Y’all know I’m a talker who always has a story to tell. I go on repeat sometimes. Today is one of those times with a slight twist. I asked Lulu if she remembers the story of how her dad & I got engaged. She says “I sure do” & repeats this …
You’d been working at your first real job since February. In March, the rental became available on Glamis after former tenants snuck out in the middle of the night while two months in arrears. Your parents were kind-hearted people who let their tenants pay late or as much as they could when they could. You wanted to rent the house but Gran said “NO!” at the same time Grandpa said “sure why not? She’s got to grow up sometime Theresa”.
Dad was looking for a place too and said y’all should live together but you said “nope, but you can come over after work & visit me anytime.” Just like Tom Bodett from Motel 6, “we’ll leave the light on”. 😂
He’d have to leave by 10 PM sharp though. That was a Gran visitation rule because after all what would the neighbors think if his truck was parked there overnight ?!?!? Then dad says “hey you wanna we get married?” and you said “sure why not?” Six months later, y’all walked down the aisle.
That’s a paraphrase of the unromantic tale of Jilly & B Dub’s engagement.
We were so young & clueless. Meant to be a statistic. But I think we survived because with each kick in the teeth, we became stronger. We mourned the passing of so many loved ones. Some before the their time like our brothers. RIP Jim & Danny. The accidents, oh lordy. So much blood & so many stitches. ER visits with Tom. B’s cut tendon. The home break in – October of 2006. His really bad fall in April of 2014. Everything our sweet baby girl went through. To the current woes of helping his parents through the absolute HELL on earth that their lives have become.
See! More unromantic. But there is just as much goodness to balance out the bad. And we can laugh to keep from crying. Inappropriate humor & snark, the ties that bind.
So much for a gushy anniversary post. No flowery, to my best friend, the light of my life. Blah, blah, blah…. Instead a simple “happy anniversary” to my partner in crime who for 38 (loooonnng or blink of an eye) years has stood by my side. Kicking ass & taking names. Haha!
And tonight we feast! Pork loin, baked potatoes, & brussel sprouts. For dessert, wedding cookies courtesy of Lulu 💕
As always, more to come.
J-Dub's Grin and Bear It 