Remembering June 15, 1969

It was Sunday. In fact, it was Father’s Day. But this Father's Day my Dad did the giving. He gave away his daughter.

It was unusual timing for a wedding. We all went to the morning worship service, then left to get ready for our afternoon wedding ceremony. While we were getting dressed and primped for the wedding, many of our dear friends stayed at the church building to decorate and set-up for the wedding and reception.

Our wedding was simple. We each had only one attendant. My bride’s maid was my very best childhood friend, Shelley. Dan’s best man was his Uncle Wiley. We had two pretty little flower girls and an adorable ring bearer.

Those were the days when a wedding didn’t require a lot of money. It was not the custom to have a meal catered; a wedding cake, mints, nuts and fruit punch was all that was ever expected! The church fellowship hall served nicely as the reception venue. There were no facilities-fees for using the church building. No one had even heard of a wedding coordinator. We did hire a photographer and we did purchase some corsages, a bride’s bouquet, and a couple of flower arrangements. All in all, our wedding probably cost about $600, but $300 of that was for my wedding dress, which I paid for, myself, through the sale of my fox-fur parka, which I wouldn't need, living in Texas.

After the wedding and reception, Dan and I left for the airport, to catch our plane to Seattle, where we would spend our first night together. Typical of travel in Alaska, our flight was canceled; as I recall the plane had mechanical problems. But we were able to get on the evening flight, which still put us into Seattle that night.

Our honeymoon involved driving from Seattle, Washington, to Abilene, Texas, in time for me to start summer school. We drove down the Oregon coast; through Death Valley, to Las Vegas; to the Grand Canyon of Arizona; and on to Texas. We were traveling in our 1968 Mustang, with NO air conditioning. That trip through the Mojave Desert was a killer!

The wedding ceremony was simple – even plain – by today’s standards; but the vows were made and taken seriously. Forty-two years later, we’re still committed to them and to each other.

Happy 42nd anniversary to my husband, my friend, my partner in life’s decisions, my comforter in difficult times, the father of my sons, the grandpa of my grandchildren, my spiritual encourager, my protector and care-giver, my provider, the one who shares my dreams, the man who multiplies my joys and divides my sorrows.

Here are some lyrics I heard recently, from a bluesy-jazz number, first released in 1941, recorded dozens of times since, and still being recorded today. I think the words tell our story well:

In this world of ordinary people
Extraordinary people
I'm glad there is you

In this world of over-rated pleasures
Of under-rated treasures
I'm so glad there is you

I live to love, I love to live with you beside me
This role so new, I'll muddle through with you to guide me

In this world where many, many play at love
And hardly any stay in love
I'm glad there is you

More than ever, I'm glad there is you

("I'm Glad There Is You," Paul Madeira & Jimmy Dorsey)

Here's a YouTube recording of Johnny Mathis singling I'm Glad There Is You. It has a prelude to it, so you have to listen awhile to get to the main lyrics. Johnny Mathis has always been one of Dan's and my favorite artists. We loved listening to him in that '68 Mustang, on our 8-Track player!