A few years ago I joined an on-line book trading club. A book was requested and I popped it in the mail ~ Destination? Arizona. Inside I tucked a little note sending greetings to the receiver “from Oklahoma”. A couple of weeks after that the sweetest note arrived in my mailbox. It seems my Arizona recipient used to be an Okie as well. And so began the special friendship of Delores and Paula. We e-mail often, and on occasion, pop surprises in the mail to each other. Delores has the gift of writing and making people smile.
Last week I received a copy of Power Ranch Living in the mail from Delores. It featured a beautiful photograph of she and her husband on the cover! Tucked inside was a fun article on their sixty-four years of marriage. I asked Delores if I could share this on my blog. I also talked her into sharing a few words with us about their life together. You’ll never think of dill pickles the same way again. ~Smile~
Delores and her husband Chuck celebrated 64 years of marriage last July 15, 2014. They laugh at how they first met each other. Delores was a senior in High School and working part-time at her friend’s donut shop and small café. Chuck was a college student who worked part-time as a delivery person for a large restaurant supply company. One day as he was wheeling a dolly, holding a large container of dill pickles, the wheel went off the ramp and the pickles went rolling all over the floor of the café. Delores was bent over with laughter, and Chuck’s face was red as he left the café. Chuck likes to say, “But I got back at her. I asked her out for a date about a week later, and we ended up getting married a year and a half after that.”
Chuck served in the U.S. Navy for four years during the Korean War. They have raised two daughters and a son. They have three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Chuck was an Elementary School Principal for many years in California. Delores played the organ for church and at the local Mortuary during those years. They moved to Arizona eleven years ago and are happy that their family followed them there.
They have their own interests and hobbies. Chuck rides his bike all over their community, and enjoys reading and using his computer. Delores does lots of needlework, and enjoys a Creative Writing Class. She belongs to a small group of younger gals and they keep her busy going to lunch and shopping. They watch DVD’s from The Teaching Co. and enjoy learning about other cultures and history. They aren’t saying it’s easy to stay married. There were times they thought of walking away. There are no secrets to a long marriage. You take it day by day, work out your problems, respect each other, try to live by God’s commandments, and show your love in little ways.
Such a handsome couple. Congrats Delores and Chuck! Thanks for sharing your joy with us! ♥
