EVERYONE HAS SOMETHING HAPPEN ONCE WHICH CAN CHANGE THEIR LIFE FOREVER. SOME TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT AND FIND THEMSELVES TRULY BLESSED. However, too many let it pass by and forever wonder with regret what could have resulted if they had just accepted the challenge and not let the opportunity pass. I was a young Naval officer recruit when I met a young Irish orphan girl on a blind date. Her childhood had been far different from most young girls as her father was an Irish immigrant who at around sixty years of age married a young lady in her early thirties. Betts was their only child. Unfortunately her mother died when Betts was just two years old and her father died when she was eleven. From the time she was an infant until she was ready for high school, she lived mainly with two orders of Catholic nuns. At that time she became a foster child to a family from Armenia. After our first date, Betts and I became a close twosome until my Naval duties took me to the South Pacific during WWII. After a separation of close to fifteen months a Dear John letter brought me to my senses a what was really important in my life. The book recounts how the situation was rectified as we both realized What Could Change Our Lives Forever And Took Advantage Of It. Just prior to our marriage, Betts said she had spent so much of her life alone that she hoped we would have a large family. That request was answered. Her most gracious, friendly nature was appreciated by everyone she met. She was the center of stability for our family as we weathered the uncertainties of my business career and lived in thirteen homes in five states. One Chance in a Lifetime The life story of an Irish Orphan Girl and how she enriched the lives of a family of eight By John R. Kilsheimer AuthorHouse Copyright © 2011 John R. Kilsheimer All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4670-5438-6 Contents Preface......................................................................1Chapter One The Beginning....................................................2Chapter Two Betty's Early Childhood..........................................4Chapter Three Relocation.....................................................6Chapter Four The Cambere Family..............................................8Chapter Five High School - A New Arrangement.................................10Chapter Six Our First Date...................................................13Chapter Seven Holy Cross College.............................................15Chapter Eight The Misunderstanding...........................................17Chapter Nine The Last Hurrah.................................................19Chapter Ten Business as Usual - Then "The Letter"............................21Chapter Eleven The Interim Period............................................24Chapter Twelve Planning Together.............................................26Chapter Thirteen New Problems - New Solutions................................27Chapter Fourteen Betts' Recovery.............................................29Chapter Fifteen Final Plans..................................................31Chapter Sixteen Our Wonderful Day............................................33Chapter Seventeen Our Honeymoon..............................................37Chapter Eighteen Sharing Life with the Rodgers...............................39Chapter Nineteen Decision Time Again.........................................42Chapter Twenty Syracuse......................................................43Chapter Twenty-One The Barracks..............................................45Chapter Twenty-Two The Big Day Arrives.......................................47Chapter Twenty-Three Life in the Fast Lane...................................49Chapter Twenty-Four West Virginia Here We Come...............................52Chapter Twenty-Five Our New Home.............................................56Chapter Twenty-Six Life Moves Steadily On....................................59Chapter Twenty-Seven The Pace of Life Quickens...............................62Chapter Twenty-Eight Church - Social Life - School...........................64Chapter Twenty-Nine Christmas................................................66Chapter Thirty Time to Move Again............................................68Chapter Thirty-One A New Start...............................................70Chapter Thirty-Two Getting Settled In........................................72Chapter Thirty-Three Recreation: Summer and Winter...........................74Chapter Thirty-Four Two Special Trips........................................77Chapter Thirty-Five Milestones...............................................82Chapter Thirty-Six Off to Ohio - A New Start.................................86Chapter Thirty-Seven Major Business Meetings.................................88Chapter Thirty-Eight Work, Play, and High School.............................92Chapter Thirty-Nine Everyone Worked.