Signed & Sealed with a Kiss!

Every day he looks at her picture and thanks her because she made him the man he is today. At 91 years old Mr. Willie sat across from me and told me his story. I was so touched by the tears that affectionately traced the rugged, aged features of my new friend. Today I want to share the story of Mr. Willie and Ms. Francis, native Wacoans and high school sweethearts.

Thier story begins and ends in my hometown of Waco, Texas. Mr. Willie was a self proclaimed bashful child. He enjoyed playing with friends, riding his bike through Cameron Park, and jumping into the cold waters of the local pond on a hot Texas afternoon. When it came to girls, he was quiet and stayed in the background.

One day, a young Mr. Willie walked into Freshman English at Waco High. He had been a football player for North Jr. High and unbeknownst to him, his future wife had attended South Jr. High. According to Willie, his teacher set them up on their first date... well at least it was a date on the calendar and the first time they met. Everyday Willie sat at the desk in front of the young and beautiful Ms. Francis.

It seemed Willie was always chosen to stand up and read the poems in front of the class.... and her. Though Francis sat quietly behind him she must have been captured by his voice or drawn in by his shy countenance. Willie never forgot the day he came home from school and turned around to find his mothers furrowed brow and tilted head. Willie had worn a black and white checked button up shirt to school that day; each white square was large and measured at least an inch wide.

"Willie why do you have F.W. in every white square on the back of your shirt?" his mother exclaimed.

"Why that crazy girl that sits behind me, Francis!" Willie answered in disbelief.

It wasn't long before Willie had worked up the nerve to go to Francis house and ask her out. There was just one problem, he was still shy and bashful. So, he sat there on her front porch and waited. He waited for hours, until the ever-lovely Ms. Francis walked out the front door.

She looked him in the eyes with wonder on her face and proclaim with certainty, "You know, you could have knocked on the door."

To which he simply replied, "You had to come out sometime."

Many years have passed and time took Ms. Francis to her resting place, yet the love I saw that day in Mr. Willie's eyes proved there is a force greater than death itself. Love lasted through health and heartache, and found its way to the battle field of the Vietnam War. There Mr. Willie could not wait patiently by the door for Ms. Francis, but instead he waited patiently for mail call.

Ms. Francis dedicated herself to writing letters to her love as he fought for his country. Mr. Willie recalled receiving these letters with a glimmer of light in his eyes. I realized fairly quickly it was not light, it was tears that reflected the complex emotions of loss and love. Mr. Willie appeared to fade into his memories as he described the letters. Then, he looked at me, smiled and softly spoke.

"They were always signed and sealed with a kiss."