happy 34th anniversary

I well remember that day in 1984.
Mama had asked me to stand with her as she married Frank.
They had known each other ever since Mama started working at Union Camp paper mill.
That was probably in the late 1960's or so.
Everyone out there knew Frank Barry, the man who kept the money at the Credit Union.
(smile)
Honestly, I wouldn't be at all surprised if my family and his had run into each other at company events. I seem to recall gold tournaments as fundraisers and that sort of thing, once upon a time.
After Frank's wife, Zaida, died of cancer in 1983, he and Mama began spending time together. I know it began as her taking food to him, for comfort. Then their friendship became more serious and talk had turned to marriage.
She was 45 at the time and he was 62.

I was discharged from the Navy and home in Savannah again. I was 25 years old. My brothers were all grown, too, and living in their own homes, except for Tony. He was a month shy of 17 when they wed. Smitty was married, but not yet with the son he would soon have. Ronnie was wed to Melinda and they had a 1-year-old daughter, Christina.
(That makes her my 'first niece'.)
Frank's kids were also grown and living in their own homes. George and Bunny had not yet had children and Frank's youngest, Jean, was not yet married. Daughter Susan and her husband (Steve) had a 1-year-old son, Stephen.
(His birthday was just four days earlier than Christina's.)
So, there we were, at the church, for the wedding of these two grandparents.
(smile)
I was there for Mama and George DeLoach was there for his best friend, Frank.
We all went to Frank and Mama's house afterward, the small families which had doubled in size just moments before.
I wish they were both still here to enjoy all their great-grandchildren.
i thank, You, God, that they had 16 years in each others arms.