It was the second day out of high school. I would be seventeen for two more months, she had been eighteen for two weeks. It was our first day of work at a summer camp in the Sangre De Christos of New Mexico. I had spent the morning mowing grass, she had been cleaning restrooms.

I was walking to the dining hall for lunch with a new-found buddy, when he spotted the girl she was walking with, and then the two of us were in line by the two of them.

She was short, blond and pretty enough that I figured she would be embarrassed to be stuck in line with me. But, what could we do, it was my buddys fault, anyway.

So I grinned and nodded, she looked up at me and smiled. I dont really remember much after that. Just the ice cream sundaes we made with peanut butter and honey, afternoon walks up the canyon, and long evenings on a bench beneath the trees.

A few hours later, we stood together in a little church in Lubbock, Texas; she, flanked by girlfriends, me, by my brothers. A few days later we had a yard full of little boys, who went off to college at the end of the week.

Somewhere along the way, we bought houses and cars, bicycles and skateboards. Our sons grew up and our parents grew old. Friends showed up and sometimes drifted away. And the years blew around us as gently as the summer wind.

Its been thirty years now, since that wedding day. I look at the kids in the pictures and wonder, was she really so girlish, was I really so gawky?

Tomorrow morning, we leave for the Sangre de Christos again. Well be there by our anniversary date. Well probably go into Santa Fe for Mexican food, like we did when we were kids. Well probably even buy ice cream and peanut butter, to celebrate. We will probably hol

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), June 08, 2000

Answers

...probably be holding hands.

Forgot the IE gremlins, again.

___________________________________________

You all play nice, and don't let Rob into the jiggle juice while I'm gone.

I promise to eat at least one sopapilla for each of you. And we will bring back snapshots, fer sure!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), June 08, 2000.

Well, Happy Anniversary to you, Lon. Today is 32 years for us, so we are all probably in similar states of disrepair. But what you say is so true. It's only been a little while.

Perhaps if we had realized how short the time was, we would have made some different decisions, but then, probably not. Well, we would have skipped more sweet snacks and exercised more. (maybe)

Anyway, have a great anniversary. Now I have to go let out the dogs.

gene

-- gene (ekbaker@essex1.com), June 08, 2000.

Thanks, Gene, and the same to you both, as well.

Want to hear something neat? After we were married, we lost touch with the preacher, even though he was a family friend, who I had lived with briefly when I was a kid. About two months ago, I finally found his daughter by searching the internet, and learned that he now lives in Lubbock, where we were married. Without planning it, it looks like we will be there visiting him the evening before our anniversary.

My wife was kinda wondering, that since we would have all the same people together, in the same place, on the same day, if we couldnt get a refund, and call the whole thing off. I told her that I didnt think it would work just that way, and besides, my warrenty has expired.

Well, Kit has made sure that all the necessities are loaded in the RV, his videos, some cokes, his swimsuit, some chips, his pillow, some french fries,.. just the basics, you know. He doesnt really know where were goin, but man, is he ready! (me too)

-------------------------------------------------------------

-- Lon Frank (lgal@exp.net), June 08, 2000.

Lon, all our best to you and your wife! I hope you have a wonderful anniversary celebration. And I definitely look forward to reading your postcard when you return!

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), June 08, 2000.

Have a wonderful, happy, safe trip.

-- helen (throwing_rice@you.guys), June 08, 2000.