May 7th

 

Saturday.  Fifty years ago, also a Saturday.  We got married.

 

Sister in law Diann knew someone who got us into a chapel at her church on one week notice.  Sister in law Barbara helped Judy shop and pick out a wedding dress.  There weren’t any ready-mades in Judy’s size; size 3.  (I don’t think they make wedding dresses for kids anyway.)  They settled on a white cocktail dress at the House of Nine, and made sure the ribbons on the wedding bouquet matched the pink sash on the dress.  Judy’s brother Earl paid.   I couldn’t get a tux on short notice either.  No problem, I just wore my Army uniform.  Judy and I found a photographer.  Our wedding pictures now look elegant in black and white.  Truth is, it wasn’t an artistic choice.  Black and white cost fifty dollars.  Color cost seventy-five.  We went with black and white.

 

It was a small simple ceremony in a chapel with just family in attendance.  I remember Judy walking down the aisle.  A sight to behold.  I’m a lucky guy.  We exchanged “I do’s”.  One of us promised to love, honor, and Obey.  (We’re still working on one of those commitments.)  There was rice-throwing, garter flipping, and bouquet tossing.  We changed our clothes and left straight from the ceremony for our honeymoon.  Brother Tom was kind enough to loan us his Ford Falcon for a week.  Dad provided a gas card.  The honeymoon was totally unplanned, except that we knew we were driving north up the coast.

 

It was a late-in-the-day start after the ceremony.  We made it as far as Santa Barbara.  With no reservations, we stopped at a fancy restaurant for a nice dinner.  They asked us if we were out for prom.  They found a table for us and it was a delightful dinner; prime rib as I recall.

 

After that we headed for a motel, again, no reservations.  They smiled, rented us a room, and then upgraded us to the honeymoon suite.  Sometimes nice things just happen.

 

We took a one week driving tour up the California coast to San Simeon, across through Yosemite National Park, and back south through Bishop down to Long Beach.

 

1966 Honeymoon Trip Map

 

We had the wedding reception at Mom and Dad’s house in Carroll Park, with a sheet cake wedding cake.  That next week, we bought a 59 Plymouth station wagon, piled our stuff into it, then drove off to Fort Campbell, Kentucky to finish off my Army tour.

 

Together.

 

High flying bunny rabbits

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hanging with the grandkids

 

 

We had a fine time at Matt and Lindsay’s house.

 

But now we’ve moved north.

 

2016 Summer Trip Map

 

We’re hanging with Becky, Brian, and the some of the kids.

 

A walk in the park

 

 

 

 

 

Chatfield State Park

 

When we arrived, we were greeted by the usual welcoming committee.

 

 

 

 

 

Chatfield State Park

 

There weren’t many people camping with us the last couple nights at John Martin Reservoir State Park.

 

But we’ve moved on.  Now we’re at Chatfield State Park, by Matt and Lindsay.

 

2016 Summer Trip Map

 

The sun came out and the weather warmed up.

 

 

We set out the bird feeder and the new solar bird bath fountain.

 

 

It’s good to be here.

 

John Martin Reservoir State Park

 

Hasty, CO.

 

2016 Summer Trip Map

 

Our site.

 

The view out our windshield.

 

Now we’re at the same latitude as San Francisco and Richmond, Virginia, waiting out the weather again.  It’s a little cold here compared to what we’re used to, but it’s 20 degrees warmer out here on the Eastern Plains than it is in the Denver area.  Denver is still messing around with that silly white stuff.

 

While we were in Amarillo we got a good look at a red-headed woodpecker.