It was July 9, 1974 when they met. Gas was at an all time high due to the shortage of '73, a whopping 65¢ a gallon and a bottle of Pepsi sold for 5¢.
At 26, she had bright blue eyes that sparkled and high-lighted blonde hair. She dressed in the fashions of that era and drove a bright red Voltswagen Beetle. Years before, in 1953, her parents had immigrated to the United States from Argentina, having sailed on a ship for thirty days before arriving in America on her fifth birthday. She had no trace of an accent but still spoke the language. That summer, one of her co-workers suggested that she'd like to set her up with her brother. She agreed.
The brother was tall, lanky and younger with ginger hair. Barely 22 years old and in the Air Force. He was on leave and back in New Jersey for a short period of time to visit family but was due to leave again at the beginning of August for Germany, where he would be stationed for the next two years. He had always been very smart and athletic. He was amazing at both track and baseball... but he was a little shy. He didn't go to school functions, such as dances. So when his younger sister insisted on the date, he agreed.
The first date went so well that there was a second. Then they went camping with his family, to dinner with her family, on another date. She was happy, he was happy. His family loved her and her family loved him. So over rootbeer floats, he asked her to marry him and go to Germany with him. She said yes. He hadn't had time to buy a ring so he gave her an oddly shaped but pretty rock, which she would keep for the rest of her life, and they called it her engagement rock.
On July 27, 1974, eighteen days after they met, they were wed. There was little notice but it was lovely. She wore a simple white gown with an empire waist with tiny pale pink roses. He wore a white tuxedo. The flower girls wore rose colored dresses and his sister that introduced them was the maid of honor. She was glowing, this was everything she has ever wanted. When he looked at her, the love shining through was obvious. It was a lovely wedding and an even lovelier marriage. They had four children, who they loved more than anything and three grandchildren. They were married for 26 years until she died a sudden and heartbreakingly unexpected death.
It sounds surreal but it's the story of my parents. It's almost like a fairy tail and I keep waiting for Prince Charming to come and whisk me off to... er... Germany?
Disney Princesses and Fairy Tales be darned... it's my favorite love story.
