Saga of a Singular Woman: Martha Delynne (Lynne) Haley Johnson

By Mike Johnson

Dianne Haley Vots on her sister Lynne: I knew she thought of me because wherever she went she always brought me presents. While I treasure all of those presents, I see now that she herself was the most precious gift.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: May 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781496916402

Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson is a New York Times bestselling writer of comics, games, and animation. Since 2015, he has worked as a writer and creative consultant for ViacomCBS on Star Trek games and interactive projects. His work on the Star Trek franchise began in 2009 with Star Trek: Countdown, the comics prequel to the blockbuster film Star Trek directed by J.J. Abrams. Since then, Johnson has written and cowritten the most Star Trek comics in the franchise’s history. His other credits include Superman/Batman, Supergirl, and Earth 2 for DC Comics, Transformers for IDW Publishing, and Ei8ht from Dark Horse Comics. He also wrote for the Emmy Award–winning animated show Transformers: Prime. Johnson previously worked in film and TV development for writers/producers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci.

Book preview

© 2014 Mike Johnson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 5/28/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1499-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1500-9 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4969-1640-2 (e)

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER 1. THE MEETING

CHAPTER 2. EARLY DATES

CHAPTER 3. LYNNE’S ORIGINS

CHAPTER 4. OSU VS OU

CHAPTER 5. CONNECTIONS

CHAPTER 6. SPAIN

CHAPTER 7. THE BREAKUP

CHAPTER 8. FROM SEOUL TO SHELBY TO SCHENECTADY

CHAPTER 9. SOUTHERN WOMAN, NORTHERN WEDDING

CHAPTER 10. LYNNE TO SCHENECTADY

CHAPTER 11. THE FIRST BIG MOVE – SCHENECTADY TO CLEVELAND

CHAPTER 12. I’M PREGNANT!

CHAPTER 13. THE FIRST LITTLE BROTHER

CHAPTER 14. BONANZA

CHAPTER 15. FLYING SOUTH

CHAPTER 16. HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT OF ADOPTING?

CHAPTER 17. SPACE – MORE OF IT

CHAPTER 18. GROWING THE FAMILY

CHAPTER 19. STRENGTH AND SACRIFICE

CHAPTER 20. 1979

CHAPTER 21. CHRISTMAS SEASON ROAD TRIPS

CHAPTER 22. UNSCHEDULED SCHOOL BREAK

CHAPTER 23. SPECIAL GET-AWAYS

CHAPTER 24. MEMORABLE FAMILY VACATIONS + A MOVE

CHAPTER 25. ANOTHER LOSS

CHAPTER 26. FAREWELLS

CHAPTER 27. CHANGES AND HAPPENINGS

CHAPTER 28. FIRST OVERSEAS VACATION

CHAPTER 29. THE DISEASE

CHAPTER 30. BACK TO SCHENECTADY

CHAPTER 31. A VERY SPECIAL REUNION – AND A HOMECOMING

CHAPTER 32. EVENTFUL YEAR

CHAPTER 33. THE OREGON TRAIL

CHAPTER 34. DAWN OF A NEW CENTURY

CHAPTER 35. VISIBLE TOLL

CHAPTER 36. IRRATIONAL GRUDGE – AND UNEXPECTED LOVE AFFAIR

CHAPTER 37. ALSACE – ANOTHER INSTANT LOVE AFFAIR.

CHAPTER 38. CRUSHING LOSS.

CHAPTER 39. DEATH OF A SURROGATE

CHAPTER 40. HAPPY HAPPENINGS ON THE 5S – AND CONCESSIONS

CHAPTER 41. SIDE EFFECTS

CHAPTER 42. NO AND NO

CHAPTER 43. NEW TRAVELS, NEW FRIENDS AND NEW GUESTS AT THE JOHNSON INN

CHAPTER 44. BUSY TIMES AT THE JOHNSON INN – AND ABROAD

CHAPTER 45. LYNNE’S LAST TRIPS

CHAPTER 46. LAST DAYS AND FINAL HOURS

CHAPTER 47. AFTERMATH

CHAPTER 48. LASTING LEGACY

CHAPTER 49. CONDOLENCES.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

CLOSING NOTE

Other books by Mike Johnson

Warrior Priest

Fate of the Warriors

God’s Perfect Scar

Mascot, Minister, Man of Steel – The Final Reunion

Shadows of War

Long Journey to Destiny

A Season Forgotten

For Lynne

and for all those family members and friends who kindly contributed personal reflections and favorite stories about Lynne

CHAPTER 1. THE MEETING

May I borrow some paper? Please?

This story begins not with Lynne Haley Johnson’s birth but her first meeting with Mike Johnson. To say it was a chance meeting is no exaggeration.

It was February 27, 1967, about two weeks into the spring semester. The place: the College Green at Ohio University in Athens in the state’s hilly southeast quadrant. The course: History of the English Language with Professor Robert Lint who was as dry as dust and entirely predictable. Start time: 2:10 p.m.

Mike and his friend Bruce Cryder eased into adjacent seats in the second last row in Room 115 in Ellis Hall, a stately edifice built in 1904, three stories high with a huge stone porch and twin winding stone staircases. Professor Lint, short, balding, spare and frumpy-looking in a worn gray tweed jacket, stood placidly at the front of the room. He waited for the pre-class buzz to subside. Ladies and gentlemen, today I want you to be sure there is at least one empty seat between any two of you. No exceptions. Spread out, please. We’re having a little pop quiz.

Groans erupted. Except from Mike and Bruce. They faced each other and smiled knowingly. Mike winked as he rose and moved one seat farther from Bruce.

When you’ve finished the quiz, said Professor Lint, you’ll be free to leave. Now each of you put two sheets of paper on your desk and put all other books and paper under your seats.

Mike ripped two sheets of white, lined paper from a spiral-bound notebook. As he closed the book, a hand tapped him on the shoulder from behind. Simultaneously a soft voice asked, May I borrow some paper? Please.

Mike responded mechanically. He didn’t bother to look back at the source of the request. He just yanked two more sheets of paper from his notebook. Still without looking back, Mike began to pass them back to the voice. But Bruce caught Mike’s eye, winked and nodded No. So Mike began pretending to put them back.

The voice just about erupted. Mike thought she was going to crawl over his seat back and grab the paper. Instead she whispered urgently, Please give me the paper.

Mike relented and passed the paper over his shoulder without looking back. The hand took them and the voice whispered, Thank you.

About 30 minutes later, Mike finished. He was sure he had done poorly. He was unperturbed. Mike’s friend Andy Blank had briefed him on Professor Lint’s predictability. The professor, Andy had confided to Mike, would not grade the quiz. Later he would tell his students that the quiz had been a warning to be prepared in the future.

Mike retrieved his books and notebooks from beneath his seat and looked at Bruce who still was writing. As Mike edged past him, he whispered, See you later. Then, curious, Mike looked at the seat behind his. The occupant’s head was bowed low over her paper, and long black hair further obscured her face. Mike moved to the aisle, walked to the front of the room and dropped his quiz on the professor’s desk. He collected his coat and scarf from a hook on the far wall and left the room. First stop was the men’s room. Better to take a leak now before going outside into the February cold, he told himself. Moments later, back in the hallway, he pulled on a pair of black leather gloves. He walked out the rear door of Ellis and started across College Green’s brick walkways toward the intersection of Court and Union streets.

About 100 feet ahead a young woman was walking slowly, playfully kicking at the snow piled at the edges of the brick walkway. She was in no hurry. She was wearing a brown cloth coat, brown woolen gloves and knee-high brown leather boots. A mass of lustrous black hair bobbed near her waist. It looked very much like the hair that belonged to the woman who had asked for paper. Mike was curious. His pace quickened. With a child-like absence of pretension the woman continued kicking the snow. Mike was watching, amused. When he’d closed to within a dozen feet, he spoke, I always thought snow was made for throwing.

The woman stopped and turned. She was smiling warmly. Not always. If you ever saw me throw, you’d know why I’m kicking it.

Mike detected a soft, slightly southern accent. Aren’t you the one who borrowed paper from me?

Yes, she answered.

As you now owe me a debt, I should know your name.

Lynne Haley.

Mike extended his gloved right hand. I’m Mike Johnson. Lynne took his hand.

I have to get to the drugstore now, Mike said, but how about a Coke date?

Okay. That would be nice.

CHAPTER 2. EARLY DATES

Lynne was living in the white stuccoed Zeta Tau Alpha house at the corner of College and Washington streets. In a diary Lynne kept of the first few months after she met Mike, she wrote this entry:

Feb. 27 – Monday.

Chapter meeting at the house; meeting wasn’t very long.

I forgot to tell you about the neat guy I met in my English class; his name is Michael Lynn Patrick Johnson – a bit of the Irish, wouldn’t you say?

The next day Lynne penned this entry:

Feb. 28 – Tuesday

I saw Mike Johnson again today; he’s really cute.

And then came this entry:

March 1 – Wednesday

I sat next to Mike Johnson in English class today. We talked the entire period. After class he took me down to his dorm and let me read some of his poetry. He does a lot of writing, and his profs think that he should publish some of it. The poems were really good. Then he walked me back up the hill.

Another entry wasn’t long in coming.

March 3 – Friday

TGIF!!!! I ran into Mike as I was heading for my four-hour stint. He said he would see me in class. And he did! He really is nice!! We talked all period again, mainly because we can’t hear the prof. After class we went over to the (Baker) Center for a Coke. Then he walked me back to the house.

Their first big date was set for Friday, March 10. This entry followed:

March 10 – Friday.

WHAT A FABULOUS DAY!!!!!!!!

The very first thing I did was go up to Western Union and send a Happy Birthday telegram to Mike. I just couldn’t wait until this afternoon!! I figured he would get it before our 2:00 class. Well, when we got to class he didn’t say anything, so I assumed he hadn’t gotten it, and I decided to check on it after we got out of class. He asked me if I wanted to go uptown because he wanted me to go with him to buy a record. So after class we were walking across campus and all of a sudden he stopped. He said, All right, I guess I’ve played my little game long enough. Then he grabbed me and said, Thank you for the telegram. Then I commenced to yell at him for not telling me!!! He is just sooooo NEAT!!!! Well, we bought the record and he walked me back to the house. We made a tentative date for Sunday afternoon.

Well, long about 4:00, President (Vernon) Alden came over the radio and said that spring break would start today. Everyone was running around hysterically. I knew there wasn’t much I could do so I watched everyone else. I kept waiting for Mike to call to tell me what we were going to do tonight, and he finally got through to me around 6:00. Since the musical hadn’t been called off, he said we would go on to it.

(The university’s non-academic employees – cooks, maids, custodians, grounds workers, security personnel – had been striking for a week. President Alden was becoming increasingly worried about the health and safety of students. So on that Friday he decided to advance spring break by a couple weeks.)

I was ready early and so I tried to call home while I was waiting for Mike. I couldn’t get a line out so we went on to the play (Stop The World; I Want To Get Off). It was really great and I had a FANTABULOUS TIME with Mike. He’s so neat that you just want to hug him and squeeze him all night long!!!!! After the play we went back to the house, and I tried to call home. I still couldn’t get the operator so we went across the street to a pay phone. I called home and told them the big news. I decided to just go to Dianne’s (Lynne’s older sister by a year, also an OU student who was doing student teaching in Lancaster, about 50 miles north of Athens) for the week. Then we went to the Gourmet Room for a while. We talked and talked. Mike walked me back to the house and then left. Sweet dreams tonight!!!!!!

During their Gourmet Room chat, Mike got his first sampling of Lynne’s sense of whimsy. She told him that her family’s home in Marietta, Georgia was huge, white and fronted with six soaring white columns, one for her mother and father and one for each of the four children. It looks like one of the mansions in Gone With The Wind, Lynne said.

Mike was lapping all this up, thinking that he had begun dating a southern belle of impressive financial means. After concluding her description of the posh home, Lynne paused and then said, Just teasing. We actually live in an ordinary brick ranch. Three bedrooms and one bath.

Before busing to Lancaster, Lynne entered more in that diary:

March 11 – Saturday

Mike called me this morning like he said he would. Then he came over around 12:00. We walked up to the bus station and I got my ticket. Then we walked out Mill Street and crossed the (Hocking) river for parts unknown. We only walked for an hour and then went back to the house. He got Dianne’s address from me and said that he had a surprise for me. He said he wasn’t coming down to visit me but through the aid of one of his buddies I would get a surprise Monday morning. We watched TV and listened to records and then he walked me to the bus station to catch the 3:00 bus to Lancaster. His last words were, Don’t forget your surprise Monday morning!

Mike’s lovable in a different sort of way. He has a very strong personality and a dry sense of humor. He has a deep laugh that’s very indicative of his behavior. His feelings are deep within, and he doesn’t reveal them very often. But he surrounds you with a protective feeling of warmth, concern and consideration.

Later that day Mike caught a ride to his hometown of Shelby with Joel Stentz, one of nine of his high school classmates who had enrolled at OU. The others were Keith Frank, Glenn Griffith, Dennis Jeffers, Rick Landis,