Love that made a diamond shine.
My previous post about my engagement ring got me to thinking
about my mother's love story.
Rodger & Marilyn (Mari) met at Smyrna
High School in 1962 (which is now the
current Smyrna Middle school, as the original building
still stands).
Prom 1962
My mother transferred as a Junior from a boarding school in France.
Both of my grandfathers were in the Air force and stationed at Stewart Air
force base. If you are ever in Smyrna
in June you won't want to miss the annual Air show, it is still held at the old
base. The Blue Angels are quite a sight to see.
Anyways, Dad asked Mom out on a date and she initially
turned him down, but then she went to a movie with him just to make another guy
jealous, and they were together from then on. Rodger proposed on Christmas eve~
1962. His mom & dad helped him out with the cost. Way back then you could get a 1/3 of a
carat VSI Round brilliant diamond solitaire ring set in 14K yellow gold from Sears for
139.00.
I think at the time he had a job at J.C. Penny's and according to his
records he made 1.00 per hour!
It needs to be re - tipped, and the shank is worn very thin,
I still have not decided what will be done with it, so this waits until a decision
is made.
My mother's parents had sent Mari to Coe college, in Iowa, ( I think secretly
to get Rodger outta her head) they thought she was too young, and my dad a bit
of a rebel :) In the end they came around and threw her a beautiful wedding at
the Protestant chapel at Stewart Air Force Base.
Before the wedding after graduating high school, Rodger traveled out
to California,
to attend college, and get their home ready. Their first home was a small
furnished (mom called it a cottage) located on South Milton, Whittier CA.
They were married on August 25th 1963.
They lived in California
for 16 years, had my brother and me and then they got interested in stained
glass.
They moved back to TN in 1979 when I was 2, and ran a very
successful stained glass business in Mt.
Juliet, TN for the
rest of their lives. Mom passed away in Jan of 2006, and Dad lasted another 4
years almost to the date.
They had 43 wonderful years together, of course there were
ups and downs, but oh how that diamond still shines.
