Tomorrow
would have been Dean and my 50th wedding anniversary. Ten years
ago, I would never have dreamed we would not be celebrating this anniversary
together. We come from a line of long-lived family members with Dean’s folks celebrating
more than 60 years together and my parents, 55 years. So the odds of celebrating our 50th
wedding anniversary were good.
But
our celebration was not to be. I am grateful that my day will be
filled with new beginnings for some of my friends. My friend, Trina, is having
an estate sale to help speed her on to a new solo adventure. My “adopted”
grandson, Devin, is having a graduation party to herald the start of an
exciting journey of higher education in his life.
As
for me, I have decided to celebrate the 46 years Dean and I had together with
some pictures and thoughts.
June
9, 1968 brought a continuing life, now together, out West. I had left NE
Missouri to teach music on an Indian reservation at Ft. Washakie, WY and Dean
was working in the Sinclair oil fields at Bairoil, WY.
Dean
decided to go to college and after graduating at a new junior college in
Riverton, WY, we moved to Laramie where he completed an industrial arts degree.
By that time baby Jeffrey had joined us and I became a full time mom.
Dean
got a teaching job in Rawlins, WY so we moved there and baby Brian joined the
family there.
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| Jeff and Brian, ages 7 & 4 |
We
spent eleven years in Rawlins, went back to Laramie for seven years and then
traveled further west to Nevada in 1990. I seem to be rooted pretty deeply here
now.
Through
all those years, Dean learned to be a Godly husband, father, and all-round man
of integrity. He embraced the Gideon ministry back in the years of teaching
school (although he spent most of his working years working in coal and gold
mines).
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| Gideon presentation |
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| He was a coffee lover |
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| He liked frogs, especially to share with his friend, Charlie. |
He
was a willing worker in what-ever church we were members and a mentor to more
men than I will ever know. His kindness and generosity still remain goals for my life.
 |
| He loved cars--this was his last. |
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| Anniversary #46 June 9, 2014 |
So
happy anniversary, My Sweet Babboo, even though we didn’t make it to #50
together .
Dear Sweet Pat ~ So wonderfully conveyed and well-written. The love that you shared with Dean was so very beautiful and inspirational to all those who have had the privilege of knowing you both. Thank you so much for sharing your heart with all of us, as well as a piece of the amazing & precious love that you & Dean had. You are loved, my beautiful friend & we rejoice with you in the knowledge that you will see him again. <3 <3 <3
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary Pat. You were blessed to call a good man "husband". We carry our beloveds in our hearts, so celebrate dear one.
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks so much for sharing. You are a wonderful person and a great friend. I wish I would of known Dean. Love the pictures.
ReplyDelete