About three weeks ago, we celebrated an amazing opportunity. We observed an anniversary marking 72 years as one.
Our children took us out for dinner to mark the special occasion. Dinner was topped off with a beautiful and delicious cake baked and decorated by our daughter.
The evening was also marked by a little storm that passed through the area. It was one to remember.
Hubby and I decided to get married at a young age. in fact, we were teenagers ,19 And 16. He was working and I was registering as a junior in high school, active in school activities including basketball and softball teams.
The Big Day arrived, as did the Labor Day weekend just prior to school registration. We casually went about our usual routine.
We met the minister at his home following an evening service joined by only a few family members.
This weekend included a large family gathering on Sunday, celebrating my Daddy’s birthday. This was an annual event when Mother invited all the relatives on both sides of the family, plus any of the neighbors who wished to join us. It was always a big event held the last Sunday in August and this year was no exception. Things went on as usual.
Tuesday following Labor Day, rolled around and it was the first day of school for this newly married “student”. When our home room teacher called roll, I didn’t answer to the name I had registered under. He was shocked. “Why didn’t you register under this name “. he asked. “ Because that wasn’t my name when I registered.”
School progressed as usual and I continued to participate in all my regular activities, including basketball, which created a little problem later in the year.
During this time, Hubby was drafted to go serve with his Uncle Sam. I became attending classes more irregularly, which actually bothered the basketball coach more than anyone. He came to my parents’ house and tried to persuade me to come back to school, but I felt by that time, I was too far behind and could not catch up (which actually wasn’t true) but he couldn’t convince me.
In several months Uncle wanted his boys to be transferred and that meant Hubby would go to Germany for several months.
I decided to take a job with a small salary which kept me busy until he returned.
We built a house here on our home place and started our family, which consisted of three children. When the third one started school, so did I. I picked up a few hours and earned my GED, then started college at SAU, graduated Cum Laude and taught school 20 years/
The years passed quickly. We shared fun times with our children, traveled extensively. A sad event took our middle child at the age of 45, marking the saddest time in these 72 years but we celebrated 50 years with the three of them. A big party with friends and family marked our 70 years together, and just a short while ago, just the 5 of us (including 1 in law) marked the special day making number 72 seem as one.
Fannie Moore lives in Shongaloo.