Jack Broome

A Beautiful story

1. November 27, 1977

   Chance meeting at Sun Valley.

   You went to the dance with your sister Beverly and Tom Crenshaw. You were supposed to meet up with Bertie. But she didn’t show up. I went to the dance with Sharon Gann, Becky Masarek and Robin Gann. Sharon drove us. It was Thanksgiving Night 1977. A bunch of Seadrift people were standing at the edge of the dance floor. I introduced myself to you politely while reaching for your hand. I said “ Hello my name is Vicki Gregurek” and you grabbed my hand with. Strong hold and said “ I’m Jack Broome” You smiled, I smiled and laughed and said “oh yeah, I saw you today riding around Seadrift in that hot red Firebird.” You just smiled at me. I said “ I saw you at the Junior High too standing by that red car after you finished playing football with the guys.” You said “I came here tonight with my sister in that red car. We brought Tom Crenshaw with us.” You said that car was right outside in the parking lot. I just laughed and smiled at you and thought were the most handsome man I had ever met in my life. Then you asked me to dance. The Drifters were playing that night. A very popular band back then. I can’t remember the first dance but it was a slow song. You held me close and I felt so safe in your strong arms. I had already seen your muscles when you were taking off a frog tee-shirt at the Jr. High. Man you had some impressive muscles. Anyway we sat at a table and drank mixed drinks and danced some more. They were Vodka Collins if I remember correctly. When the dance was over, and we all getting ready to leave, I said to you, Beverly and Tom that I had a great idea. You could take me back to my Mama’s house in Seadrift. You could let Tom drive that red car of yours. I told the girls I came with my plan for the 3 of you to take me home. My car was in Port Lavaca and we could pick it up the next day. I didn’t want to let you get away. I remember being in the back seat of that Red Formula Firebird and you kissed me for the first time! Oh how I fell for you with that first kiss. We kissed and talked for the next hour while Tom drive your car to Mama’s house. I never wanted the night to end.I remember now that Tobin Gann was brought to Mama’s house by a guy named Danny Dierlam. I told Robin she could stay the night with me at Mama’s house. I hadn’t planned how I was going to get her back to her Daddy’s house in Louise, Texas. You said no problem, we would take her home the next day in your red Firebird. You walked me to the kitchen door and kissed me goodnight. I thought you had brown eyes like your sister Beverly because it was dark. I ran into Mama’s bedroom so happy shouting “Oh my God Mama! I met Jack Broome tonight! He’s so handsome I told her. She said I tripped over a basket of laundry when I ran into Mama’s bedroom to tell her my great meeting up with you. She said that’s wonderful now go to bed. I was 19 years old and you were 22 years old. You were the oldest man I had ever missed. I remember you showing me your belt buckle when we’re at the dance that had a Manitiwac crane on it and you said that’s what you operated out at a petroleum plant in Deer Park, Texas which was near Pasadena, Texas. You lived on Texas Avenue in League City in a 2 bedroom mobile home. I have to start a new chapter so I can finish the rest of the story.

2. November 28, 1977 Friday.

   Our first weekend together.

   The next day you came over and we left for Louise,Texas to take Robin Gann home. You were supposed to go scuba diving in San Marcos, Texas. Another thing that really impressed me was that you could scuba dive. My car was still at Sharon Gann’s house in Port Lavaca, Texas. We figured we could pick it up on our way home from Robin’s house in Louise. You drove through Sonic Drive In in Port Lavaca and bought us all burgers and route 44 size Dr. Peppers I remember you ordering a cheese burger with nothing but ketchup, pickles and onions. I think I got a regular burger cut the onions with mustard instead of mayo. Oh no I remember now! You didn’t get onions because you didn’t want to have onion breath when you kissed me! So sweet of you! Oh my gosh, I was falling fast for you Jack Broome. We got to Robin’s house in Louise. We went walking through the big beautiful barns that had race horses in them. They had beautiful stalls. Robin’s raised and trained race horses for a living. Robin was several years younger than me. I just remembered something else. When we were leaving Sonic, Robin spilled her entire route 44 coke in your back seat of that red Firebird. You said, no problem and didn’t freak out. I was impressed with your calmness. Book back to the barns. I am pretty sure I fell completely in love with you while we were petting those beautiful horses. We drove back to Port Lavaca and then we picked up my little 1973 or 1974 Bronze colored Mercury Capri 2 door coupe. I drove it back to Mama’s house in Seadrift with you following behind. I could see your red Firebird in my rear view window. We got to Mama’s and you walked me to the kitchen door and I saw your beautiful turquoise blue eyes. Oh God, I was falling fast. Another thing to remember is you only brought 1 flannel shirt with you plus a few tee-shirts for the weekend. You had to wash that flannel shirt over and over each day because you didn’t bring any thing else but tee-shirts to wear. You Mama would have killed you for only washing 1 thing at a time! But I believe you washed a few towels with it to save on soap and water. I am sure you brought plenty of underwear to wear but I didn’t know what you had brought. I think I too washed the same shirt over and over again so I could go out with you. You kissed me good night in my Mam’s kitchen and said you would call the next day because you asked me if I wanted to go fishing. I asked you if we could take my little brother Travis with us and you said no problem. Yes! We had a date planned. I said great but I had to take Travis and myself to TSO Eye Center in Victoria to get eyeglasses. You said you would call me to see when I got back from Victoria. So Travis and myself went to Victoria on that Saturday morning very early. I wanted to get back home to go fishing with you in San Antonio Bay. I remember ordering some aviator style glasses with my initials on them which were VLG on the side of the lenses so I would look cool.

3. Same Day! Saturday. Fishing And A Movie.

   Our First Weekend.

   I got home and asked Mama if you had called and I was so happy to hear that you had earlier. I asked Mama what did his voice sound like and she said very deep and manly. I was happy. A sound of a voice makes a big difference to me. I don’t like whining sounding pansy voicrs. I deep deep base voices. So I think I called you back at your Mama’s house which the number was 785-5491. You answered and said hello in that deep baritone, bass voice of your’s and I said hello Jack this is Vicki. Mama said you called and I am returning your call. You asked if you could come pick us up to go fishing. I said of course we are ready. You picked us up, We went back to your Mama’s house to hook up the boat to your Daddy’s pick up truck. We drive out to Swan Point and you put the boat into the water. I was very impressed again. I had never seen a man other than my Daddy put a boat in the water. We fished for a long time. You asked if I wanted to go to a movie in Victoria later that evening. I said yes but can we take Travis too? He was my 11 year old little brother who I thought I had raised myself. We went to see “Where’s Willie” at Salem Six Theater. You bought us popcorn and cokes or Dr.Peppers and paid for everything. This was a rated G movie in a theater that had 6 different theaters under 1 roof. Something I had never experienced in my life. Very impressed Jack Broome. I know I am rambling on but this was the best weekend I had ever had. You took us home after the movie and I said I had to head home on Sunday for work on Monday. You said you would follow me. I was thrilled. On the way back to Wharton, I was driving my car and a rabbit ran across the highway and I couldn’t avoid hitting it and killing it. I had never in my life killed a living thing. I cried all the way down Highway 172 towards Ganado. At Ganado we got onto Highway 59 the big freeway. Traffic was bumper to bumper along that highway to Wharton because it was Thanksgiving weekend. I showed you where I lived in Wharton with my Aunt Lana who was only about 28-29 years old at the time. It was the apartments called The Royal Orleans. Itcwas a beautiful building on the outside with a balcony and French doors leading out the front of the building. My room, which my Aunt Lana let me use had a French doors leading out to the parking lot. There was a big pool in the center of the complex that was in the middle. We went to eat Mexican Food at a restaurant there in Wharton that was near the bridge going over the Colorado River. I probably ordered cheese enchiladas with whole beans and rice cuz I used to only eat beans and rice. I only like my Mama’s enchiladas. You asked handed me your Air Force ring that had a blue sapphire stone set in white gold. You asked me if I would wear it and be your steady girlfriend. I was falling fast. You told me you loved me and wanted to marry me I think? But I know you stayed a very long time at my apartment and we just talked and kissed and talked and fell in love. I was worried about you still having a 3 hour drive back to League Cuty so you could go to work the next day. I think you stayed until midnight before heading back. You said it was fine because all of the traffic would have died down. I think you got home at 3 am and got up at 5:00 am and went to work. Good Lord Jack Broome! How did you work on 2 hours of sleep. This was the end of a Sunday. I need another chapter for the following week. But it was amazing. Cards, letters and a phone call on Tuesday nights held us together until we married on April 15,1978. Will write more later. I am typing this on the phone and my fingers are going numb. I love you Jack Broome.

Memories

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  Vicki

  I loved you from the moment wreaked through the barn.

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  Vicki

  I love