Wondering about wild grapes

Friday, August 1, 2014

Wondering About Our Golden Anniversery.

Well, today I guess my wife and I should celebrate.  Today is our 50th wedding anniversary.  You know, it took about 50 years of being married to get to this day (grin).  So, would you like to hear the story about that day?  No!?!?, you say?  Well I am going to tell you anyway.

I kept asking her father for his approval and he said that he liked me but I couldn't marry his daughter until I had at least $20,000.00 in the bank.  Back 50 years ago that was a huge amount of money and if you look up the average income in 1964, it was about $6,000.00 per year.  And at that time that was about what I would earn, but I did work all the overtime that I could get which put me above the national average, but no where near twenty grand.  In other words, he said no.

Of course that didn't stop us.  But, we decided to do things a little different.  The first thing we did was get blood tests and requested a copy and for the doctor to not tell.  Then we arranged for a preacher.  A fellow from my class when at school and his date for the day, came along.  The night before, when my aunt was visiting us, I asked them if they wanted to go to a wedding the next day.  They asked who was getting married and I said "me".  Three mouths dropped open, but they agreed

In order to not be charged with the Mann act, we dropped off the two girls and they took a taxicab across the border.  My friend and I followed behind and then we picked the girls up on the other side.  Most eloping couples from Pennsylvania go to Maryland to get married.  We chose Mayville, NY because it was in the opposite direction and then we spent a very short honeymoon in Ohio.  Yes, we were a conniving couple!!  Anyway, that was 50 years ago today.  So far, the only ones to remember were my best friends in Pennsylvania who did the same thing about a year later.  They sent an email to congratulate us.  Maybe my wife and I could go out to Luby's and get a bite to eat, what do you think?  Now, I want you all to also have a great day, today, you hear?

26 comments:

  1. DD,
    I really think that she deserves something a bit "fancier" than Luby's. lol Golden Coral maybe? ;-)
    Happy 50th Anniversary to you both.
    Sci

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will let her decide. Golden Coral went out of business in our town.

      Delete
  2. Supper at Indian Lodge Fort Davis would be nice.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would prefer that but, remember, my motorhome is still in the shop. I had wanted to go out there this spring, but no RV. Maybe this Fall.

      Delete
    2. Long drive in the Jeep with three dogs and a wife. A lot of motels don't allow that many dogs, if any. So, I would have to drive straight through. Use to do things like that but now I am definitely way too old. I will wait for the RV.

      Delete
  3. What a beautiful love story! Best wishes to you and your wife on this day, and I hope you have many more anniversaries together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess if we made it this far, we can go a few more.

      Delete
  4. Congrats to both of you. She must be a very special lady.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Shadowmoss. Of course I think she is a special lady.

      Delete
  5. Congratulations! 50 years and a good story too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Rob, It seems everything we do has a story to it.

      Delete
  6. I would much rather hear of your story, or my story, than ones from couples who spent $20,000+ on a fairy tale wedding. They NEVER have good stories to tell.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In a lot of those "fairy tale weddings", the marriage didn't last very long. . nowhere near 50 years. You know, I was just 21 when we got married and of course my wife was only a baby (grin).

      Delete
  7. Congratulations! May the next 50 be just as fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would be 121 years old by then. . . and yes, that would be nice if we could keep our health.

      Delete
  8. Congratulations to both of you... and what a story to go along with it. You didn't write what her father said when y'all told him that you were married... that would be a story to hear.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I left that part out on purpose. . . He finally came around when our first son was born. I guess he really wanted to be a grandfather.

      Delete
    2. Awwwww. Many more happy years for you together I hope.

      Delete
    3. I imagine we will be together for ever and ever. I don't expect death to do us part.

      Delete
  9. I've been reading your blog for a while and really enjoy it.Congratulations on your 50th We had ours too in Jan. just passed. I just love your telling of your day, it put a big smile on my face. We would have loved to have done it the same way that you did. This year I turn 70, where have all those years gone. You sound like lovely people and you love dogs so that confirms it. Stay happy and yes we too will be together for ever and ever. Cas in Australia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you ever so much for your comment and congratulations on your 50th anniversary, too. Sure glad you two feel the same way.

      Delete
  10. wow,,, 50 ,,,, years! wow. gotta do something really special. Is this one the gold? good for yall.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, it is the "gold" one and we ate out at Luby's.

      Delete
  11. Vada in Dublin,Tx.We celebrated our fifty first this year and we still hope for many more together.My husband earned 310.00 monthly before taxes so you would of been one of the well off ones in 1963.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I got a chance to move up to the engineering department from the labor gang. Big move but a drop in pay to start. Left all that overtime and started at $440.00 per month. That would have been around 1966 plus or minus.

      Delete