By Dennis Acop
I had given up on Joji for much of 1982. She was ahead of me in years and I felt she then saw me just as a friend. But I always felt differently about her. I wanted to be more than just her friend. Anyway, I let it go.
In February of 1983, I had to look for a date as our 100 days until graduation was coming up. The event was marked by a 100th Night Show where members of the graduating class performed a humorous skit of sorts commemorating the tradition. The skit usually consisted of scenarios through the graduating class’ four-year journey through the academy. These scenarios were exaggerated a bit to exact humorous laughter from the class especially members who had personally gone through them.
I was busy ringing numbers of prospects from our company phone booth after dinner. One was from Philly but she couldn’t make it as her place was allegedly too far away plus her mother wouldn’t approve. Another one was closer as she was from Queens, New York but the same reason was given — the mother wouldn’t allow especially in far-away evenings unescorted. I returned to my room and just about gave up when I was told by a yearling that I had a telephone call. Wondering who it was as I wasn’t expecting, I just walked back to the booth to answer the call. Soon as I heard a female voice from the other end, I immediately replied ‘Ging?!’ To my delightful surprise, it wasn’t the voice I thought but someone else’s — Joji’s!
Initially, I was lukewarm as I had already forgotten about her to be honest. But Joji has the nicest voice and diction that would quickly dispel your slightest irritation. She asked how I was doing. And what was up with me. She actually called me at no better time. It was like everything was on cue. So I told her about the 100th Nite Show and my need of a date. She quickly obliged telling me that she’s never been to a cadet hop and would be delighted to be in one. Right then and there I knew she had come around since the last time I saw her about over a year before. Our date was then set. I told her she should check-in to the Hotel Thayer just inside the academy grounds past Thayer Gate from Highland Falls.
Come Friday, I was so excited I couldn’t keep my mind off her and into my class at Thayer Hall. The class must have been a Law or History of the Military Art class. Anyway, soon as the bell rang I quickly stepped out onto the hallway, put on my grey scarf and short overcoat then headed walking to Hotel Thayer where she was waiting for me. My gait became hurried as I walked. Thayer Road right by the majestic Hudson River is just so breath-taking especially in the Spring. As I approached her, she smiled and came towards me. I could have kissed her there and then already. But back then I could never get myself to do anything like that. Plus we were only friends. But she was radiantly beautiful. Later, she would tell me how different I already looked. Joji was always modest about speaking her mind. She would say ‘you look better and a lot more mature’ even when she meant ‘I like you’ or even ‘I love you’. Who would blame her? When she first me, my hair was stupidly parted in the middle!
I borrowed a friend’s car so I could pick her up from Hotel Thayer and drive her to the Cadet Mess Hall where the banquet before the show was. It was so funny what happened! Since I was so shy and falling all over myself, I failed to quickly assist her getting out of the car that her long dress got caught. Joji may have been very tempered but at that instance she minced no words admonishing me for not ‘being a gentleman’! Oh well, so much for being too squared-away! I quickly learned after that. She wore a long, black dress and she looked gorgeous! I was in my full dress grey over white uniform. Our photo together in the hall in those attires alongside classmates Bruce Babbitt and Gordon Welch is that scene!
Joji and I had a great time enjoying the banquet and watching the show at Eisenhower Hall. I don’t recall if she had taken the coach back to Manhattan or someone picked her up. But I do know that after that evening she became my girlfriend and soon to be wife. We had several weekend dates in Manhattan. We loved trying out different national dishes including their brews across the city. Watching movies together. Seeing concerts. And just being together.