~~Jackie~~(continued)

He WAS cute, my first and only true love,
with or without the leather jacket.
:)

When we got engaged, Mama said "You can

be engaged, but don't get married until Jackie is out of the Army."

Well, you know what we did, right?

Yep, I found a dress for $15.00, and off we went

to Fort Benning with two witnesses.  It was December 22, 1961.

We didn't have the sense God gave little green apples.

But, we were in LOVE, people!

It rained cats and dogs on our wedding day, 
but we ran through the puddles to the chapel.

We looked like drowned rats, but we didn't care!

We were young, impulsive and naive.

When we returned to the no-tell-motel, he called his parents,

then I called mine.  Of course, my dad already knew, after all

he was my confidante!  When he answered, he said "Let me get your Ma."

Well, Mama came to the phone, I told her, and the phone crackled, then went KERPLUNK!

Not a good sign. 

:)

I waited a couple of hours, called back and this time my little brother answered.

He said "What did you say to Mama that made her faint?"

I told him, then he slammed the phone down in my ear.

After all, he was like my baby through the years; I spoiled him

and I already knew he was jealous of Jackie!

Well.

On the way back from Georgia, I called again praying my dad would answer!

He did, and said "Ma is out shopping, she's taking your Christmas presents back."
I thought I heard a little snicker, but still!

"Damn" I thought, she must really be mad.  Dad also said "Are you still coming

over Christmas Eve?"  HAHAHA Are you kidding me?

I learned at an early age that it was best to avoid Mama when she was in a snit.

She was a good mother, don't get me wrong, and I wasn't afraid of her.

Well, not exactly.  There was that time when I was about 12 when I knew she

was angry, that I pretended to be dead on the kitchen floor.

:)

On December 24, Jackie said I had to face the music sometime. 
That wasn't the music I wanted to hear on my honeymoon. 
But, we went to the house.

Low and behold, Mama had indeed returned my Christmas gifts, and

replaced them with things that Jackie and  I would need to set up housekeeping.

Pots/pans/silverware/dishes, you name it.

It was the perfect Christmas.