Old Knightstown

After graduation I worked and attended I.U. in Indianapolis. Jack was in the Army and we planned to marry. The Army posted Jack in Germany and I was going to be married in my church in Knightstown. Jack told me I would die in K-town. I ask him if I would be deader in Paris. Two very strong willed people.! I moved to Indianapolis, worked a full time and a part time job, continued school and had a very busy and fun social life - danced and attended ballgames , What else did I know? Life was wonderful in those days. Guys took you out because they liked you, enjoyed your company and had fun being with you. Did not hurt that I was a lousy tennis player, golfer and bowler. Not like today when girls let guys win. Always had fun - never improved. At the time I thought life was perfect and looking back I don’t think I was far off. 
 Jerry Cooper and I were both in K-town for Jubilee Days - we went out, married, had a son- Jerry, Jr. “Jay” and were married 27 years. Jerry was in the Air Force and posted in San Antonio, Texas, where we moved. Quite a change. It drove me nuts to realize that if I phoned any number in that huge directory and spoke my name they would not know or care who I was. Being military we were not alone. We attended a huge church and if I remember correctly it was bigger than K-town - very warm and friendly. The weather was great. Very, very different from Indiana. I loved the food. Living in San Antonio was a wonderful, wonderful experience. The military was determined I live in Germany - I was determined otherwise .If we did not go to Germany it was out and home. Music to my ears.

We returned to Indiana and were desperate for a house, Ruth Ratliff let us rent her North Jefferson Street house. It was fun being back in K-town with our son for those months. The winter was miserable - cold and snowy - realized how much I loved the South and not having any snow. We moved to Indianapolis. Max probably remembers - he, Jerry and I were the movers. Not fun - right Max? It was a horrible, horrible winter - so snowy that one day the city buses did not run nor were you allowed to drive your own auto. Could hear San Antonio calling. Wrong number. It was Northern Virginia. The Marine Corps this time. We lived in Annandale - a beautiful area. Had the best neighbors - just like family. Our church was very small - complete opposite from San Antonio as far as size - same warmth. The highlight of living in No. Va. was Jay being in the Northern Virginia Patriot’s Drum Corps. The director was a member of the Army’s Old Guard and a saint. There were 500 members, age 5 through high school. They were in parades all over the area. We were very active with them and loved every minute of it. D.C. is a beautiful area with lots of history, culture, patriotic experiences and is cosmopolitan, expensive and crowded. I returned to school while there. Tons of educational opportunities and lots of well educated people. Still we wanted Jay to have more the life we had had growing up. Jerry was able to go Army and transfer to Fort Ben so we moved to Speedway. Unfortunately, the 50’s were gone and would never return.

Life in Speedway was similar to life in K-town. I was a stay-home Mom as were my friends so we did the Mom things. I thought it was a law that you had to have popcorn and coke for Friday night dinner. The huge difference is there were very. very few dances - only prom.. We were very involved with the band - Jay was a percussionist and in theater. After the games it was Pizza instead of hamburgers for both parents and students. And instead of sock hops it was to the home of one of the students. During our Speedway time I did some part-time and temporary work mostly for the government. We thought Speedway was a great place to raise Jay, however not the best place for a government career or for good weather. We planned to return to the D.C. area as soon as Jerry, Jr. graduated from Speedway High. It took us longer than we had anticipated - Jay was almost out of Purdue before we returned - Springfield this time. I went to work for the Corps of Engineers and returned to school. Had great neighbors from all over the world. Still lots to do and great weather. Could have been a great place to retire from. Jerry wanted and was granted a divorce.

God is good! After hearing an advertisement for a T.V. show “Old Flames” I phoned Jack’s mother. After she caught me up on the news she told me Jack was there for dinner. Ask her if he would talk to me - he was not real happy with me that I did not marry him. She put him on the phone and I realized he had no idea who was on the other end of the line so I said my name. He commented that had I not said my name but that many words he would have known me - I sounded just the same. I could hear wedding bells ringing! I knew I had made a terrible mistake all those years ago and I was not about to make another. Later Jack told me that he had decided 32 years was long enough to be mad at me! I had a train trip to Texas planned with a stop over in Indy. Jack said he would meet my train and take me to see his mother. He was at the train station and 32 years vanished - it was as though we were married and I had gone to Chicago for a couple of days.

After retiring from the Army Jack went to Austin Peay U. for construction and at the time we reunited he was building custom homes. The Army did not keep their promise regarding medical coverage which was not a problem for Jack since he could go to VA but it was a different story for me. Jack decided to return to government for 5 years so we could have medical coverage. It could have been anywhere although I think he probably preferred Tennessee and I probably preferred North Carolina. It was Speedway and the Postal Service. We bought a house and were going to sorta camp out until Jack retired again, then we were going to build our dream house and do a million and one things -dance- while growing old together. That was not to be. Jack was diagnosed with lung cancer.
We were blessed to be in Speedway. Our doctor’s wife and I had been very close friends for years and our doctor was quick to get Jack on treatment. Jack had Christian doctors and they were so kind and caring to us - were sorry that they could not do more but said it was in God’s hands. Everyone at Methodist was a blessing to us. My old Speedway friends loved Jack - who wouldn’t - and rallied around us as did his friends from Carthage. We had wonderful support. Jack lived almost 2 years. Of course, we wished we had married all those years ago, however, Jack said had we been married when he was in Viet Nam he would never have come home because he would not have had his mind on his business. That keeps me from going nuts - most days. We had some wonderful years - heaven on earth. There is probably not a positive adjective that does not apply to Jack. He was not perfect but very close. He was still very strong willed as was I. Thank goodness! My son loved Jack - wrote a beautiful tribute for his funeral.

We now have two grandchildren a 9 year old, Jade and a 6 year old, J.T.. They love PaPa Jack and speak of him as though they knew him 50 years. Jack wanted to be a grandpa so badly. He would love those children. Don’t think I could go on without them - they are Jack’s gift. We were blessed that we were married and I am thankful that I was with Jack at the end rather than him being alone on a far away battlefield. I miss Jack terribly but know he would want me to be strong, so that, Jade and J.T. keep me going. The grandchildren live in Fayetteville, N.C. so I am there often - that is where Jack started out. I love the Army and Fort Bragg so am in 7th heaven when there. J.T. is going to be a 5-Star General which makes his Granma smile. It would be great to hear from old K-town friends.
Kay      kayhinshaw@yahoo.com