Most of the young women from Rockne stayed in the immediate area, married local men, had lots of babies and lived humble lives. While I do believe Mom to be one of the most humble women I have had the honor to know, she took a much different path than most of her friends and relatives in Rockne! After she graduated from high school, the Texas Highway Deparrtment was building a new highway outside Rockne. Mom's cousin Edith Goertz Ayers called Mom and said she was leaving a job with the Highway Department and wanted to know if Mom wanted her job. Since she didn't know what she was going to do after graduation, Mom took the job and was a soil tester. Once the road consrtuctions was completed, Mom moved to Austin and continued working for the same division of the Highway Department. Dad had also worked for the Highway Department, but was away in the Air Force. On leave during the summer of 1945, Dad visited his boss, Mr. White, who told him that he had a young woman that Dad needed to meet! There was and instant attraction! Most of their courtship was carried on through writing letters, since Dad was in the service. They fell in love very quickly, and Mom and Dad were married that next May, as soon as Dad got out of the service! "The Lord God said, It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him. No doubt, Mildred was very suitable for Harvey! And the rest, they say, is history! To all that know them, it is a great sixty-six year love story!
I came yesterday, spent the night and will stay until Friday night. When Mom woke this morning, I went to her, hugged her gently and told her that I feel so blessed to have her and Dad still with me, as so many of my friends' parents are no longer with them. She hugged me back and told me she loved me dearly and that I will always be her baby girl! I am not the least bit embarrassed to tell you that, at 56 years of age, I am still a Momma's baby, and I'm proud of it!! It is one of my greatest blessings to be able to have this quality time with Mom and Dad! I cherish every moment! My presious husband Ollie is also one of my greatest blessings in that he self-sufficient and unselfish and enables and encourages me to be here!
Dad is up, briefly, moving from the bedroom to his chair in the living room. He and I sang "Happy Birthday" to Mom and he and the three of us teared up! It was a precious and sweet moment! They kissed and looked at each other with total and complete love in their eyes. I am honored to have witnessed that intimacy.
Jean is joining me here today and we are taking Mom out to a restaurant for her birthday lunch! Mom's favorite place to eat is Rosie's Mexican Food Restaurant between Marble Falls and Austin, but I don't know if she will let us take her that far! Otherwise, we'll let her choose her favorite place in Marble Falls! Jerry will be here to care for Dad, of course. How I wish Dad could join us, but he's not quite able. More about Dad later.
On Saturday, Mom and Dad will be celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary! They were married on May 5th, 1946 in the office of the Sacred Heart Church in Rockne Texas, and their reception was held afterwards at Mom's parents' home outside Rockne! Dad was not Catholic at the time, which is why they were married in the Church office rather than inside the Church. They each had one attendant. Dad has always told us that he had to borrow $10 from Mom's brother Mike to pay the priest!! Like any marriage, theirs had its ups and downs, but the ups highly outnumbered the downs! Mom and Dad taught us great lessons about love, faithfulness, devotion and selflessness! Jean, Glenda, Danny and I had the most precious gift from God when He blessed us with Mildred and Harvey as parents! They are a blessing to all of our family and all of their friends!!
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer - may you ever be captivated by her love. Proverbs 5:18-19
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