This story begins in 1946, in the Spring after Bob drew the "X" to come home from the Navy, after coming home and giving me an engagement ring, and after making me the happiest girl in the world. We discussed everything in the world, in letters and when we would see each other. While he was in the service, we talked about where we would live, how many kids we'd have, and where we'd go on vacations; what we would buy to put in the refrigerator (he had to always have a six pack of beer and milk which he loved and couldnt get enough of), where we'd live and how we'd treat each other; what we believed in, how we would live happily ever after. We thought we had all our bases covered about what we wanted in our relationship. We were caring friends first and in only a short time, it was like we had known each other all our lives. We were ourselves with each other, which is so important in any relationship whether it be with parents, friends or other realtives. Communication is so very important and humor, oh yes, humor is very very important, and also honesty is important.

Well, we made an appointment to see the pastor of Bob's sister's church. He was a very nice man with a great sense of humor. Reverend Earl Locke was his name, and he was the pastor of a small Methodist Church not real far from where we lived. He talked to us and told us that marriage was usually a 60/40 relationship, and guess who had the higher number in those days? Yep, you guessed it. The male. He was joking at the time, but I think he sort of meant it, too.

We didn't have much money and my sister-in-law put my hair up in pin curls the night before the wedding. Bob and I went to a movie the night before and after he brought me home and then he went home. I was very restless and all the bobby pins came out during the night. I thought, "Wow! Sister-in-law is gonna have a fit..." So I put my hair back in bobby pins the best I could and hoped for the best for my "Wedding Day".

Bob and I chose to get married on Memorial Day, May 30th so we would always have that day off work and we would never forget. Well, later on I was sorry cause this was such a sad day for so many. I was so sorry we hadn't gotten married in June instead. Of course, in those days it was called "Decoration Day" and they have since changed the date. They changed it just to have a 3 day holiday, which doesn't make sense to me. Really.

Well, on the day of the wedding we had a small church ceremony. I had bought a street-length coral-colored dress made of crepe material. Bob had a brand new blue suit and if we were going to have money for the fancy Hilton hotel downtown, we knew we couldn't afford a photographer. We wanted to see some shows, the circus and some ball games.

Bob got me a lovely gardenia corsage and I kept it pressed in a book for many many years. It eventually fell apart and I reluctantly had to throw it away. At the time I was sad about it but I'm sadder now that I don't have pictures to record that fabulous 90 degree day. Our bestman teased Bob about getting married (he wasnt yet) and Bob said if he wasn't careful he would sick his "pigeons on him" & lo and behold a pigeon did his thing on the shoulder of the best man's lovely suit.

Bob laughed and Ted, our best man, was really surprised and wiped it off. Bob said served him right to tease a guy on his wedding day. Bob said "Ted, I warned ya," and we all laughed about it.

Ted and Bob were both acrobats and good friends, and had been for a long time. After the wedding we went to Bob's parent's apartment with some of the wedding guests. It was a small wedding with maybe less than 50 guests, but we are more married than some who had a huge wedding and a lavish dinner.

Bob's mom had a sit-down dinner for the family members, and afterwards, everyone said they wanted to see Bob and Ted do some "tumbling tricks". Well, Bob and Ted took off their jackets and gave us quite a show, demonstrating some of the tumbling tricks they could do. Bob's Dad's brother, Vern, yelled out and said, "Hey Bob. Don't forget this is your wedding day. You'd better save some of that energy for your wedding night". Everyone laughed but Bob was in his early 20s and a very healthy young man.

Well, after we had cake at Bob's parent's house, we left to go on our honeymoon. We stayed at The Stevens' as it was called then and I still have the hotel bill. It cost us $6.50 a night! Can you imagine??? Later it was called the "Conrad Hilton," and was it was lovely. It's still a lovely hotel and not far from the lakefront in Chicago.

We met my mom's sister and her husband for a drink one evening. She had been an army Nurse and he a pilot in WW2. They were practically on their honeymoon, too, and both had been in Europe during the war.

Later we went to our room and began our lives as man and wife. We had several days going to many different shows (Bob and I always loved movies and still do!).

Many thought I was too young to marry, but I was very mature for my young age. We both took our vows very seriously. And so, on May 30 of this year, God be willing, we will be married 56 years.