Many people are celebrating today for many different reasons. For some it is the end of the month of January and one month closer to spring.
For a multitude of others it is the day of preparation for the Super Bowl.
But for us it was a far different kind of celebration. We went out for breakfast at a favorite restaurant. Unusual because we’re seldom at a restaurant before evening but since they close at 2pm on Saturday we went for a delicious breakfast treat. The occasion? 62 years ago on a Saturday we went on our very first date! The memories flood back. I can still remember that girl who went back to ask her mother’s permission to go out with Bill; then came back out and was too timid to tell him the result of that request.
After quite a while, we were relieved when mom came out of the office and said, “Will you two go to Croswell and pick up the meat order for me?”
On the way there Bill mentioned that when I hadn’t said anything before, he felt mom had said ‘no’. Then I finally told him she had said that it was fine. How blessed we were that she figured out what had happened and sent us on the errand.
Now 62 years later, again on a Saturday, we both agree that it was the Lord that brought us together. And kept us together through the good and bad times; for if we agree on almost any subject without working it through, it is always the Lord.
Our families were very different when we were growing up. Bill’s father was the ‘head of the house’ no questions asked. My mom made most of the decisions, dad seldom disagreed, but when they did there was often heated discussions.
So Bill expected out house to be as calm as theirs was. I was used to speaking my mind and seldom agreed with what he said. I even had the preacher change the vows at our wedding. My quote, “I don’t lie and I certainly won’t promise to obey any man.” In 1953 that was a drastic departure from what most brides were expected to say.
Bill agreed to the change, much to our preacher’s surprise.
I don’t remember much about the movie we watched in Port Huron that night or even the theater we attended. One of the very embarrassing events of my life was not easy to forget. It’s strange that we forget a lot of the happy events of our lives; but the embarrassing ones remain all too clear.
Want to hear about that night? I hope so for I plan to share it.
Remember please, that I was a healthy active farm girl used to working early; helping with the milking, going to school and helping in the store after school and weekends. Why would that contribute to being embarrassed?
When Bill asked, after the show, if I wanted to go to a restaurant, I agreed. Isn’t that how most dates progress? No problem there. Then we ordered and Bill asked me what I wanted to eat. So I ordered what I often did on a typical date. 2 hamburgs, fries and a malt. That’s not unusual, right?
Then Bill ordered and I wanted to crawl under the table! Guess what he ordered? Black coffee! That’s all. His comment? He just wasn’t hungry.
After 62 years that is no longer a surprise but that night I was so embarrassed !
Obviously through the years I have adjusted to that; but on a first date it could have been our last date if he hadn’t been so considerate about my unease. So good at helping me relax and enjoy the rest of our time together.
Do you believe in circumstances or is this an example of the Lord’s plan for our lives?
jakicheli535 