. The daily morning edition of the Wichita Eagle was provided by Doctor Marcia Drewry, better known as doctor D, when she entered the clinics east back door which was the Kiowa Hospitals old ambulance entrance, and adjacent to the kitchens back door. Most mornings, along with the paper, she he would deposit a box of donuts from Val’s donut shop, on the picnic table that resided there for the non-certify staff. The Thursday edition of the Wichita Eagle would include what was designated as a social page, where a person could submit at no charge, an introduction of themselves to the public, leaving a phone number for those of like interest to enjoin an introduction. Fellow hospital employee’s, Arvetta Starzyk , dietary supervisor, Judy Reed and her housekeeping staff during their morning break, formulated a novel idea. The assembly forthcoming, with Gary to post his social personality subsistence on the Eagle social page, Gary at first declining, but on a lark giving in.
. Placing a call to the Eagle social page editors number, a lady answered, cordially taking the prescribed ad, then posing a question, how do you want it titled? Gary was somewhat perplexed at the unexpected question, hesitantly, he replied he didn’t know, what do you think?, the lady replying, well, you sound like A Prince Charming, how about that. The week long wait was finally over, the Thursday morning paper arriving, there in bold print, the lady was true to her word. As the weeks progressed, Gary’s answering machine having several messages from the opposite gender, briefly introducing themselves, leaving their number.
. The Saturday Journeys to Wichita continuing, the Buick accumulating 190 mile per week, making new acquaintances from his Wichita Eagle Beacon social page, and the Internet’s social networking ICQ. Gary once again having meant and visited a new friend who had replied to the Eagle Beacon publication, and was also a subscriber to ICQ, the two having got better acquainted via the computer. Diane, an employee of Boeing in Wichita for the past twenty years shared many of Gary’s interest, the two deciding to spend an evening together. Gary arriving at Dies residence in the evening hour, his lady friend having packaged a basket of delectable’s, and a bottle of wine. Diane having made the plans, the two journeying to Botanica, The Wichita Gardens” in the 700 block of Amidon Street for an evening of music in the pavilion club house, performed by a young lady folksinger.
. The two partaking of the folksingers presentation and later enjoyed venturing thru the lighted pathways of the Botanical Gardens, the fragrants of the flowers and shrubbery presenting an aura of contentment. The two discovering an area to sit and enjoy the serene surroundings, including the comestibles of the basket and outdoor night sky. The evening providing Gary with a repose from the doldrums of employment at the hospital, and the confines of a small Kansas town, the two enjoying the eventide. The 90 mile return to Kiowa with the car windows down, the cool Kansas night air bringing the wisp of the rural countryside, providing an ataractic ambiance journey.
. Gary reciprocating Diane’s Botanic outing the following week, obtaining tickets for an entertaining evening at Wichita’s Century II, a concert featuring a historic renown band from another era. The Wichita Symphony endorsing with their presence, Flash Cadillac, a band organizing in 1969 as Flash Cadillac and the Continental Kids. An appearance on Dick Clark’s American Band Stand lead to opportunity, participating in George Lucas’s movie “American Graffiti” as Herbie And The Heartbeats. The band performing three soundtrack songs, At The Hop, Louis Louis and She’s so fine, also providing sound track songs for Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” and appearing on the Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show” and the TV hit series “Happy Days”.
. The Century II concert was a capacity event, Gary having a floor level table, center stage. The band making the classical artist of the symphony perform in a new proclivity, challenging members to duplicate the riffs of rock-n-roll. Gary suspicion were confirmed, the classical musicians were up to the task, even to the concert musicians, music wasn’t just something you read and played, it was a state of mind. The latter part of program found an invitation for those in frontal section to dance below the stage, Gary and Di participating, taking advantage of their down front table. The evening performance concluded, Gary returning Di to her residence, acknowledging his Sunday morning church calling, the Buick traversing south to Kiowa.
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