Seeing Gail Again: Larry Farmer

Seeing Gail Again: Larry Farmer

Can a relationship between two people be based on more than just chemistry and love? When people drift apart and find themselves intertwined in other relationships can they come back to someone they thought they lost? When we meet Jericho is about to reconnect with someone who changed his perspective on life, art, music, history, culture and religion. When we meet them he is about to remember the first time they met eight years before in the summer of 1973 in the English Lake District near Scotland. Imagine the pounding of his heart, grabbing his backpack to catch the train and enter the compartment and then see her for the first time in a different light. Can you recreate what was lost? As you hear Jericho speak and remember the past Gail thought in her mind about meeting him again. Thinking out loud he admits that he likes the new Gail and her new appearance remembering the Hank Williams Song that describes how she felt about him when she saw him getting off the train in the present. Singing the words of the song and renewing their hopes and feelings he began to remember their first meeting. But, can they rekindled the flame and when she rejected him and then realized that they were lost in their own worlds, taking time to begin new lives and then realizing that her rejection of him four years before has not faded yet. Their meeting is quite remarkable yet they remind each other that Jericho left to go to Israel, the Yom Kippur War in 1973 and the reasons they separated. Relationships on both sides. Excuses given for their actions and then the author takes us back to where it all began when the story flashes back. A romance of a different kind one that is more structured, coordinated to fit the needs of both Gail and Jericho, one that is often austere, filled with their pasts, presents and their different hopes for the future.
Visiting an old friend brought back memories for Jericho and talking over old times. Finishing his PhD his friend went home to Delhi and tagged him into tagging along. But, Jericho is a pure Texan from Texas and it’s time for him to see the world starting with Luxembourg, France and then Calais getting the scoop from his friend about how American’s are treated overseas in which places to avoid and why. Finding himself in London and his friend says wind up in the Lake District where people catch rides with trucks or lorries and people are friendly.

The story once again begins when Jericho gets of out the marines and returns home to his father’s farm. So far away in Viet Nam for so long he needed to center himself and be with people that cared for him, help on the farm and feel loved and nurtured.
Throughout the novel the reader hears both voices as they meet in the past, work together focus on their individual needs and choices. Jericho at the start of the flashback goes home and then decides to travel around hitching rides and hoping to see the world in a different light. Hitching a ride through East Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York the scenery alone was breathtaking. The drivers he met along the way were colorful, listened to different kinds of music and quite invigorating. Going out of America to the Lake District of England would be his goal and he was excited. Even more excited then joining the Marines and serving our country. Ticket to Luxembourg purchased, on the way, Icelandic Airways his destination and a stopover in Iceland and then arriving in Luxembourg. The adventure was just beginning as the author shares some history about England, the Magna Carta and even King George III. A cute scene with a young short, freckled, redheaded girl wanting to share a bench with him and then handed him two aspirins, made him feel better and then asking him for his address and giving him hers. Liz was really cute. Talking about himself and returning the book to her backpack and then telling her about Texas, movies and his life.

`The story will develop when he reaches the Lake District but first we met many truck drivers that give him a rive, talk about alligators and the dangers of dealing with them, carrying a bowie knife and catching the alligators, selling them and more. Entering a van he talks about being from Texas, his appearance gives it away as the author shares his knowledge of music from different time periods, and his short overnight visit to a commune that one of the drivers suggests. Talking to one of the residents about his music, writing songs and then taking her guitar and singing livened up the scene and the book. Life on the ranch and the farm he says is much the same in lifestyle and culture. . The song is related or sung to readers on pages 74 and 75 and I would love to hear it. Next stop he meets Margaret, Pauline and several others at a hotel that would open up more than new doors for him and his great personality, charm and ability to deal with clients and guests helps him soar in his new job which is a waiter in their restaurant and here is where things heat up and get really interesting for both the reader and Jericho.

Joining the staff of the restaurant would be the start of a new life and romance for Jericho but he did not know that as of late. `Mr. Silveri was the man who hired him and being from Texas Jericho seemed to make a great impression on the restaurant manager. Now is where he is introduced to Gail and things change. She was gorgeous and wearing the restaurant attire for a waitress but as she eased into an ever slight but reserved smile it made an impression that would last on Jericho. He would be her commis waiter starting at entry level and assisting her at the tables. She briefly explains the type of silver trays and silverware and the proper uniform and decorum. Their encounter was formal and strained at first and working with him did not make her day as you will witness when he tries to assist her but his manner of speech, his stories and charm endeared him to the customers in the restaurant and the tips were even better.
Other friendships were made as we see him going with Pauline to feed the ducks, she really likes him but his heart from the start is with Gail. Every reference to a place seems to relate to a literary work like Charles Dickens. Having fun with the other girls and then surviving dinner was tense as he seemed clumsy and she remained aloof as you hear his innermost voice about how to scoop mashed potatoes and veggies. The customers really like him and telling them he was from Texas made a dent in the conversation for the better and telling him that he could write like Pearl Buck another reference to a great writer.
Things seem to change after a while and Jericho and Gail mesh and blend and their interests some the same and others different. Music, art, museums and parks filled their conversation as well as the history of many different places and countries. Spending time with the girls at the Old Brittania and the Pub on Windermere filled his time. Lisa also seems glad to spend time with him but the one who seemed more upset that he did not return her feelings was Pauline. Getting thrown out of the bar and having a problem with Pauline was just the start as the bartender talked about LBJ and how he escalated the war in Vietnam making Jericho want to explode. Seeing Gail and telling her how he felt tempered the situation to a point.

Sharing a table with the rest of the waiter friends Jericho and Gail seem to finally connect and they would have their first outing the next day. Imagine taking a ferry ride in front of Old Brittania and then seeing the Beatrix Potter Farm. He is familiar with the story but he loved to talk about his interest in Wordworth too. Talking about his life in Texas, the service and explaining whey he was traveling alone in order to get away from being judged by others. The history lessons are replete with information about Chairman Mao, Hong Kong, the history of the British in Hong Kong and the discussions often lent themselves to history. But, she also asked about his feelings about believing in fate. Things moved ahead slowly and their dates were filled with movies that she wanted to share, sitting their properly and not holding hands and then speaking about D.H. Lawrence, his work and her feelings about the characters.
Reliving her life with her parents and wanting to live a life with not just moral structure, but the true sense of moral purpose defines Gail. She did not like the mischief as she states going around these days about sex and her voice took on a different tone. Living together and developing a romance and wanting more each one turns to their own needs and then something happens to change it all. When Israel is attacked during the 1973 Yom Kippur War the fate of their relationship changes as Jericho explains to an angry Gail why he wants to go there and help out in any way he can. African history, Mayan, the Old Testament, Eastern Religions take front and center in their discussions and talking about being Jewish, his commitment to his heritage and the contempt spread across her face as he stated “ I am sick that the Jews have nowhere to go. They didn’t do anything to anybody.” Having family that fought in that war and joined the service I admire the author for relating these important events. Going to tell the restaurant manager that he needed his passport back and that he was now going to leave saddened everyone. Asking how going to Israel is going to change anything he comes back with DID YOU LOSE ANYONE OVER THERE during WWII or in Vietnam or China? The final chapters explain it all as author Larry Farmer brings to light many issues about the Middle East unrest, wars, his travels, his relationships when gone, Sadat and Egypt and finally leaves readers wondering what the fate of both Jericho and Gail will be when that final train car leaves someone standing alone. Will she go to Switzerland with him if and when they reunite? Will he remain alone pondering whether he made the right decision? Trust, love, moral values, differences in ideologies, hope for Israel and learning about many other cultures and customs around the world, once again author Larry Farmer takes readers on an interesting love journey to many amazing places around the world as Jericho reminds us of his time SEEING GAIL AGAIN!
Fran Lewis: Just reviews/MJ magazine