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31/12/2023 12:00 pm
SHOULD WE REALLY GET MARRIED?
It's New Year's Eve 1973. FIFTY YEARS AGO!
Lorraine and I were only 12 days away from our wedding day. We were invited to her cousin Karen's house for the evening. It would be Lorraine and I, and Karen and her husband Ron just chilling out.
Before going to Karen's, Lorraine's dad asked us if we would go over to the liquor store and get him a bottle of Vodka. As we entered the store we noticed one customer at the counter and the store was otherwise quiet. The Vodka was near the rear of the store so we walked back there. As we were grabbing a bottle, we heard a couple of "popping" sounds that startled us little, but didn't think anything of it.
Getting to the front counter to pay, the clerk advised us he had just been robbed. Those "pops" we heard were that "customer" shooting a gun in to the ceiling. The clerk advised us the police had been called. We paid for our Vodka and left the store, feeling blessed that our visit didn't turn out worse than it could have.
Getting to Lorraine's house, we got out of the car and accidently dropped the bag with the Vodka in it on the driveway, and you guessed it, the bottle shattered with the driveway absorbing the Vodka. When we got in the house we told her dad of the bottle breakage and our possible near death experience at the liquor store getting it. It was agreed, we weren't going back for another bottle, chuckling that, that was enough excitement for the evening. Little did we know the evening was young.
On the way to her cousin's house we had to stop and get gas. We pulled in to a somewhat crowded Super America station, a young kid came out to pump our gas...yes, this was the pre-pump your own era. After we paid him and were ready to pull away from the pump, a car behind us hit our rear bumper. The sound of the thump startled us, but we knew he had hit us. Luckily, there was no damage to either of our cars, only offering up a few minutes of unwanted excitement.
We drove the five miles to Karen's house and were ready to share our story of the liquor store mishap and the gas story. We were greeted at the door by Karen and their little 4 year old daughter Meaka, who I just loved to death. She was so adorable. As I always did when I saw Meaka, I'd pick her up and raise her high to the ceiling, and she would always giggle. But not this time! Turns out I lifted her too fast and too high, hitting the top of her head on the ceiling and she began crying. I felt awful and apologized over and over to her. And yes, that was the last time I lifted her to the ceiling.
Karen and Ron had put together a nice little spread of munchie food, and after Meaka was in bed, it was decided that the four of us were going to play Monopoly. As we were playing, we had some laughs and talked about our wedding day coming up in a few days. There were still a few small things that needed to be done before the big day, and it was all discussed with excited anticipation.
For those of you who have played Monopoly, you know that it is a game of "every person for themselves". The object of the game is to acquire lots of property and money as you play. It eventually got to the point where Ron seemed to have a regular flow of income coming in, while the rest of us were holding our own. Then it happened! Ron convinced me that if him and I team up against the ladies, WE could win the game. I was warned by the ladies of the devious plan for dominance that Ron had in mind. But I ignored them. I worked with Ron for a few minutes and eventually both the ladies had went bankrupt. It was then that I was blind-sided by Ron, who upon my landing on his "Boardwalk" that had a hotel on it, plus he owned the neighboring "Park Place" as well, with it too having a hotel, I was now forced to pay "Rent" that I did not have enough money to afford and I was wiped out!
Thus, Ron bellowing in his best dictator laugh, proclaimed that he was King! The girls reminded me that I'd been warned to not let him convince me to join him in his quest to eliminate them. I should have listened. Lesson learned.
We were getting close to the midnight hour putting way the Monopoly board and game pieces, when we heard sirens. Turns out it was a fire engine coming down their street. Where was it going? OMG! It was going to the end of their block where the brand new apartment building that Lorraine and I were going to move in to was apparently having a fire. Fortunately, there was no serious damage. WOW! This was one more crazy topic of conversation for an evening that had already had plenty to talk about.
We joshed that maybe after the evenings adventures, we were being told to not get married. But we were not people of superstition, so saying our goodbye's to Karen and Ron, I drove Lorraine back to her house while we rehashed this New Year's Eve fun and weird events.
Two weeks later on January 12, 1974, which dawned with a morning temperature of MINUS 20 below zero and sunny clear skies, we headed to church to promise ourselves to each other before God.
Tonight, this New Year's Eve now has our 50th wedding anniversary just 12 days away. One day at a time, one month at a time, one year at a time...here we are! Holding hands we're excited to continue this journey on the road to forever.
Hey wait, make that, forever and a day!
Love you princess!!!
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
31/12/2023 1:32 pm
Fifty years! Well done George.
31/12/2023 2:02 pm
I hope that your New Year’s Eve celebrations were never again as eventful as that one in 1973, George. You had some close calls. Happy New Year!
Topic starter
31/12/2023 3:11 pm
Fifty years! Well done George.
THANKS! LOL, when I read the Coffee Talk to Lorraine, she said, "Well, we've got two weeks to get there". I'd better be a good boy. 
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
01/01/2024 7:28 pm
Great story, George..My parents were married New Year’s Eve 1938, 85 years ago. From 1940 thru 1960 they had 12 of us kids.
David Vandermeer
Corinth, Texas
Steve Jacobs and John Kuvakas reacted
Topic starter
01/01/2024 8:09 pm
Great story, George..My parents were married New Year’s Eve 1938, 85 years ago. From 1940 thru 1960 they had 12 of us kids.
WOW! Congratulations to your parents. LOL, your mention of 12 kids reminded of the time here on the Forum, a guy said he, "has a rather large collection of 12 cars". And another poster responded, "12 isn't a large collection of anything, unless it's kids".
George Schire
Oakdale, Minnesota
Jack Dodds and John Kuvakas reacted
01/01/2024 11:35 pm
Sending Happy Anniversary wishes your way George and Lorraine. 🎉😘🍾😇👍
George Schire reacted