Afterwhiles
Bobbie and Gladys were young when they married. She was 15 and had to have her father's permission to wed --her mother never gave hers---and he was only 19 and still lived with his parents. But they took the giant leap and lived together nearly 50 years. She still sat right beside Bobbie in the truck when they picked their son Robert up from high school, something that embarrassed him dreadfully at the time--but he now finds charming and remembers with a smile.
Their first date was in an airplane--Bobbie was the pilot. If it had an engine he could propel it--on the ground, in the air or in the water. Gladys was a game little thing and trusted his ability--so they flew--again, no parental guidance. She was dating another boy at the time but quickly decided that this young pilot was the boy for her.
I love seeing pictures of them when they were starting out as newlyweds--adventuresome and daring and full of fun. Robert came two years later and grew up in the boat-racing world that they became a part of. Bobbie's boat, "Soakin' Wet" was a winner. Hundreds of trophies found their way back home with them and Bobbie set speed records throughout the northeast--while Gladys and Robert traveled with him and camped and made friends with the close-knit community of boat-racers and their families. Many of them are still friends today; the Browns and their lively brood and the Temples and the Weavers.
So many years have gone by--what a journey! Gladys became a wonderful cook (our children loved to walk across the field and get cinnamon toast for breakfast) and lover of felines, collectible dolls and antiques while Bobbie continued to be fascinated with mechanics and machines his whole life.
Many people would consider their start in life unfavorable, untimely--but they loved each other and made it work--through the usual good and bad and ups and downs of marriage. Times may have been different then but the commitment they shared was solid and firmly grounded--and a good example for us all.
When we pull out the old pictures in faded tones of gray and laugh and wonder who this was or where that was taken--- I can sometimes see that boat hanging in the wind, engine whining, while a young woman with a small boy's hand in hers watches from the shoreline. Go, Bobbie --go!
Bobbie and Gladys were young when they married. She was 15 and had to have her father's permission to wed --her mother never gave hers---and he was only 19 and still lived with his parents. But they took the giant leap and lived together nearly 50 years. She still sat right beside Bobbie in the truck when they picked their son Robert up from high school, something that embarrassed him dreadfully at the time--but he now finds charming and remembers with a smile.
Their first date was in an airplane--Bobbie was the pilot. If it had an engine he could propel it--on the ground, in the air or in the water. Gladys was a game little thing and trusted his ability--so they flew--again, no parental guidance. She was dating another boy at the time but quickly decided that this young pilot was the boy for her.
I love seeing pictures of them when they were starting out as newlyweds--adventuresome and daring and full of fun. Robert came two years later and grew up in the boat-racing world that they became a part of. Bobbie's boat, "Soakin' Wet" was a winner. Hundreds of trophies found their way back home with them and Bobbie set speed records throughout the northeast--while Gladys and Robert traveled with him and camped and made friends with the close-knit community of boat-racers and their families. Many of them are still friends today; the Browns and their lively brood and the Temples and the Weavers.
So many years have gone by--what a journey! Gladys became a wonderful cook (our children loved to walk across the field and get cinnamon toast for breakfast) and lover of felines, collectible dolls and antiques while Bobbie continued to be fascinated with mechanics and machines his whole life.
Many people would consider their start in life unfavorable, untimely--but they loved each other and made it work--through the usual good and bad and ups and downs of marriage. Times may have been different then but the commitment they shared was solid and firmly grounded--and a good example for us all.
When we pull out the old pictures in faded tones of gray and laugh and wonder who this was or where that was taken--- I can sometimes see that boat hanging in the wind, engine whining, while a young woman with a small boy's hand in hers watches from the shoreline. Go, Bobbie --go!
