A Quick Courtship

........................and in no time at all we fell in love. Big Love. THE BIG LOVE. I believe that within 3 or 4 dates, both of us knew this was “IT”. We were totally and completely enamored of each other. Fast and furious, yes. But, when it’s “IT” you just know. And time doesn’t mean a thing. All you want to be is together. I cherish the cheesy poetry we wrote for one another back then. By September we were making wedding plans. By October, we were making love. By February, we were married.

In October, we set our Wedding day for the 24th of February, 1968. In January of 1968, we were at Harm’s parent’s house on a Sat. night, playing cards. Time to take me home, we looked outside……we were snowed in. In those days, probably now too, the City of Detroit doesn’t plow side streets. Now, I’m from the suburbs where they always plow! So, I called home and explained to my mother that we were snowed in. She was pissed and really didn‘t believe me, I know. She talked to Harm’s mother to be sure I wasn’t lying and finally, agreed that it was ok if I spent the night there. Big Mistake Mama! Turned out that that was the night I got pregnant. On my future in-laws front porch mind you, after they went to sleep. (No, not outside in January, it was an enclosed front porch.)

Fast forward to our Wedding Day. We really weren‘t going for the big wedding. We just wanted to get married. Happy to go to a Justice of the Peace. But, no. Nothing so easy as that. My mother’s point of view was that she’d had three daughters. None had been married in a church. (Funny in retrospect as she didn’t even GO to church.) Glenda ran away at 17 with a Marine and ended up, 2 weeks later marrying his cousin, the Soldier. Don‘t ask. Linda married Richard, quickie like, while he was home on leave and set to go to Vietnam. So, ok, we’d have a real wedding. She wanted the white dress. I didn’t have nerve enough to tell her that that made me very uncomfortable. I didn’t feel quite worthy of that. Understand, those were very different times. Sex wasn’t running rampant like nowadays. Even though I was in love, I was still feeling guilty about the whole having sex before marriage thing.

We paid for the wedding ourselves, I still have the receipt for the 3 tier cake from Sanders $39.99. Flowers $60.00. Photos $150.00. Gorgeous gown, all lace, sweetheart neckline, pointy long sleeves with tons of buttons, more buttons up the back, hoop skirt with long train and button up bustle. My absolute dream gown. $100.00 + $5.00 hoop rental. Tux rental $20.00. Very simple. Very Sincere. Reception in the church basement. Great Mama’s homemade food. It was cheap, our affordable. It was a pretty, sunny February Saturday. Kind of like the weather we’ve had this week.

What can I say? Afterwards was the real party at my parent’s house. There the booze flowed freely. A good time was had by all. I have photos of the guys wearing my cousin Lois’ hairpiece, to prove it. We drove up to Bay City, MI, for our Honeymoon night. One night, mind you.

Actually, that was the first time we’d ever been--literally--in bed together.

And the furthest north Harm had ever been…………..or ever got to go for that matter.