For Victor and Bette Lisa, one of their favs.
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| My parents in 1948 |
In Tucson, my father died suddenly in his sleep two days before C and I were to fly out for our second wedding ceremony and celebration to be held in Paris, France. Brother Mike said "not to worry, he would handle things in Tucson" so we went.
On June 6, we were sitting in a sidewalk cafe within sight of the Arc de Triomphe. I was whacking my way through my first (and probably last) glass of pastis, a anise-flavored liqueur popular with the locals. I was facing the Arc when abruptly to my far right, a band began playing unmistakable martial music. A parade had started and we soon realized it was a celebration of D-Day. Walking in front of the band, heading towards the Arc were veterans from the wars France had fought in. First in line were those from WWI with their great and grandchildren by their sides. The last group were from the Desert wars with the Americans and operations in former African colonies against terrorists groups.
Such cosmic serendipity. I immediately ordered Dad's favorite cocktail, rum and coke, and we raised our glasses to the old Marine and to all comrade of arms.
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