and said,
“Thanx y’all for the welcome. And Cookie, ‘WOW’.
But, I gotta crash. I’m exhausted.
‘General’,
everyone,
g’nite.”
“Glad U finally made it.”
“Sergeant, show ‘im where he’s bunkin’ .”
“Yes sir.”
I hugged Wilson,
“Love ya guy”.
“Luv ya too.” he said.
Master Sgt. York and I exited – ‘stage right’.
Into the night.
And me off to bed.
I really was “cooked”. But satisfied at the same time.
Wilson and I were together.
BSOT
Ian
me, the Dalai Lama & Jack Nicholson 