58 years ago tonight my sister Jeannette and I were parked on the road outside Baker, Oregon, watching for the greyhound bus to come by. "There it is!" and we followed it into town. Dee was arriving home after 3 months working in Anchorage, Alaska, and all summer my friends had been telling me, "He's not coming. All your plans are for nothing" But I knew he was on that bus. and sure enough, there he was, back in each other's arms.
The week had finally arrived that we'd been waiting 5 years for, and we were headed to Logan Utah to get married. The following day was kind of a flurry, and then we were in the car, headed out. Dee's Dad had given us a 1941 shiny black Cadillac for a gift, and both our folks were traveling behind in Mr. Fuller's car. We somehow found the right place to get the marriage license, and had supper at the famous BLUEBIRD cafe (still standing). I remember the song playing~~~"Who makes the robins sing? My love, my love" And he was finally here.
We searched for a motel, back in those days they weren't much. We finally found an older home, with three bedrooms and a back porch. Guess who they put on the back porch, as far away from me as possible. Such a long night, to have Dee so
close and yet so far away.
Finally the morning came, and we headed up to the temple, both excited and scared, knowing almost nothing about what to expect. Back in those days we had no preparation classes. But all went well, and after a small ceremony with just us, our two dads as witnesses and Brother J. Hyrum Bell of the presidency sealing us, we dressed and went outside. We were so anxious to be on our way, we forgot to take any pictures. We were on our way. We traded cars with Dee's dad and headed for Yellowstone park. We met a few bears along the way, Dee got almost too close filming one, and when he tried to get back into the car, I locked the door instead of opening it. Not funny.
After three days, late Friday night we arrived back in Baker. The following morning was some kind of parade in town, and most of the stores were closed.
In our small ward in Baker, very few couple got married in the temple. So it was the custom for the ward to put on the reception. All we had to do was arrive and it was all ready. My Aunt Dorothy had made my dress and I was anxious to wear it. A lovely cake and punch served by aunts and grandparents, flowers, a program, and even a photographer. September 16, 1953, a fun night.
I was barely 20 and Dee was still 19, but already a Jr. at U. of Oregon. And we had dated for 5 years.
Bright and early the next morning, (not too early) we were set, pulling a small U-Haul trailer with all our gifts and my cedar chest, with Dee's Grandma Whittenberg in the back seat. We were headed for Eugene, where we'd stay with her until we found a place. Somewhere near John Dad we had car trouble (an omen of things to come with that car) which delayed us about an hour.
We arrived after dark, and the next morning was Dee's first day in college. And now, seven babies later, with 28 grand-kids and 17 greats, we are still totally in love. See, all those doubters were wrong. He DID come home.
Labels: wedding