Christmas 1984
"Sidney, you've got to talk to Elizabeth," pleaded Margaret.
"She refuses to come downstairs and join us," said Peg.
"Elizabeth and the kids have been staying here since Thanksgiving, and she wakes up every night screaming," explained Hawkeye.
"Peg, B.J. how are you two doing?
"Better, but if it weren't for Elizabeth and the kids I don't know how we would make it, they are our strength," said Peg.
"We just take it one day at a time. We no longer grieve, but we now celebrate his life," B.J. told Sidney.
We would be better if Elizabeth was back to her old bubbly self."
"I'll go talk to her."
"Thank you Sidney," the four said in unison.
Dr. Sidney Freedman walked up the stairs and down the long hallway to Elizabeth Hunnicutt's childhood bedroom. As he approached the door he could hear a muffled cry coming from her room.
"Elizabeth, may I come in?"
"Sure Uncle Sidney, come on in."
He walked in and noticed Elizabeth's eyes were swollen and puffy, and that there was an empty bottle of bourbon on the floor.
"Bourbon I see."
"So."
"Why the need for bourbon?"
"You know, Ben proposed to me on Christmas Eve."
"I know I'll never forget how happy you were that night. How are you sleeping?"
"On my side."
"Your Father tells me you've been having nightmares."
"Does he?"
"He also tells me you wake up screaming at night."
"Yea."
"You know you Father drank bourbon in Korea."
"No he didn't, he drinks martinis, when he drinks: which is rare."
"I think you Pierces have a tendency to turn to bourbon when things get tough."
"Oh that's nice to know."
"Care to tell me what happened that night?"
"Nope."
"You can do this."
"Do what?"
"Isolating yourself from all those who care and turning to alcohol for refuge."
"Fine do you want to know what happened?"
"If you want to tell me."
"We were driving to Boston from New York after my movie's premier in New York. We wanted to drive so we could show everyone my new car. It was beautiful, candy apple red with tan leather seats and a tan convertible top, and of course I got it fully loaded. I was too nervous to drive it that far considering I'd only had it about a week, so Ben offered to drive. Neither of us had anything to drink that night knowing we would have to drive. We left the kids in Maine with Mom and Dad for the a two days while we were in New York at the premier, and then we would meet them in Boston after the premier. It was a beautiful night the stars lit up the sky, and it had just turned midnight as we entered Boston. We weren't too far from the Uncle Charles and Aunt Isabella's when it happened. The light was green and then we proceeded through. I looked to my right and saw a blue car coming from us, and it wasn't stopping at the light, it was going faster, and I said to Ben, "Move! Go! Get out of the way!" and he said to me that the car had stalled. I kept thinking this a brand new car how could it stall? The blue car kept getting closer and finally when he got the car in gear we had moved out of the car's way so we thought, but the car turned the corner too fast and I remember letting out a panicked scream. The next thing I know I'm waking up in a hospital bed finding out that he was dead. I lost a baby that night too. I was two months pregnant and we wanted to wait to tell everyone that night when we got there. No one knew except Ben and I, I lost so much that night," at this point she was crying hysterically and the she looked at Sidney with the same look in her eyes that her father had in his when Sidney had him recall the incident on the bus over thirty years ago and said, "Why did you make me remember that?"
"The worst part is over."
"I sure hope so."
"I'm not telling you to stop grieving him but you need to celebrate his life rather than mourn his death. Everyone misses you."
"They do?"
"Of course, they do they love you."
"I'd like to go downstairs."
"That's a good sign."
"Thank you, Uncle Sidney."
"Your welcome."
"I'll never stop loving him nor will I ever forget him," she said. Then she bent over and picked up the empty bottle of bourbon, held it up and said, "And this, I want no more of it, I've got to keep on living. I have children and too many people who care about me."
"You sure do."
"Yea I sure do."
"Are you ready to go and join the party."
"Yea, my children need their mother, my parents need their daughter, and B.J. and Peg need their son's wife, and I need them and I need to be happy, that's what Ben would of wanted."
Sidney and Elizabeth walked downstairs to join everyone. It was the first time Elizabeth smiled in over a year. Dr. Sidney Freedman always seemed to help people overcome, he helped Hawk overcome the horror he saw and Elizabeth come to terms with her greatest loss.
Hunnicutt Home, Crabapple Cove, Maine
March 1985
"I have something I need to ask you."
"What is?" B.J. asked.
"I don't know how to say this."
"Just say it you know you can tell us anything."
"Uncle Beej, Aunt Peg, you know how Henry McIntyre has been helping me, well I wanted the two of you to be the first to know."
"What sweetie?"
"Henry asked me to marry him, and I didn't say yes or no yet because I wanted to ask your permission first."
"Elizabeth, Ben would have wanted you too be happy," said Peg.
"And we want you to be happy so you have our permission," said B.J.
"I'm not changing the children's last names, and I plan to hyphenate mine so I will be Elizabeth Margaret Jan Pierce- Hunnicutt- McIntyre."
B.J. laughed as he said, "That sure is a long name."
"Are you sure you want to hyphenate that?"
"Yes, Aunt Peg, that way I'll always have a part of Ben aside from the children, that way."
"You know Peg and I were just talking about this the other day, and we can't be more proud of you. Raising those kids on your own and working on a new movie."
"Thanks Uncle Beej."
Not a month later Henry Blake McIntyre and Elizabeth Margaret Jane Pierce- Hunnicutt were married in a small ceremony in a Catholic church in Crabapple Cove. They went on their honeymoon to Martha's Vineyard for the weekend and returned home to the home that Elizabeth and Ben had built to their kids and parents. It was time to make a life there with Henry now, but Elizabeth would never forget the life she had with Ben.
Crabapple Cove, Maine
May 1985
Hawkeye and Margaret lie in bed while the Johnny Carson Show was on the T.V. in the background both doing their own thing. Margaret was reading the latest issue of Cosmopolitan and Hawkeye was writing up a proposal for a hospital to be built in Crabapple Cove in memory of Dr. Ben Hunnicutt, when Margaret stunned him with her question.
"Ben do you still find me attractive?"
"Margaret, you are the most beautiful woman I know. You make me so happy. You know every morning when I wake up I fall in love with you all over again. If that doesn't answer your question then what does, but I want you to know that in over thirty- one years I've never loved anyone as much as I love you nor have I ever stopped loving you."
"I'll take that as a yes and I love you too."
"So why the question?"
"Cosmopolitan said."
"You know that magazine can be quite ludicrous sometimes, but yet I like their suggestions, if you get my drift."
"You know what we need?"
"What?"
"More spontaneity," she said seductively.
"Anymore spontaneity and we'd explode."
"We have no spontaneity?'' she said mock serious.
"No spontaneity huh? What was that little rendezvous in my office today?" knowing exactly what she was doing.
"Oh I don't know, why don't you show me Dr. Pierce," she said in her best innocent flirtaous voice.
"Margaret, are you suggesting we?" Hawk asked acting naive.
"You know what I mean, now shut up and turn that T.V. off!"
The room went dark and the rest well it speaks for itself.
Crabapple Cove, Maine
October 1985
"You have reached the office of Dr. Benjamin Franklin Pierce. If this is an emergency call 911 immediately, if not leave a brief massage after the tone and we will return your call as soon as possible.''
BEEP!!!
"Dad? Mom? Grandpa? Grandma? Anyone? All right anyway it's me Elizabeth. I called Aunt Peg and Uncle B.J., but no one was home, and Henry is working and Trapper and Louise are in Boston so it makes no sense calling them because it is too far of a drive. Anyway I'm going nuts, Ben and Christina are fighting, Joshua's getting into everything, Ella fell and bumped her head on the coffee table, and the baby is kicking and I just want to lie down and read over a script. Listen its noon and I know the two of you are there. You two must really think B.J. and I are stupid, we know what goes on as frightening as the thought may be, but please answer the phone or come over here and help me. I'm so tired; I'm in agony help! Well if your not there just ignore what I said about B.J. and not being stupid, I'm going to I hear Christina screaming and Ben laughing hysterically and maniacal. *QUIET! * Got to go, call me as soon as you get this message, love you, bye!"
Crabapple Cove, Maine
May 1988
Margaret and Peg sat with their grandchildren, Daniel, Christina, Joshua, Ella, Blake, and Audrey waiting at a cafe in town for their husbands to join them after their game of golf. The two always had fun together, and enjoyed spending time with their grandkids. They were having such a wonderful time Margaret hadn't noticed the rather sickly woman walk into the cafe, but the woman immediately noticed Margaret and walked over to her.
"Margaret?"
"Hello Carlye how have you been?"
" I've been well, thank you."
"That's good."
"I see you everyday with Hawk and I see how truly happy the two of you are. You know I've changed a lot, and I see have you really haven't changed at all well except your hair color is it's natural honey brown and you look about twenty years younger, probably due to the work you've had done."
As Carlye said that Margaret became extremely self- conscious touching her hair and her face and then she retorted, "Be that as it may, I'm glad to hear you've changed and I hope you're happy."
"I remarried thirty years ago, and I have five wonderful children, and eight grandchildren. I see you have a few yourself."
"These are our daughter's children. Our son B.J. also has six."
"Wow! You must be really proud; well I just wanted to say hi. And though it's taken me years to realize this, but I'm glad the two of you have found happiness with each other. I only wish the best for you two. It was nice seeing you."
"Goodbye Carlye and thank you."
"Goodbye Margaret and tell Hawk I said Goodbye."
With that Carlye Breslyin Peterson walked out of the cafe with her carryout order in hand and went home to her family. Knowing she was dying she wanted to make her peace. She had succumbed to the cancer later the night.
Crabapple Cove
June 1989
B.J. and Peg Hunnicutt stood in the front of Gate Nine waiting for Hawkeye and Margaret's plan to land. Their plane landed and the two waddled off in their matching Hawaiian shirts and white shorts. When B.J. caught sight of them he began to laugh hysterically.
"B.J. don't you say anything."
"This is hilarious, look at them, two peas in a pod."
"How was your trip?"
"What's so funny Beej?"
"Oh nothing Hawk, just the fact you and Margaret look like lobsters," B.J. said between laughs.
"Lets just say my wife is an exhibitionist."
"What do you mean?"
"Well Peg I saw an advertisement for a nude beach and I said to Ben lets go and he said alright, so we went for the day."
"And we had fun!" Hawk said as he winked at Margaret.
"Ben!"
"Did you wear sunscreen?"
"Yes, SPF 30."
"And you still got burnt?"
"Margaret wanted to stay on the beach from ten a.m. till three p.m."
"So how was the trip otherwise?"
"Terrible!" they both said in unison.
"What went wrong?"
"Well luckily the flights went fine, we flew first class. But when we got to the island that is when everything started. We walk up to the front desk and Ben tells her we have reservations for Dr. and Mrs. Benjamin Franklin Pierce, she looked at him and said I'm sorry, but there are no reservations under that name, so I butted in and said excuse me I made these reservations over six months ago. And she has the nerve to tell me I'm at the wrong hotel, after that I asked to speak to the manager and he checked the log and found our reservation for the presidential suite. The next two days it rained so we shopped, and the next two days after that we went to the beach and the day after that was when we went to the nude beach."
"Doesn't sound too bad."
"That's not the other half of it."
"You're kidding?"
"No Beej, I'll let Hawk tell you the rest of it.'
"The food was horrible. The two of us got so sick. By the end of the trip all we were eating was ice cream. If she wasn't nursing me I was nursing her. The last night we spent spraying each other with solar cane and rubbing aloe vera on each other."
"What a wonderful trip," B.J. exclaimed sarcastically.
As the car drove down the driveway of the Pierce house Hawkeye and Margaret looked at each other and said in unison, "Home at last!"
As soon as the two were inside the house the left their bags in the foyer, walked upstairs and laid down for their first full nights rest in a week.
Disclaimer: The song "We've Only Just Begun" belongs to the Carpenters.
Crabapple Cove, Maine
September 20, 1988
Elizabeth McIntyre sat in her car listening to the radio and singing along as she drove into town to pick her kids up from school. Just as the song ended another followed but this one had a special meaning to it, it was "We've Only Just Begun" by the Carpenters. It was a popular song in 1978. It was Ben and Elizabeth's song they danced to at their wedding. Thoughts began to dance in Elizabeth's mind. September 20 was always a day that was filled with terrible memories for both Elizabeth, her children and the Hunnicutt's. It was five years ago today that Ben was killed. She'd never forget what happened that night. The words of that song flooded her mind with memories. She remembered how he sang to her that song as they danced to it their wedding night. They would often sing it together to the children when they couldn't sleep at night. The lyrics were so real. The two of them had built a life together. They had had four children, a beautiful colonial style mansion in Crabapple Cove, she had become a star and he had become a promising young doctor. They had it all, and in one night it was gone. As the song ended her eyes were swelled up with tears, she'd always hated the fact that the man who killed her husband was free and Ben was dead.
A M*A*S*H Unit Somewhere in the Persian Gulf
February 1991
My Dearest Whitney,
The days drag on, and the wounded keep on coming. It is a horrific site, I can't begin to explain to you the horror I see. It's the worse feeling in the world when you know that the boy you're probably won't make it through the night. I miss you more than words can say. I lay here at night and it is so cold, during the day it is unbearably hot, but when night falls it is cold. It is colder than any winter in Maine. I'm lucky I have some of the finest men and women under my command. They keep me sane over here. I think of you day and night Whitney. I can't wait until the war is over and I can return home to you and the kids. I've been able to buy you a beautiful Persian rug and the kids well I've gotten them some really nice things too. Don't worry I got you more than the rug but I want to surprise you. I realize what our parents must have felt when they were in Korea and they weren't regular army like I am. Like I said it's a terrible feeling. I've lost so much weight when I get home my clothes won't fit. I hate to cut this letter so short but we've got wounded and they need me right now. Give my love to the kids, I'll write you soon. I love you and I miss you.
Love always,
B.J.
Crabapple Cove, Maine
June 1994
Hawkeye Pierce sat in his living room playing with his grandchildren. Audrey was sitting on his lap telling him all about their recent trip to Hollywood for their mother's newest premier.
"...And I met Mommy's boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?"
"Uh huh."
"Audrey, what are you talking about your mother doesn't have a boyfriend she's married."
"I know but when Daddy took the boys to the bathroom Mommy introduced us to her co- star who she was a very good friend of hers."
"Sweetie he's just a friend."
"Friends don't kiss."
"Yes they do."
"Not uh, and when Daddy came back he was mad she was talking to him and he took us back to the hotel."
"Audrey, listen hunny go play with your brothers and sisters, I have to go talk to Mommy."
"Okay Poppy."
"So Betsy what is this I hear about you and a costar of yours?''
"What are you talking about?"
"Audrey said you and a male co- star kissed and Henry got mad and took the kids back to the hotel, she tells me he's your boyfriend."
"Dad she's seven and you believe her?"
"Why would Henry get mad?"
" Alright listen I had a brief affair with this man, but let me tell you this before you flip out on me, he cheated on me first and so I wanted to let him know how it felt. We've worked everything out and we're okay."
"I know it's none of business, but you being a high- profile celebrity you shouldn't have done that your a role model to a lot of people and another reason it is wrong. You agreed to love each other for better or for worse. The two of you should have talked first instead of acting upon your impulses."
"Dad, I'm sorry. Henry and I talked about what happened and we've found a new love for each other because we didn't want to throw away what we have. We love each other Dad and we don't want this to end. We're fine now."
"I don't know if your mother or I ever told you this but your mother's first husband cheated on her and she cheated on him with me, it didn't make it right. Trapper in his day was a ladies man especially when we were in Korea, I never thought he and Louise would stay together this long. I'm glad they did though, and I'm glad that your mother left that loser and married me. I'm happy everything is okay with you and Henry, you've had enough heart break."
The two hugged and joined the rest of the family out side for dinner.
Crabapple Cove, Maine
September 20, 1995
"Today I stand here before the citizens of Crabapple Cove to unveil a project in which I hold close to my heart. You see my late husband the Dr. Benjamin Franklin Hunnicutt wanted a hospital that was accessible to the citizens here in Crabapple Cove. He, my father, and my father-in- law all talked before his untimely death of the plans for the hospital that dreamed of. I know personally that Ben hated to drive to Spruce Harbor to work every morning, he wanted to be closer to home and also to provide more assistance to the people here. His dream died when he did, or so we all thought. I wish Ben were today to see his dream become a reality. This hospital is fully equipped with an Emergency Room department, several Operating Rooms, Recovery Wards, Specialists Departments, a Cafeteria, and many other necessities to a hospital. Today I give you the Hunnicutt Memorial Hospital of Crabapple Cove, Maine. I dedicate this ribbon- cutting to you Ben, I love you, and your memory lives on. This hospital will make sure my late husbands legacy lives on in each and every person who works and visits this hospital. May it be used very seldom. Thank you all for coming today, this means a lot to me and my family. And before I go I'd like to thank all those who made this possible, the workers who built this hospital, my father Dr. Benjamin Franklin Pierce, my father- in - law Dr. B.J. Pierce, my late husband, and of course the fine people Crabapple Cove whom without your generous donations this wouldn't be possible. Thank you."
Crabapple Cove, Maine
January 17, 1996
Daniel James Pierce was the last one left. His wife passed a year ago. Jane and Alvin Houlihan had died a few earlier, and he was it. It wasn't too late into the New Year when it happened. It was January 17, 1996 when Dr. Daniel J. Pierce passed away of natural causes, peacefully in his sleep at the home he built with his late wife Elizabeth. The home where he watched his son grow into a mischievous adolescent, who left for Korea an immature young doctor and to return a changed man with the love of his life. The home where he would watch his son take a bride and marry her in their backyard. The home in which every Christmas would be filled with surprises and his son and daughter- in- law's family from Korea. He even considered them to be his family as well. The home where he would remarry and where he would watch his grandchildren Elizabeth and B.J. grow up before his eyes into established young adults. The home where he played with his great-grandchildren and the home, which would become his final resting place.
Crabapple Cove, Maine
New Year's Eve 1999
The Pierce home was still decorated for Christmas and the guests were still there. Everyone was standing around dressed in black- tie attire, typical Pierce fashion, the last half- hour of the twentieth century discussing what the new century and millennium held for everyone with a glass of some sort of drink in their hands waiting for midnight.
"So Trapp what do you think Y2K will bring?"
"Absolutely nothing Hawk."
"That's what you think."
"Hawk do I sense a bit of paranoia?"
"No, Beej I'm just being cautious."
"Darling is that why you bought two generators and perishable items, enough toilet paper to last us until the next millennium, bottled water, and god knows what else we do not need?"
"Margaret, darling I'm just taking precautions. Do you have your gas mask just in case?"
"Come find me a minute before midnight I'll be the one in the backless black gown and the bottle of champagne in my hands next to the champagne glasses," with that Margaret rolled her eyes and walked toward the women.
"Precautions Hawkeye?"
"Yes Charles."
"Gas masks?"
"Yes Beej, at least I'll be safe."
"Hawkeye this is the most ridiculous thing I think you've ever done."
"I'm glad you think so Trapp."
"I think it's a good idea you're prepared."
"Thank you Radar, at least some think so."
"It could be the apocalypse."
"John don't say that to him, he'll go even loonier than he is now."
"Do you realize it is tomorrow over the date line so if something were to happen it would of already happened."
"Good job Hawkeye, I was wondering how long it would take you to figure that one out."
"I knew Charles I was just stringing you all along."
"So anyway I opened a new store in Dallas last week."
"Congratulations Max, that's wonderful."
"Well thank you Sidney."
"You realize this June we would have been in Korea fifty years?"
"Hard to believe."
"Yea, hmm," the eight men said in unison.
"To Henry and Sherman," Hawk raised his glass in toast to his fallen comrades and drank to them before being called over by their wives to watch the ball drop in Times Square. It came to the final minute and they all counted down.
"...10...9...8...7...6...5..4...3...2...1...Happy New Year!" they all shouted with glee and hugged and kissed each other. Hawkeye popped the corks on the bottles of champagne and he and Margaret poured it into glasses and handed a glass to everyone and toasted the New Year and sang Auld Lang Syne just as they did so many years ago in Korea.
Disclaimer: This chapter is dedicated to all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and their families. Every American was affected by this tragedy in their own way. I've refrained from writing about this tragedy because I wasn't sure how to put into my own words exactly how I felt, but almost a year after the tragedy I've decided to put my feeling into words. I wanted to give Margaret in this chapter the emotions I felt watching the horror unfold in front of my eyes.
Crabapple Cove, Maine
September 11, 2001
Margaret sat at her desk in the waiting room of her husband's office watching the news as the horror of that beautiful September day unfolded before her eyes. She had been watching the television since she turned it on shortly before the first plane struck. She called for Hawkeye to come see this and he walked down the hall in utter shock. The two sat there watching every frame. They had seen destruction before but nothing magnitude. The second plane hit live on television, Margaret gasped and began to cry. Moments later the Pentagon was on fire. She looked a her husband and said, "What's going on? I don't understand how people could do this. Why is there so much destruction and hate in this world? I never understood why innocent people have to die. It just doesn't seem real. Oh god! This is the worst thing I've ever seen. I don't know what to say. Oh my god! Ben! It's falling. I can't begin to imagine what those people in New York and Washington must be feeling right now. Why do good things happen to bad people?"
"I don't know Margaret, but I do know this what is happening right now, isn't the end of it. This is only the beginning."
"I keep thinking about our grandchildren, they could have to go to war, and I don't want them to have to go through what we went through. To see the horror we saw. I don't want our son to go to war again. I don't want our daughter to have to how badly it feels to have her boys go to war. I'm scared."
"I am too."
"Why is this so hard to grasp?"
"I don't know."
"We lived through Pearl Harbor."
"I don't think that was as bad as this."
"It doesn't even compare."
"No sweetie it doesn't."
That day Hawkeye and Margaret sat with their eyes glued to the T.V. to reveal one horror after the next. They started a blood drive in the office for blood to be sent to the Red Cross. Days later their worse fear had come true, the U.S. was going to war. They were never more proud to be an American than they were after the tragedies in Washington, New York, and Pennsylvania. Our freedom was threatened on what started as a beautiful September day, which soon turned to tragedy, but America can back stronger as she always does.
God Bless America!!!!!!
O'Reilly Farm, Ottumwa, Iowa
July 27, 2003
It has been fifty years since the Korean Police Action was put to rest. The former members of the 4077th were gathered at the O'Reilly farms to celebrate the day they came home, well most of them. Trapper left before the war had ended, as did Radar and Frank, and well Henry his story was sad. They reminisced all day long about the times during the war, the good and the bad. They remembered the day Henry died, and the day they met B.J., Colonel Potter, and Charles. They laughed at all the silly pranks Hawk and Trapper played and then the one Hawk, B.J. Charles, and even Margaret played. They looked at photographs and sang and danced. No one could believe that it had been that long. It seemed like only yesterday when Robert Pierpoint announced that the armistice was signed at Panmunjom declaring that the ceasefire would mean the end of the war. Today's was a special day for the Klinger's; they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Everyone's hair had become gray well except for Hawk and Margaret they wouldn't dare let their looks go. The men had all become very distinguished, some of them retired and spending times on the golf course and others well getting "Crabapple Cove to say aahh!" It is funny how things turn out, and how many people actually did what they said they were going to do after the war, or how some had a complete change of heart. They all recalled their final dinner together. Charles went on to do as he planned, Potter did the same as well as B.J. and Hawkeye with one exception he found a love other than medicine, his Margaret. Klinger stayed in Korea, after all those years just trying to get out. Fr. Mulchay was no longer father, but a father and grandfather who had suffered temporary hearing loss in Korea and taught at a deaf school and coached CYO boxing. Even those who were not there at the end of the war were amazed at the outcomes of their friends and themselves. Trapper had done a total 180 and had become a one- woman man. Frank still after fifty years hadn't changed, though he was governor of Indiana, no one understood how that one happened, and Radar grew up, got married, had children, and grandchildren, and became a veterinarian. It's amazing after all these years how things change for the better, for the worse or not even at all. That day so long ago, no one wanted to say goodbye, and even today they still didn't even though they all still see each other on a regular basis, it just wasn't the same. Their children had all grown up and had children of their own and even had grandchildren. Nowhere in the world could you find a group of people, old war buddies, who are as close as they are.
Crabapple Cove, Maine
August 27, 2003
"Fifty three years ago you couldn't convince me that these two would be married, let alone be one of the happiest, if not the happiest couple I know. When we arrived in Korea we saw this blonde siren walking across the compound our way and Hawk said to me I'll never forget this, "Would you look at her, she's got a body I'd like to tango all night with." Who would of known that that Army major would give us the worst time. I took an immediate dislike to her as well as Hawk so I thought, but I didn't find out until later Margaret was one of the most wonderful and talented women I know, and that Hawk was in love with her from first sight. I'm happy for you two of you and Congratulations on fifty years of marriage."
"Well when I got the phone call fifty years ago to be Hawk's best man, I knew. I knew he was marrying Margaret. It came to no surprise to me. You see Hawk and Margaret went to a different M*A*S*H unit to demonstrate a new technique that they had developed at the 4077th when they came back, Hawk told me what had happened between he and Margaret and he admitted that she stirred something in him. I always knew they'd wind up together whether or not they wanted to admit it. She would always run to him for comfort and he would confide in her. They were each other's comfort they always have been. Congratulations to two of the best friends I've ever had. Fifty years of marriage is beautiful thing, I wish you many more years together."
"Margaret I'm glad to see you found happiness but it boggles the mind to see you've found in such a cretin like Pierce."
"I'll never forget the time Hawkeye, Margaret, and I went to the front to help at an Aid Station. The compassion between those two was something I had never seen. The next morning when I woke up I saw those two sleeping together and he was protecting her and keeping her warm. When we were entering camp after we returned from the Aid Station he looked at Margaret and said, "Your my favorite Officer in the whole U.S. Army," and he kissed her on the cheek. Congratulations you two!"
"I'll never forget when the whole camp had to 'bug out' and Hawk, Margaret, and I were left by ourselves with the enemy approaching. I remember how scared Major... I mean Margaret was that the enemy would harm her and Hawkeye comforted her and assured her nothing was going to happen. Congratulations!"
"Mom, Dad, I'm so glad to have parents as wonderful as the two of you are. You have helped me in every way possible, emotionally, physically, and even spiritually. You have been there for me when times were rough and I though I'd lost my way. You both have my guidance and the best friends I could have. Daddy you're the man I measure all others too and I couldn't ask for a better father. Mom you've been the nurturer and friend, and I couldn't ask for a better mother either. You two are my strength, and on your special day I raise my glass in honor to you. I love you both. Congratulations!"
"I guess it's my turn now! Mom, Dad I love you. I'm glad to have had the support of the two of you in my decisions to become the best I could possibly be. You two know I'm not big on speeches like my Oscar winning sis here but I will tell you both this: Dad thank you, even though you're not to keen on the army thank you for letting me pursue my dream, and have a wonderful mentor such as you have been to me. Mom like Betsy said about Dad you're the woman I measure all other women up to. Again I can't ask for better parents. I love you guys and heres to you. Congratulations!"
"Well, like Trapper said it was love at first sight and what B.J. said it did stir something in me. I have loved you unconditionally since the day we met. I have never been out of love with you. True there has been times when I wanted to ring your neck back in Korea but you know I'd never lay a hand on you. I love you more than words can say, more than the sun, the moon and the stars above. I've never loved anyone as much as I've loved you. I would do anything for you and you know it. That day we said goodbye in Korea I thought my heart was breaking into a million pieces. When I got in the chopper, I had the pilot change directions so I could come and get you without ever looking back. I have never regretted that day. I only regret one thing, not telling you sooner. Every morning I wake up and look at the woman next to me. I fall in love all over again. I often marvel at nature's ability to create such beauty. I love you. I'd like everyone to raise their glass and toast to Margaret, the most beautiful, talented, and magnificent woman, the joy of my life Margaret Pierce!"
After Hawk's toast they danced to Nat King Cole's,
"Unforgettable." Everyone danced the night away and talked and reminisced about the past and talked of the present and their plans for the future. It was late when everyone finally left the restaurant with a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean. The sweet smell of summer was almost gone, as Hawkeye and Margaret danced on their pier and then went upstairs to their room.
"Stay here I'm going to get some champagne, and I'll be right back. I love you Ben."
"I love you too, Margaret."
Margaret ran downstairs and into the kitchen. She grabbed a
bottle of champagne and two champagne glasses. It was a very special vintage, a fifty- year old Dom Perion. She had been saving the champagne for just this occasion, a fifty - year- old bottle, for a fifty- year- old marriage. Margaret giggled like a school- girl as she ran up the stairs to meet Ben for the perfect toast to top off the perfect evening. As Margaret entered the bedroom, Ben sit in his favorite chair gazing out the window. As Margaret poured the bubbly champagne she rambled on about how happy her life has been since they have been together. "Ben, I don't know what I would ever do without you, and I hope I never have to find out." She reminisced about their days in Korea, and how something so beautiful was born out of something so ugly. Margaret grabbed up the champagne glasses and walked over to Ben and said, "Honey, I love you more than life itself. Let's toast our love over a glass of champagne." Ben, appeared to be in deep thought and totally consumed with the lovely landscape painted by nature's brush. Margaret placed her hand on Ben's shoulder and softly spoke his name. No reply. She spoke his name again, and again and again. Margaret's champagne glass slipped from her hand and shattered on the floor. Champagne splashed all around her feet as she fell to her knees crying out Ben's name. Ben had left life as he had lived it. Marveling at nature's beauty.
"Here's to you Ben!"
The End
Chrissie
