25 Years and Counting!

We had a big reception this afternoon to celebrate the 25th wedding anniversary of my dad and my step-mother. My mom passed away 26 years ago, having been married to Dad for 36 years. Melba, my step-mom, had outlived 2 husbands. A few months ago, as their 25th approached, she remarked that in all she had now been married about 60 years and never had a 25th anniversary.

My brothers and sisters and our mates made plans to give them a party to remember, but we did not want to make it a surprise party, we wanted them to anticipate the day.

We rented a civic center in the county seat of the county in which Dad and Melba live. We decorated in an understated way, with the highlight being flowers from Dad’s garden. The food was nice, but not fancy. We had a very nice multimedia presentation that was produced by one of the grandchildren that was very poignant. The guests came from as far away as Michigan and New Mexico, which was very pleasing to Dad and Melba. They had a very good time. In fact, they almost always have a good time. I do not think I know anyone that is more happy in their marriage than these two. They have had a really good run!

Twenty-five years ago I had the privilege of leading Dad and Melba in their vows. Today, Dad wore the same suit he wore on that day. I did not!

Caught in the Act!

When I was in seventh grade, I learned a life-changing lesson. In those days we left our gym clothes in a basket in the locker room all week. We took them home each Friday for washing. One Friday, for some reason, I forgot to pick up my gym clothes. When I got home my mom asked where my gym clothes were. We only lived three blocks or so from the gym, I could easily have gone back and gotten them and been home with no real impact on my weekend.

But for some reason I told my mom that I had gone by the gym and my clothes were gone. I told her someone must have stolen them. I was not in the habit of lying to my folks, but that one seemed to work. I did not have to go back to school that afternoon, problem over.

I was the oldest of 4 and dad worked hard to provide for us. We lived from paycheck to paycheck, so the next day when he took me to town to replace my gym clothes and tennis shoes, I knew it was not an expected expense. I felt really bad, but I did not own up to the lie.

I was a good student and it was not uncommon for me to be called to the office to get some recognition or opportunity. The principal was a good friend of ours, and an elder in the church where we went to worship. So when I was called to the office on Monday morning, I was not prepared for what was awaiting me. My mom and dad were sitting in Mr. Rasco's office! I swallowed hard and entered. I had to come clean and answer for my lie. I determined that day I never wanted to have that feeling again.

Honesty is the best policy!

Happy Days, The Stage Show!!!

My nine-year-old grandson and I went to see the touring stage production of Happy Days this afternoon in Houston at the Hobby Center. The play is based on the popular television series and is produced by Garry Marshall, the producer of the tv show.

If you were a fan of the series, you would probably like the production because all the old characters are brought to life again. The Cunningham family, Fonzie, Ralph and Potsie, Arnold, Chachi, and even Pinkie Tuscadero and the Malachi Brothers all have roles in the story. The plot has Arnold’s, the hang out for the gang, facing the possibility of being bought and torn down to make a parking lot.

Everyone pitches in and comes to the rescue. In the process Richie and Lori Beth get engaged and Fonzie and Pinkie make a commitment to each other.

Paul Williams did the new music for the show, but the theme song for the television series was woven into the entire production, including the big finale. The actors were more than adequate. The best, in my opinion, were John Massey who played Howard Cunningham, Chris Fore who played Chachi Arcola, and Joey Sorge, who played The Fonz. He had a lot of the movements and mannerisms of Henry Winkler, who immortalized the character on tv. But my favorite performer today was Matt Walker, who played two parts, the Leopard Club Member Leonard Gates and the younger Malachi Brother. The latter role drew the most laughs and the biggest applause at the end of the play. He was really terrific.

The More You Get...

Material goods and physical possessions are THE focal point of human thought. Our carnal minds tend to see only the superficial. Men are measured by their physical abilities and success is judged by material assets. There is seldom a day that passes without us wishing we had this or that, usually in abundance. We even misunderstand those things we count as necessities.

The Lord has promised to provide for our needs, even more than He does for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field Matthew (6:26-33). Our priority needs to be seeking God and His righteousness. But even here, we will respond to the physical. Too often our prayers are filled with words of thanks for things. "Thank You for our home, our food, our clothing, and all the many blessings You have given us."

These are good words, as are the words, "Thank You, most of all for Jesus, who died on the cross for us." But are we seeing the true picture? Are we improperly regarding the gifts of Him, who loves us, and failing to properly recognize the Love of Him Who Gives?

Lord, may we not be guilty of placing more value and esteem on the gifts than on the Giver!

Celebrating 42 Years Together!

My wife and I recently celebrated our 42nd anniversary. We have done some very special things to celebrate special anniversaries in the past, cruises twice, a weekend in New York City to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, to mention a few.

Forty two is not a number we usually associate with a special anniversary, but it seemed special to me, but I had trouble thinking of the appropriate gift. I finally decided on creating a card to tell her how much I appreciate some trait or characteristic of her, one each day for six weeks.

I used the Print Artist software on my computer, and created the card I wanted, and then only changed the wording on each day’s card. I did not tell her of my plan, but on the fifth day of receiving a card, she quietly asked, “How long do you plan to keep this up?” I told her “42 days.” She did not say anything in reply.

On about the tenth day, she said, “You know, I am really looking forward to going to the mailbox each day.” I just smiled.

We are nearing the end of the experiment; I will complete it early next week. But I think this gift will be remembered as long as some of the more exotic measures we have used in our previous celebrations.

(first posted at qassia)

BAAAA!!!!!

I was just reminded of a story about my dad that I laugh about every time I think about it. Dad went to school in a very small community; the population was 303, according to the sign at the city limits. And it was in the early 1940’s.

One of Dad’s teachers presented the idea that nurture is more important that nature in the development of men. She told the students that if a baby was raised by sheep that it would eat grass, walk on all fours, and bleat. My dad did not believe that. He believed that at some point a human child would stand upright and use his hands to an advantage. The teacher and he had an argument. My dad would not concede on the matter.

When the time for testing on the subject a few days later, there was only one question on the test. It was “What would be the outcome if a human were raised by sheep?” Dad wrote the answer she wanted to see on his paper. But when he handed in his paper, he looked the teacher in the eye and said, “Baa!”

After Mom Died!

When Mom died, Dad wandered around aimlessly--figuratively speaking. My brothers and sister all did all we could to include him in what we were doing. I remember the Friday after Thanksgiving, in my front yard, he and I were watching the girls play. Mom had been gone for 3 months. I made some remark about wishing I knew what to do to help him feel better. His reply, "Ralph, you can not be my buddy. You are my son and you are exactly what I want in a son. But you cannot replace what I had with Betty!"

I was caught off guard, and though I did not want to admit it, I knew it was true. I was thinking like a 35 year old who wanted to protect and defend. It was that day I realized that there is a different perspective in every relationship. It was that day that made it acceptable in my mind when, a few months later, Dad said he and Melba were going to get married. It was that day that made me seriously consider what I would really do if my precious wife were to precede in death.

I can not imagine making the adjustments of a new mate. But I hate to be alone. I would be as lost and aimless as my dad was if I had no companion to help me see things clearly and support me in the endeavors of life. I would not settle for just any wife, but I am relatively sure I would want to find a friend with whom to spend the last of my life.

I have a younger sister who was not happy that Dad was remarrying. She felt he was being unfaithful to Mom. The day before the wedding, she came to my house to tell me she had just come from meeting with Dad. She had told him that she did not want him to get married. He had said, “Yes you do, because you want me to be happy and this is going to make me happy.”

She said a few more things in anger and left to come to my house. She asked me what else she could have said. I told her she had already said too much. Dad has now been married again for nearly 25 years and we all love Melba, including my sister. We are all very glad Dad has a partner to share his life and fill his heart.