60 years ago today, my Grandma & Papa drove down to North Carolina (this must be where I get my UNC Tar Heel obsession from) with one of their friends as a witness and got married. I would like to wish them a much deserved HAPPY 60th ANNIVERSARY!!! I'd also like to say a BIG thank you to them for sticking together through the thick in and thin b/c without you'll I would not be here today.
I always love hearing the story of how they first started dating. Papa and Grandma knew of each through the short encounters that they had at Murphy's, the store where grandma worked at the time, but they never actually had gone out on a date or anything like that. When one day Papa was waiting outside on the corner with his entourage and Grandma was walking up the street and just at that very moment one of Papa's friends said "there's that red headed girl from up the street." Next, he shouted out to her asking her where she was going and she said "the movies!." With the magic looming in the air and with no hesitation he asked, "can I join?" and she said "sure, if you got the money!" So he left his friends in the dust and walked down the street to the movie theater with her. Papa being the true gentlemen that he is paid for their movie tickets and they saw their first movie together and from that day forth the rest is history. What else is awesome about this story is that a movie ticket at the time was about $0.13 per person. They would date for 5 years after this point before Papa popped the question. Which reminds I got to ask her how he asked?
(Note to self) Over the next 60 years, Papa would work up to 3 jobs at a time (when their kids where younger) to support his stay at home wife and their 4 kids. Papa is still currently working as a part-time mechanic and he has been a mechanic for over 50+ years now. When I was a kid while Papa was at work, Grandma would take care of me until Mom or Dad picked me up after work later that day. I hope she knows that she was instrumental in shaping me into the man I am today. Over those years, she filled my belly with so many delicious foods and turned me on to some of my favorites today such as mac-n-cheese with tomatoes, sweet tea, fried chicken, and the BEST bologna burger EVER!!!
MPP & I are getting married in September and I hope that on September 10th, 2071 that we are as lucky as my grandparents: still happily married, with a couple of kids living healthy in our 80's.
MPP & I will be driving down to Richmond on Saturday to celebrate their 60 Anniversary at Italian Kitchen at 6pm with their kids, other family members, and friends. On behalf of myself and our family, we would like to invite all family and friends of theirs to join us for dinner. We are hoping that all in-town family will be able to make it out to celebrate this once in a life time event and we wish their son, David, who lives in Georgia, could be there as well.
Happy Anniversary Grandma & Papa!!!
