HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!

Today, Aug. 3rd, is Husband's and my anniversary.  We've been married for 36 years.  I've said that over and over in my head all day long.  Fearing I'm sounding like my long-gone grandmother, but, it seems like just yesterday.  It really doesn't seem like it was just yesterday.  But it's been quick.

So, because I can, I'm going to share some (more) wedding pictures.

This was 1974.  We were both 19 years old.  But in OUR heads, we were 25.  And we knew everything.  Everything.

Husband and I planned every single detail of our wedding ourselves.  Our parents just knew that there was nothing they could do to stop us.  So they let us plan our life and smiled.

Here is Husband and BOTH mothers.  One of the FEW times these two women would EVER be in the same picture, believe me.  Let's just say, different personalities.
My mother is on the right, Husband's the left.  Our wedding "colors" were blue and yellow. Husband's mother wore winter green - in August.  I NEVER figured that out.  It was a beautiful dress and she was elegant, as always.  She had a presence about her.  She was a lovely woman.  But, still, winter green?  She passed away six months before her first grandchild was born.  I think about her everyday. And what about my mother's hair???  It was the 70's and BIG hair was in, and hers was big.  My mother did everything perfectly for the wedding.  The last time that ever happened.

My dad, on the other hand, couldn't have done anything wrong if he had tried.  If I had something to tell my parents in my life, I always told it to my dad first.  He'd tell me when I should tell my mother.  That included the night I got my engagement ring, and the day we decided on the wedding date, and the day I found out I'd been accepted to UT.  Daddy told me how to handle things, always.

I wish he was here now to tell me how to handle a few things.

I can't even imagine how hard it was for my hard-working, WW2 vet, dad to wear a tux with ruffles on the shirt!  He never said a word.  He was 49 in this picture.  He loved me more than anyone ever has, probably.  Except, maybe for Husband.

I'll just hurry on through this.....  more wedding pictures........
(Sidebar - This two-hour period of my life is the ONLY time I have EVER been this thin.  Just have to say that.)
And, golly, how handsome is Husband here!!

I haven't mentioned that this was a mixed marriage.  Southern Baptist and Methodist.  So, we had to have two ministers (or as my folks call 'em, Preachers).  The "Preacher" is on the left in this picture, and you can tell that he is thinking, oh, gee, why are you kneeling?  Get Up!  We don't kneel in this church.

Wedding over!  And we had 3 bottles of champagne iced down in the car!!!!!!

This is my brother with my mom.  He was 4 years older than me and he was DRUNK, big time, in this picture.  He dealt with things his own way.  My dad is walking behind.  My dad and brother both passed away 5 months apart, a few years ago.  I miss them both so much.

Our friends.  WHAT a picture.  Wow.

And all these guys agreed to wear ruffled shirts also.  They loved us.  They might have been drunk, also.  The 70's.  There was NO event that didn't involve alcohol.  Our "Preacher" made sure he told us the night before, that there could be NO alcohol at the wedding.  So, I feel pretty sure that all these guys planned ahead on that deal.

AND, we're off.  To a hotel in Ft. Worth for the night.  Then on to Red River, NM for our honeymoon. I love that Husband looks so intent on getting me IN THE CAR in this picture.  Protective.  We were thinking about the 3 bottles of champagne iced down in the back.  And other things.  We were so young.

We came back from the honeymoon to our tiny home in Austin, and went to college, and work.

And proceeded to grow up.

Happy Anniversary, Husband.  I love you.  Still.  So much.