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   I remember like yesterday working for the Best School Nurse in Newark New Jersey, Essex County Vocational and Technical High School for the year 1982-1983.   I was assigned to her to finish out my last senior year of school.  I was so impressed to work with her since she was an amazing woman (and of course still is)!   She always proudly spoke about her son in the Navy!  Every time she talked about him, she glowed.   And of course, me being young and naïve, I really took a liking to this son of hers.  I never seen a picture of him, nor have I ever asked her where her son may be.   

     Well I completed my time with her and was sadden to leave the school upon graduation.  When I graduated I decided to live in the civilian world doing odd jobs here and there, which unfortunately never worked out for me.  I enlisted in the United States Navy because I found that their female uniform was most impressive.  I was twenty-one years old and with no longer thinking of Mrs. Franks’ son.  This thought was long behind me.   

     Boot camp came and went and I remember being asked by the detailer at “A” school in San Diego Ca if I spoke Spanish.  When I replied, “yes”, he immediately said “okay you’re going to Panama”!!! Wow, I was in tears.  Never even heard of Panama back then!  It was 1987 when I first stepped foot in the country that I was scared of.  All was great then, I was picked up at the airport by RM1 Maldonado and greeted by RMSN Miti and RMSN Hernandez.  I was impressed how friendly everyone was. 

      After a few months of Panama I remember going to the lounge and I am not quite sure who I was talking to, Paul says Carrie Harrison, but I remember commenting about the School Nurse’s son and how I really liked this guy without ever knowing him.  This is when Paul Frank overheard our conversation and tells me; hey my mom is a school nurse in Newark NJ.   When he asked what the name of the school was and I replied “Essex Co Voc Tech HS”, he pretty much said, “Well here I am, Mrs. Frank Son!!!”  I told him you are that person that Mrs. Frank spoke about all those years!

     Shocked, Yes I was!!!!!!!!!!!!  After all these years, I finally got to meet the man with a mom that adored him so very much, the man that I had a school girl's infatuation for!! It’s funny how small the world really is, you never know what the world has in store.

     Paul was then and is now married to a wonderful lady and they both are dear friends.

 Wanda (Jan87-Jan89)