Wednesday, September 13, 2006

How Hubby and I Met...

Barb wrote a post yesterday asking, "How Did You Meet Your Honey?" I decided to participate and accomplish at least 3 things simultaneously:

1) Share our story.
2) It gives me something to blog about.

3) Humiliate myself while giving everyone else a good laugh.

Here goes:

Lamar and I met on December 29, 1984 at a small country music dance in my home town of Trumann, Arkansas. My Mama and I had been going to the dances for several years and the dance we met at was one of 3 in town at the time. There was no alcohol allowed and it was good clean fun. Time for one of those laughs I mentioned. The women usually outnumbered the men so sometimes women danced together or there would have been a LOT of wallflowers. Laugh if you want to, but it was some of the best times I've ever had in my life, I met friends that I'm still friends with today, and it's good excercise. I lost 50 pounds while I was going to the dances.

I wa
s 21 and so was Lamar. I noticed his smile first, but he noticed something else about me. Let's just say he noticed my chest before he noticed my face and the rest of me and let's leave it at that, shall we? Of course he didn't get around to sharing that with me for several months. Guys, you know? I danced several dances that night with him, and we met again on New Year's Eve for the dance. Most of my dances were with him, and when we weren't dancing we were talking, getting acquainted. By the next week's dance, we were a couple, and the week after that he worked up the nerve to kiss me goodbye after the dance...Just a peck, in full view of my Mama, but for Lamar, that was crazy bold! When we had been together a month, just seeing each other at the dance every week, Lamar asked me to "go" with him and gave me his senior class ring to wear. He wore my ring, too. After that, he started coming to my house occasionally during the week and on Sundays he sometimes spent the day and went to church with me. In that picture to the left we had known each other a month. This was taken at the dance and he asked me to go with him right after this picture was taken.We were both considerably, a-HEM, slimmer when this picture was taken in January 1985.

This picture was taken in April 1985 at a friend's house. Too bad I'm not still that small....*Sigh*.... By this time we were spending a lot of time together, with friends and at my house and his. I still lived at home with Mama, Daddy and my sister Cecil, and he still lived at home with his Mom. Not much time unsupervised, even though we were both over 21. And I'm not complaining about the lack of time alone, either. It probably helped keep us out of trouble. During our early courtship, we wrote letters back and forth to each other during the week, because we only saw each other on the weekends at the dance. I still have all of the ones he wrote me. Lamar threw away the ones I wrote him long ago. Guys, you know?

All during the summer, it got harder and harder for us to say goodbye to one another when it was time for us to part. We just almost couldn't stand to be apart. Finally in August, Lamar asked me to marry him. Neither of us wanted a long engagement, so we set our wedding for October 25, 1985. I turned 22 on October 23, and we got married on October 25th. My church and his both gave us wedding showers, and the pic at left was taken at Lamar's church. That's his Granny between us. Can you tell how happy we were? Ecstatic might even apply to that time in our lives.

We compromised for our wedding so as not to offend too many of our family and friends. The wedding was at my church, but one of his former pastors performed the ceremony. My sister Ducky made my wedding dress, veil and garter and a church friend made my cake. We served mixed nuts, mints, punch and wedding cake. We didn't send out any invitations, it was strictly by word of mouth. We planned for 100 people and over 200 showed up. The only cake and punch I had was the little bite Lamar and I fed each other. Even the top layer that is traditionally saved had to be served. I had already told my servers to serve it anyway. Who wants to eat year-old cake from the freezer? Not me, anyway. That's my Mama, Daddy, me, Lamar and his Mom in one of our wedding photos.
The next pic was taken just before Christmas 1985. We'd been married 2 ½ months here. Did I mention we were happy? Lest I leave you with the impression that it's all been roses for us, let me assure you we had plenty of thorns, too. We've had our ups and downs and were even separated for 3 months in the summer of 1992. There've been times when Lamar was in the wrong and times when it was me that was wrong. Even so, we've been blessed to have been able to work things out through the years. On October 25, 2006 we'll celebrate 21 years together and we've raised a beautiful daughter together.

This last picture was taken back in May of this year at an awards assembly at Jessica's high school. Now that she's in college and out on her own, it's just us two here together most of the time. I miss Jessica a lot, but I'm enjoying my empty nest, too. These days, 21 years of marriage is something to be proud of. Both of us have to give and take, compromise sometimes, admit we're wrong, and carry more than our fair share of the load to keep this marriage thing afloat.

Okay, Barb, I hope this answers all your questions, but if not, feel free to ask away in my comments or email me.

27 comments:

Susie said...

Loved reading your love story Diane!
You're right that 21 years of marriage is an accomplishment and something to be proud of.
May you enjoy many more years together!
((hugs))

zztop357 said...

hey,you sure you want to tell everyone how long you and mar been togather?it doesn't seem that long...but sometimes it feels like a life time.
i'm about ready to go camping again, my house feels like its been invaded...i think jon wants to move out..lol.
well housework calls...

love you sister.

Carole Burant said...

What a beautiful story and you two were so lucky to have found each other...true soulmates:-) I thoroughly enjoyed reading how you and Lamar met...congratulations on 21 years of togetherness!!! Hugs xoxox

Andre said...

Well, aren't you the romantic?

Great story Di. God has truly blessed you and Lamar with a terrific, long-standing union.

I guess the Bible really was correct after all when it said that "He who findeth a wife, findeth a good thing." Lamar's blessed!

Barb said...

I second that, Andre, and add to it. You're both blessed but then you guys know that. I love this Diane. When I read "crazy bold" I cracked up. Then I settled down and finished reading this. It's just such a romantic story. Jessica has one big thing in common with my Krissy and Mandy and it's a rare thing these days. Her parents are still married to each other. I love these photos. So sweet. And your sister is an amazing seamstress. All that beautiful lace would have had me climbing the walls! I'm really glad you posted your love story. And this is the first time I've seen your hubby. He's one handsome guy! xoxoxo

Big Mama said...

I loved your story and yes, y'all sure look happy in all those pictures!

Thanks for sharing it with us.

Anonymous said...

Aww that is a really sweet love story. I love the old photos. It is so much fun to get a glimps of other people's lives.

Dawn said...

Great story. I love it. Your comment about the wedding cake after a year - so true! I did something so dumb I don't even want to admit it, but suffice it to say that ours was inedible and had to be tossed immediately. I did a better job with our kids' tops, in keeping them edible. We even transported Kev and Angie's to California in the desert for them to eat for their first. I think they did.

Dawn said...

Our last comments must have met in cyberspace as they passed each other!

TJ said...

Lady Di,
I just loved your "love story"...you are just so open and real, nothing fancy or frou frou!! You just being you!
I loved late 70's and 80's weddings, not like the elaberate doings of today...oh and girlfriend...I loved to go dancing at places like you mentioned...lots of good healthy exercise and fun to boot!
Thanks so much for sharing!
:-D

Addie said...

Great story Diane! You have a lot to be proud of. Thanks for sharing it with us. :-)

momteacherfriend said...

Nothing to be embarraseed about there. Good old fashion courting. Thanks for sharing!

Greeneyes said...

what a wonderful loving story to share , It is wonderful,you look so happy and in love ,,,,,ahhhhhh young love !love the pics esp the one with you in the blue with Granny in middle , HOT MAMA!
you have been blessed with love and family what else do you need!Lamar is a lucky MAN :}

I think I should go to those dances , you say you lost 50lbs going there ,,sign me up tee hee

BSHF
Greeneyes
LOL

Granny said...

Nice story. Reminds me of my late husband's family. The Baptists and Methodists were always trying for equal time.

Jeana said...

Love your gorguous smile in those pictures.

Girl Raised in the South said...

I loved your story, esp the honesty of it. Likely most of us who have been married awhile would like to have slipped away to our own little one bedroom apt now and then, whether we did or not. You bring up the good point that marriage is HARD and the best ones have been worked at, sometimes in the same places over and over. Good for you two for sticking with it.Your daughter is blessed because of it. xoxo

Anonymous said...

gorgeous.

I have the feeling you thoroughly enjoyed all the sweet reminiscing as you typed it all out.... and I'm so right, aren't i?

hehe!
chills, D.

_Nashty_

Ms. Kathleen said...

That is such a sweet story and you seem to very, very happy. What a testimony you are to your children. Awesome!!

Dick said...

That is a neat story. Be sure to print it, with the photos and all, to save as a hard copy for Jessica. Twenty one years is a good record and let's hope you two have many more.

A friend of mine is talking me into looking into dancing as a way to meet people and help loose weight. Maybe line dancing. I'll see.

Linda said...

I love your story. You tell it so well and the pictures are wonderful. This would be a good one to save for your family. It is so good to read about a love story with a happy ending - a love that lasts.

kansasrose said...

Hi Diane! Thanks for visiting my blog and your sweet comment. You and I are close to being neighbors! I'll make sure to tell those nasty storms if they show up not to track your way! What a beautiful and heartwarming love story you share with your husband Lamar. And a testament to the power of love and faith in God. My sincere congratulations to the both of you for your 21 years of marriage. What a blessing. Your daughter is beautiful too! You have done well...You have a lovely blog and it has become another favorite of mine to visit. Isn't that PEA just the sweetest? So glad to meet you, God Bless Always. Kansasrose

Dawn said...

Hi, Diane. My daughter's trying to get 125 comments on her 125th post. Can you pop over there and help her out? Thanks!
http://kristenssocalledlife.blogspot.com/

Linda said...

Diane,
I am always happy when I see your beautiful smile in my comments. Thanks for visiting me. It is such fun getting to know you.
You have a blessed, happy weekend too.

Anonymous said...

Laughing at "crazy bold!" I love that you have been together longer than you haven't. That's a major accomplishment. Good for both of you for doing what it takes to stay afloat!

Unknown said...

Great story. Thanks for sharing!

Lisa said...

I read this the other day, but couldn't leave a comment (Blogger's fault!). I loved this! You should be very proud of your marriage and family. :)

Shalee said...

Well, he may have noticed your chest first, but he saw the rest of you in the long run! And he's had 21 years to discover even more assets to appreciate.

Congrats on the 21 years!