It was Oct. 28, 1962. Now, 62 years later, and counting, we are still in love, still sharing our lives and still married.
It’s been only the blink of an eye, yet it’s been a lifetime. In 1962, Roy was a teenager of almost 18 and I was a very young 17. He had finished school earlier that year and I was a senior and finished high school after we married. We met, both of us 16, fell in love and knew in our hearts it was the love of our lifetime. We considered asking permission to get married but knew it would be a moot point with my mother, so we decided to elope. We traveled out of town to get our blood test in the secret of the early morning and, of course, with fanfare; I fainted at the sight of blood. But we had our ages listed at 18 and we thought we had pulled a fast one on the nurse.
With our test results in our hands and fabrications from others who had trekked this path of matrimony, we headed out to the town just outside the Mississippi state line, the closest town in Alabama, as you could get married here at 18, and we had a couple of friends who had eloped and were married here, or so we believed.
We timidly walked up to the courthouse doors and walked in trying to act like the grown-ups that we had blood tests to prove. The receptionist asked our business and we explained and showed her the proof and she said, “Let’s go in and see the judge.” We were somewhat suspicious but walked right on in trying to be adults. He asked for our proof of age, we showed the blood test results and he asked for our birth certificates. My “mature” husband-to-be said, “We forgot them.” Then the judge asked for our witnesses. Again, my “sensible” man said, “Oh we let them out down the road to visit friends.” The kind and considerate judge said, “I tell you what. When you turn 18, come back and I will marry you two.” We were disappointed but not surprised at our turn of events as we did sound very sketchy with our on-the-spot answers.
We came back home and asked permission from parents and my mother said “never!” But my daddy, bless his heart, agreed to sign for me and Roy’s mom for him. So, we stretched the days as far as we could before having to take another blood test due to waiting too long and we married on the day before our blood work would expire. It was several years before we told my mama we had tried to elope, because I believe she would have used some type of far-reaching measures even then.
Have the last 62 years been a party? No. Have they been a battle? No.
But I absolutely tell you they have been life. Some good, some great, some sad, some stormy, but they have all been life, our lives. The gray hair and wrinkles tell me we have lived life to the fullest and our memories tell me we have lived life to the best. The love is still thriving and vibrant and I could not tell you five things I would change over the last six decades. I can tell you I pray for many more. We’re not finished. Not yet.
Did we ever consider divorce? Never. Murder? I’m sure, both of us at some time.
Moist Chicken Breast
2 deboned chicken breasts, split lengthwise
1/2 cup of mayonnaise
1 T. fresh garlic, crushed
1 t. Italian seasoning
2 T. Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup of Italian dressing
1 cup of Italian bread crumbs.
Mix all ingredients and spread over four pieces of chicken breasts and then dredge in Italian bread crumbs. Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.
