The Foreign Service Journal, October 2005

the Foreign Service after marriage. That was generally true, but I know of at least one exception. In 1969, on my second tour, in Madagascar, I fell in love with a young Frenchman. About the same time, one of my colleagues became engaged to a young Frenchwoman. He ignored all the regulations then in place about getting permission from Washington before marrying a foreign citizen, and married her within a few weeks (to my knowledge never receiving so much as a stern word of reprimand). I, too, wanted both marriage and a career, and I did not want to give Washington any excuse to deny them to me. So I followed the regulations to the letter, submitting all the paper- work about my fiancé well in advance. I also submitted my res- ignation letter, but basically threw myself on Washington’s mercy. As I recall, it said something along the lines that although I was turning in my resignation as required, I didn’t mean it: I love the Foreign Service, and I’m still available for worldwide assignments. Please don’t make me leave, I pleaded. To everyone’s amazement but mine (in my inno- cence, I could not conceive that the answer might be negative), months later a cable arrived granting me permission to marry. We were wed on Aug. 7, 1969, in the city hall of Antananarivo, followed by a cere- mony at the public affairs officer’s residence, presided over by then- Ambassador David King, an elder in the Mormon church (a long story in itself, since neither my husband nor I was Mormon). I continued my career until my retirement in 2000 at the rank of minister-coun- selor. Alas, I no longer have either the resignation letter or the cable from L E T T E R S u O C T O B E R 2 0 0 5 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 9 Fully furnished apartments and single family homes, with large spacious rooms, full sized kitchens, and housewares. Separate living, dining and sleeping areas. Hotel style amenities, including swimming pools, hot tubs, fitness centers, optional maid service and more. Rates within the TDY per diem. Whether you are with the Local, State or Federal Government agency or the military, Crimson offers superior solutions to fit your budget and per diem. Crimson Government Housing Solutions Include: Assignment Changes Evacuations Intern Programs International Visitors Project teams Relocations Short / Long Details TDY Training Crimson offers an exceptional value in temporary housing for government personnel. Our furnished apartments and single- family homes are a spacious and more luxurious alternative to the cramped quarters of a hotel room. 202.986.0433 888.233.7759 info@crimsonworldwide.com www.crimsonworldwide.com