Remembrance

40 Years! You & Me, Babes!

Friday, August 26, 1978 was the day I said, “I do,” to the man I loved then and do so still. Today, August 26, 2018, we celebrate our love.

Enjoy, with us, a short trip down memory lane from back then…

The Wedding Invitation – Forty years ago!

Invitation to our wedding in 1978 - forty years ago.
Invitation to our wedding in 1978.

The Inside

Forty yrs ago - Invitation
Invitation

The Ceremony

The wedding started promptly at 4:00 p.m. and was such fun. We wrote our own vows and had the organist play music that was popular of the times — Tubular Bells from the Exorcist; Nights in White Satin by Moody Blues; and Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin. Music of the 70s at its finest.

We walked each other down the aisle, and doing so cut the ceremony down by about 10 minutes. After the ceremony, Albert and I were walking out of the church (ahead of the guests) when we saw a couple we had known for several years walking up the sidewalk. Suddenly, the wife took the gift she was carrying and hit her husband upside the head and said, “I told you we would miss it!”

Albert and I laughed so hard.

The Reception

Throughout the reception line, Albert kept pulling at his collar; even back then he would sweat just by breathing. We were looking forward to getting out of our clothes. It was a hot August day.

Wedding image on Aug 26, 1978.
Cutting the cake on Aug 26, 1978.

We saved the top of the cake for our one year anniversary. It didn’t keep well. Neither one of us got a good taste of the cake. We heard it was wonderful.

We had matches as souvenirs. Wish I had a picture of the matchbook. It said The Perfect Match with our names and date. Of course, back then, everybody smoked.

The After Party and the Honeymoon

We left the church and everyone was invited to our house out in the cove. It was an old farm-house we rented with 29 acres. A wonderful place that we enjoyed very much. We lived there all of four months. The landlord decided he wanted to sell the farm. Being young newly weds, we couldn’t afford it.

Lots of folks dropped in for the after party. We left for our honeymoon about ten that night. One of my bridesmaids agreed to stay at our house while we were gone on our honeymoon.

Our Honeymoon began as one big adventure that kept repeating itself (Stay tuned for future reveals). My husband is not a planner when we travel. Any plans we have, it is because I make them. It was my job to plan and pull off the wedding. His one and only job was the honeymoon. I should have known what was in store for me, but I was blinded by love.

The First Surprise

We arrived in Roanoke about 11 or 11:30 p.m.; and I asked where would we be staying. Albert smiled at me and said, “It’s a surprise.” And it was.

Albert had failed to make reservations. As it turned out, there were two different concerts that weekend–one in Salem and one in Roanoke. There were no beds to be had. I lost count after the fifth hotel/motel we stopped to check for a possible bed. It was getting close to 12:30 a.m. when I looked at Albert and said, “Okay, I give. Where is the surprise?”

He laughed and said, “I’ll try one more place.” It was a Motel 6. He came back to the truck (yes, my husband is such a romantic) and said, “I got us a room. But, you’re going to have to be imaginative about the room.”

I snickered and wondered aloud, “How imaginative?”

“It will be fine,” he replied.

The manager walked us up to the room, which I thought was odd. All of the rooms along the corridor opened on to the walkway-balcony. The manager stopped at the end room and looked at me and said, “I’m sorry miss, but this is all we have.”

He opened the door and there were two twin beds, unmade, covered with old furniture. To add insult to injury, there was no air conditioning.

By about 2:00 a.m., we finished moving the furniture and got settled in for the night.

“Honey, you’ve been such a good sport, I want to give you this gift to show you my love,” Albert said handing me a beautifully wrapped box.

I replied, “Oh, my. I have something for you too.” I handed him a smaller box wrapped in blue paper with summer flowers.

He opened his box and it was an engraved pocket watch with Roman numerals with the clock works on display as the second-hand revolved around the face. My box contained a gorgeous diamond necklace.

We snuggled and fell to sleep out of exhaustion.

We hope you enjoyed our little trip down memory lane! We will share more adventures of our time together these last forty years as we celebrate our love.

Update on my next book

The second book, DarkShadow, of The Chronicles of Eldershire is in process. Plans are to have a preliminary DRAFT finished by fall. It is later than planned, but this past summer was hard on me health wise. I found out I was allergic to soy and sesame seed, and then I got shingles. If that wasn’t enough, I’ve fought two bouts of poison ivy. Oh the joys!

Hugs and Write On!
Pam's Signature

 

 

 

40 Years! You & Me, Babes! first appeared on Pam’s Blog on August 26, 2018.

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Remembrance

Give Time in Remembrance

HAPPY MEMORIAL WEEKEND!

 

Memorial Day Vintage Card
Memorial Day Vintage Card

 

In celebration of Memorial Day on Monday, May 29, 2017, my husband, Hobbit King, and I are planning to enjoy the entire weekend. In the past, it was sort of right of passage for summer. We knew that when this weekend came, we’d be moving into three months of bliss – summer.

Ten years ago, leading up to this holiday, our family was struck with three deaths within a ten-day period. First, my mother passed away on May 17 from complications of Alzheimer’s. During her funeral, my nephews, Justin and Josh, helped my brother, his wife, as well as me, my husband, and our daughter adjust to the fact that mother was gone. They did this in the only way those two could – through their kind words and hugs.

Then, on Sunday, May 27, the day before Memorial Day, Justin and Josh were in a car accident. Justin, 18, died on impact. He was two weeks away from his high school graduation. Josh, 24, lingered for a day, and then passed away. He had a young son and he had a promising future before him. Our family lost two handsome and beautiful souls that weekend. It goes without saying that it was devastating. We were at a loss. Death had taken much from us.

You may wonder why I share this now. It is because Memorial Day and Memorial Weekend is a time of remembrance.

In our family, it has and always will be a time to remember those who gave their lives and talents in service to our country. My father was in the Army and fought in both WWII and Korea. My mother was a WAC during WWII. Hobbit King’s father served in the Army during WWII and Hobbit King served during Vietnam. We both had uncles who served as well. And, it is an important time of remembrance for those we lost too soon – Justin and Josh.

Run for the Wall (RFTW)

Over the years, we remember in different ways. One of those ways comes around in a unique way. For the last fifteen or so years, our little town has celebrated with the riders who take part in the Southern Route of The Run for The Wall celebration each year. RFTW started in 1989, growing from the love of two Vietnam Veterans that saw a need and felt this one-act could help them help their fellow veterans (Click on the link for details about the ride). Today, Wednesday, May 24, the riders (a group about 500 strong) roared into town on their motorcycles with rain falling on them after eight grueling days riding cross-country from California. The sound of them all coming into town is indeed like “rolling thunder.”

The RFTW website shares why this ride is important and personal for each rider. The following is copied from the Southern Route itinerary information:

As we make our journey across this great land, please reflect on why you have chosen to join us. Be mindful of the RFTW Mission Statement:

  •   To promote healing among ALL veterans and their families and friends:
  •   To call for an accounting of all Prisoners of War and those Missing in Action (POW/MIA);
  •   To honor the memory of those Killed in Action (KIA) from all wars; and
  •   To support our military personnel all over the world.

What a worthy cause to take part and show support for our military. If you are not familiar with the Run for The Wall organization, what it means, and what it represents, I urge you to learn about it. Take time to learn about this promotion of healing for all veterans and their families and friends, and cheer these brave men and women on their ride to Washington, DC. where they will place wreaths at the memorials of our fallen service personnel.

Each rider is given a nick name when he or she joins in the RFTW ride. During twelve of those years, Hobbit King and I offered food and shelter to two very special riders – Nine Ball and Pocket (Don and Della). We came to love their visits with us. Two years ago, Don retired. So, he and Della do not make the long ride via motorcycles any more. But, in my heart, they are here visiting us today. They live in Arizona; we don’t get to see them like we used to do. One day, Hobbit King and I need to make a trip out west and visit them!

Time for Remembrance

This weekend, Hobbit King and I will be continuing our remembrance and celebration of Memorial Day and what it means to place a wreath, or stand and sing with our hands over our heart. We will celebrate in the lives lived, lives lost, and lives remembered. And, I’ll think of the words of poet W. S. Merwin from his poem Separation that I hope you will take the time to click and read. The poem is only two sentences long, but what powerful emotions he stirs in nineteen words. Please take time to read the works of Mr. Merwin. You will be blessed by them.

May your Memorial Weekend and Memorial Day be a time of blessing for you as you remember.

Always with Cheers,
Pam