12-12-12

12-12-12, I'd love to say we planned it, but......., 

I think we haven't planned at all.....,

however I'm glad the world will be celebrating our 26 years being married here Wednesday-(one of us looks still young!).

Originally we were to be married on Christmas, of that year in 1986 or 1985 which is where my problems always come in remembering, but the death of Jack's dear aunt Mary and father Vern just took all the air from the ability Jack or I  had to deal-and I thought we'd probably wait a year or two actually and try to get married later. He was so detached after this double blow just to a young kid two of the major figures of his life just poof -gone--I really wasn't talking with him about a wedding except to say it didn't matter-we'd just wait.... cancelling things. Calling family and friends to explain.

Still he came home, after work on a Friday, on the 12th of December-we both worked in Greenfield CA, me in a 4th grade, him in a 2nd- and he said "I've called Danny, (his bro) and he's on his way from LA, we are going to go get married, NOW, hurry up." 

He had a bottle of champagne from Carla Caballo who worked with us.

Carla knew before I did!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I wore the same dress I worked in that day, and to be honest I think I might have had on tennis shoes. I know it's unlikely I washed my hands even, just got in the car, and drove into Monterey. I keep thinking Danny met us at the place we were living in Greenfield, and drove with us, to a lovely place we lived with carpets that in 12 years prior to us never saw a vacuum or cleaning-still reminding me of the twelve rug cleanings the professional gave it all day in October until he said he had to give up. ( I used to sing that as the 12 cleanings of Christmas song) With open to the outside seams at the walls all around to bring in the 12 bagfuls I'd vacuumed first.. 

What is it with us and dozens.

Ah.....those days of early poverty. 

We drove to the address he had, which was the Food Max, literally that address numbers and here was a huge grocery store!!!!!!! Because it was supposed to be in Pacific Grove, not Monterey. Jack kept on going (same street) until he located the office of Judge Richard C Eldridge. Or Eldred. Jack always says it wrong until I've lost the right way in my head. He tipped him 25 bucks, and Danny made me laugh. His company was very dear to that day's memory. Both boys had just lost a Dad they revered (and I'll be honest I did too-Vern was the most wonderful guy) -it was quite an interesting and short ceremony. Then we had dinner and went back down to the windy city of Greenfield to be blown around in the dirtysugar shack. You wish you had mismatched broken mirror tiles like those in that house! Quite honestly I had no idea I was getting married until the two hours before I was- so 26 years-not so shabby. Mix in that we celebrated 26 twice and you have a sort of overview on our marriage. A kind of in the moment quality.
Many, many friends and family had been going to join us in our wedding -which had been planned for the Centrella Inn, in Pacific Grove, and of those quite a few are watching over us from above.
Most taken way before their time. Perhaps a message that life is fleeting-love enduring, humor, heart, seizing the day all a part of our going forward. I look at the pics we made that night- remembering.
Three years later we had Sylvia and started our family. Can you imagine a more dedicated Dad and family guy than Jack? Well kids certainly changed us both.
Pretty funny though how it seems like the blink of an eye. AND forever ago.
12-12-86 to 12-12-12, I think. Or was it 85?

 What would be our song?

Well...

At that time I was listening to mixed tapes. 

I listened to this a lot..

 but...the real one.

I loved this...actually then.

  Watch my favorite singer in my favorite plave in 2011 just because it caught my eye to see his changing in time, like my own evolution...

 

But...together...our song? Jack and I?

Well......heck, Jack suggests this, maybe,  because he says I played him so much that I finally brought him around over the years to lovin him.