Valentine’s Day brings so many sweet memories to my mind.
John Henry (Jack) Stott and I were dating prior to the onset of World War II. In 1943, at the young age of 19, Jack joined the Air Force to serve his country and his folks’ homeland (England). The uncertainty of this traumatic global event led us to put our relationship on hold.
Jack trained in various locations throughout Canada. He graduated as a flying officer in July 1944 and soon thereafter was deployed to active service overseas.
We had agreed to keep in touch by the standard mode back then, nearly a lost art these days: writing heartfelt, honest letters.
He would always write, “Wait for me!”
Once the war’s end was clearly in sight, Jack went to a jewellery store in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, and purchased a beautiful amethyst ring stradd-led by a diamond on each side. He faithfully carried this ring in his officer’s hat until he finally returned home in 1946.
On my next birthday—Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1947—Jack presented me with that very special, well-travelled ring and we eagerly discussed our plans to be married later that year!
Fast-forward to the 1980s. Perhaps it was my sixtieth birthday, I’m not too sure. Jack and I were at an Air Force reunion event in Winnipeg. All of a sudden, “Cupid” appeared in full costume and he was looking for “Margaret,” with bow and arrow in hand!
“Where is Margaret?” he asked. “Where is the birthday girl?”
As it turned out, our kids had secretly hired Scheme a Dream to enhance my night out. Cupid eventually found me and shot me with his love arrow.
This commotion certainly did cause a lot of hoopla that night… but it was the best Valentine’s birthday I ever had!
