Prelude To A Kiss

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      The following is an account of how Marsha and I got together through the eyes of Frank D Kelley. Grab a favorite beverage and I hope you enjoy our journey.

                                                            Mark

                                                             A Love Story

                                                                 First Events

After determining all Lakenheath High School Lancers needed a place to go and reconnect with experiences, friends & lost loves, I started The Day Room Years website in 1997. We opened with four pages and little fanfare. The initial response was very supportive. I wanted a site to take visitors down Memory Lanes, not just a mixed bag of alumni listings and newsletters so prevalent on thousands of other high School sites throughout the Internet.

The site grew as more pages were added. Then in July of 1999, after receiving many requests, a Guest Book was added. Note, the first entry was from the infamous Bell Ringer, who will always sneak up on us for a good – “BOO!”

Today, The Day Room Years is The Premier Lakenheath High School site, a true meeting place, especially for those reconnecting for the first time. Many cases of Nostalgic Overload, brought on by the realization one is finally home, have been cured through multiple injections of this site.

Reads of the Guest Book, have reconnected the lost and the confused. Many Lost Loves have rejoined in communications, some have lead to rebuilding the feelings of what was then. I know of marriages resulting from contact with the Day Room Years and the Guest Book.

                                           The following is such a love story.

In 1966, I graduated from Lakenheath and began my own life’s great adventure. I left behind memories, love for a girl who broke my heart, and thoughts of my best friends whom I knew I would never see again. Many others shared this beginning too. College, the Military, marriage and careers became our main focus in life and the Lakenheath experience was soon relegated to the back of the basement. A few stayed in touch. There were even small reunions over the next few years.

The Computer! The Internet! CDs with millions of names & telephone numbers! We reconnected in large numbers in the 1990s. Big reunions were planned, executed and well attended. We were home at last!

In 1997 at the Atlanta Reunion, I met the lovely miss Marsha Carroll. I knew she was the 1967 girlfriend of my best friend Chuck Owen. She said she knew me very well because of all the stories and adventures Chuck and I had shared the previous two years. And yes, there were many.

Because of my MS and its limitations, I only danced that night with three beautiful women. First, my wife of 23 years, then with my High School Sweetheart, Marry Lee Brantley. And one dance with Marsha Carroll who would later follow up with an email stating, “I finally got to dance with a legend.” I think Chuck may have exaggerated our exploits somewhat.

Marsha and I stayed in touch via the Internet and occasional telephone calls. Thus a great friendship began to develop. I was there to help her through some tough emotional roller coasters and was pleased to see her rediscover her inner strengths, and realize success in her new endeavors. My feelings grew to think of Marsha as a member of my family. My third sister!

Back at Lakenheath, in 1966, she was asked out on numerous occasions by one of our star Basketball players, Mark Grisham. Marsha declined his offers due to other love interest. Mark went on to graduation, college, a career and a marriage that would last 34 years until the untimely passing of his wife. During all this time, Mark had never really looked back to his Day Room Years. And with the loss of his yearbooks there never was the impetus to do so.

In February of 2005, Mark finally looked back, found the Day Room Years Website and reconnected!

Mark had posted in the Guest Book and sent me a donation for the Day Room Years. I called him to thank him and welcomed him home after all these years. We chatted most of the night and most of a few more nights following. I quickly grew to like him. He was so glad to be back, he showed all the signs of sever Nostalgic Overload. During one of our chats, Mark asked about the girl who would not date him, Marsha Carroll. I explained about Marsha and I being best of friends and forwarded his request to call her. Marsha replied, “Sure, why not?”

The call was made; Marsha was not at home therefore the answering machine took the call.

According to Marsha, she listened to the somewhat long-winded message without much interest until Mark said “May God bless you.”

Marsha had her standards. If she were to date, she would want a Christian man in her life, or no man at all. She called him back.

The first conversation was fairly short but informative and an interest to continue was realized. I started to notice after a while when I would call Marsha for our usual once a week chit-chat, she was centering the conversation more & more on her growing friendship with Mark

“Mmmmmm”

Of course Mark too, was babbling to me by this time about his growing feelings for Marsha.

“Mmmmmm”

During a Saturday conversation in early June, Marsha confided in me, “Frank I think I am falling in love with Mark.” I told her I knew this to be true, I had proof. She asked how that was possible.

I replied; “You’ve called me Mark three times already in the last 10 minutes.”

That very evening, Mark confessed he too was smitten with her.

The next day Marsha and I had a very long discussion concerning this impending relationship. In my over protective heart I needed to know if this was real or were the parties on “rebounds” from past negative occurrences. I did not want to see anyone here get hurt again. I can assure all who may be reading this, their feelings were true, the emotions were real and getting stronger with each passing day.

Many of their friends and some family members too, were apprehensive of this whole affair, but if you ask Marsha, she’ll tell you the following.

“If this does not work out, it’s been one heck of a good ride!”

Mark would also agree.

I disagree; I feel something real positive was about to happen and I prayed it would.

All was to be determined by their first face-to-face meeting. 

The two have even considered and discussed marriage on a “If this works out” footing. One nice thing to come out of this is they would like to perform the ceremony in my hometown of Melbourne Beach.

Needlessly to say, I was most honored.

Mark left his home in Texas on June 10th and is in route to North Carolina via a few stops to visit with family & Lancer friends. I reminded Mark, “No matter how fast you drive, you will not get to the Magic Moment any sooner.”

Mark & Marsha have yet to meet in person, but are scheduled to do so on July 1st. Both are apprehensive on one side and extremely anticipatory on the other!

                                                         Second Events

Mark was to meet Marsha in Greenville, SC on Friday, July 1st for their first “In Person” rendezvous. However he could not wait. On June 30th, Marsha and Mark met for the first time. They hugged, held hands and wanted to make sure this was really happening. It was.

Lunch was next for food & conversation. A short time later Marsha looked at Mark and said; “I have to know, I have to know.”

She leaned over and kissed him. He kissed her back with enthusiasm. After a few more “I got to knows,” the Bartender suggested they get a room.

That evening over a romantic dinner, Mark presented a ring and proposed marriage. Marsha, with out hesitation, graciously accepted.

These two had courted over many, many hours on the phone. Both had exposed their most intimate feelings, emotions and personality histories. There was love and extreme confidence in this decision.

Friday, July 1st, Mark called me with the news. In his excitement of relaying the details, I had to stop him and asked; “Mark, how did she look?”

Mark’s reply to me settles any lingering doubts I could have possibly had about his feelings. It was the way he said it, the tone in his voice, a way I could not describe in words today.

“Frank, she’s so beautiful.”

Almost all of their friends and family members by now had come to realize these two were truly in love with each other and would move on to a future together.

On Thursday, July 7th Mark arrived at my home for a visit. During the next two days, Mark, through his actions and discussions with me, reinforced the fact his love for Marsha was deep and sincere much to my satisfaction.

On Saturday, July 9th we picked Marsha up at the airport.

That weekend two adults having fallen in love and acting like a couple of teenagers entertained my family and me.

We spent some time looking for suitable locations for the September nuptials. A sunrise ceremony on the beach was agreed upon and a Gazebo on South Melbourne Beach was selected. I contacted the Parks Commission and secured the location for the appointed day.

I have never seen two people be so happy after having come out of past situations into the present. Each had a story of tragedy; grief & disappointments and now all of those were either forgotten or set aside.

I received a call from Mark shortly thereafter and he said he had some bad news for me. Due to his retirement package and getting Marsha survivor rights, they had to marry sooner than planned. I informed Mark, no feelings were hurt and their getting married anywhere was fine with me. Their happiness was all I really cared about.

I called Marsha to share the same, but she informed me I was to perform a ceremony for them on the beach at the agreed upon time & date. Though this would not be a legal or real exchange of vows, Marsha & Mark had agreed this would be the most important ceremony for them. I am truly humbled by this.

                                                           Third Events

On the 2nd of September, Mark & Marsha were formally married during a Sunrise Ceremony in Mark's hometown of San Angelo, Texas with his parents in attendance. Now their journey of anticipation had ended and the long journey of appreciation and discovery had begun

.

On September 27th they arrived in Indialantic, Fl. And checked in at Windermere By The Sea, Bed & Breakfast. That evening they would dine at a very nice seafood eatery for which I had made reservations for the two of them. On their table the Mater-De had placed a placard I had created congratulating them on their nuptials. They were both pleased and surprised after discovering it well into their meal.

On September 29th at “O-Dark Thirty” Phyllis, Mark & Marsha and I set out to the Gazebo on the beach. The skies were just waking up and the sunrise promised to be spectacular. At exactly sunrise, vows were read and once again two people committed their lives to each other. Just after the ceremony, Marsha looked me in the eye and said, “Frank, this is so perfect, thank you.”

This is my version of the never-ending love story and even today when Mark, Marsha and I chat on the phone, I sense this story will be forever. May God bless the two of them and in all they may do.

One last note here, Mark & Marsha did receive a toaster in and amongst their wedding gifts.

Frank D Kelley