It almost seems like yesterday

 First, I want to thank you, the reader, for reading to my 'babbles' about everything up the sun. I may not be a great writer, just one that writes from the heart. Thanks.

Have you ever been somewhere as a couple and someone asks, "How did you two meet?" Well, Nancy and I get that too. I guess it is a natural curiosity thing. So here is the story. 

We both worked in the grocery business, she was the lead cashier at night, and I was the Assistant Manager.  We had both gone through a divorce and felt we needed a change. I said, "I am going to go west (from Cincinnati) and I could use a friend to be my co-pilot." Nancy said, "OK". To make the story short, we eventually landed in Phoenix Arizona in 1976. Phoenix was booming (and still is) with a lot of job opportunities. In a few months of staying here, I interviewed for the Phoenix Fire Department and got a position as a recruit firefighter at 30 years old. Oldest guy in the class. Money was tight so I filed for On The Job Training (OJT pay) through the VA. Since I was still unmarried and single pay was less than married status, I asked Nancy if she wanted to get married and she said "Sure." Things had evolved since we left Cincy. We tell people she married me for money. So in the middle of the fire training academy, over a weekend, we drove to Las Vegas and got married. Within 24 hours we tied that proverbial knot. That Monday morning, getting ready for our 2 1/2 mile run and hot drills, someone asked, "What did you do over the weekend?" I replied , "Got married " His jaw dropped. "What the hell for?" "Because I enjoy being with her and I think she feels the same."  Yes, we've had our ups and downs over the years because one of us is stubborn (or both of us) and don't want to give in, but I believe that is a marriage thing. I know she has my back and for sure have hers.

And now we have 7 grandkids total. All GREAT kids. Smart, healthy, charming and a 'hoot' to be around. Neither of us have living parents, so we became the grandparents for both sides of the family. We have self-adopted friends of our kids as ours, because they hung around our house a lot, and they call us MOM and DAD now. Some did not have a great home environment  so they came to a more inviting home. Of course our grocery bill went up, but that was OK. Sometimes I'd come home from the fire station and there would kids sleeping on our living room floor.  Those were such great times. Most of those kids still call or visit us. Their all grown and have kids of their own now.

This may sound a little weird but, I relate my life as roll of toilet paper. It always starts slow unrolling, but as I age, it goes faster and faster, until it runs out. Thankfully, my roll is still unrolling, faster and faster.

I leave you this Sunday morning with our one and only wedding picture taken at 5 AM Sunday morning outside the chapel in Las Vegas on April 24th, 1977. And at 45 years and counting that bond is still there. I believe we were blessed and hopefully you are too. Take care and stay safe.