The Journey Continues

The Dayton Daily News, August 1978

Couple Weds At Grace United Methodist Church

"I didn't marry you because you were perfect.

I didn't even marry you because I loved you.

I married you because you gave me a promise.

That promise made up for your faults.

And the promise I gave you made up for mine.

Two imperfect people got married and it was the promise

that made the marriage. And when our

children were growing up, it wasn't a house

that protected them; and it wasn't

our love that protected them - it was that promise."

~ Thornton Wilder

30 years...where does the time go? On August 26th, 1978, a young couple stood before God, their friends and family members and took their marriage vows. They had no idea where the road would lead them but oh, how excited they were to begin the long journey. Along the way, they discovered beautiful, scenic spots, just perfect for a lingering picnic or a sweet woodland walk. But occasionally, just when they least expected it, the highway took a sharp turn. Look out! Construction ahead! Quite often those less traveled side roads led to great finds and lovely vistas. Other times, the detour streets were peppered with pot holes, making the road inevitable bumpy. Or, the road markers proved to be confusing and they would become lost for a time. Still, the couple continued on together, side by side, along

the boulevards and interstates of life. And so it was that during this expedition that they began writing their life story. They met while in college, in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, during the Spring break of 1976. Two years later, they were married in the same church where her parents had become husband and wife 25 years prior.

He joined the Navy, flying in aircraft and landing on ships. She taught children, sold antiques and worried about him, missing him terribly while he was at sea.

They never got used to that part, those long deployments, but they survived.

2 children would come into their lives, arriving from far away lands and settling into their home, their lives and their hearts. There would be 17 homes, 2 dogs, 3 cats, 3 Navy Aircraft Carriers, one war, 5 cars, 1 son, 1 daughter, far too many roosters and teddy bears, dozens of arguments over silly things, thousands of hugs, 1 million tears, 1 billion smiles and an uncountable

amount of love. Their story remains unfinished, as does their road trip through this life. They still have no idea where the voyage will lead them but they know one thing...

...they will travel this winding path together. She will still pack far too much luggage, he will still refuse to ask for directions. They will stop at Sonic for her Cherry Limeade and

McDonald's for his Dr. Pepper and she will still ask to stop at far too many antique malls. She will watch her crush, Brian Dennehy, in films on the portable DVD player and he will add silly dialogue to those movies. They will ask each other Trivial Pursuit questions and try to fool each other about the answers.

He will get quiet and hum Grateful Dead tunes and she will get sleepy and grumpy when the day turns to evening and they still have 100 miles to go. But they will also be holding hands. Now and forever...