The Unforgettable Journey of Two Love Stories from the 1960s

Love stories that carry echoes of past decades often resurface with the same delight and nostalgia.

From a College Party to Elopement

It all began on a college house party in 1965. A large picture window overlooked the front porch from the living room, a scene that has stood the test of time. Mother had had a lot to drink that night and awkwardly stumbled onto the porch, leaning over the railing to puke her guts out onto the front lawn. Dad was waiting to steady her and ensure her miniskirt remained in place, a gesture that quite literally dressed her up under the circumstances. Six weeks later, they eloped and remained married until my mother's passing in 2017. You know them when you know them.

Education and Aspirations

My mother graduated from high school in 1960 and worked various jobs in Illinois, her home state, for two to three years. Always dutiful, she handed her earnings over to her mother, my grandmother. However, my grandmother eventually asked my mother to keep her money and save up for business school. My mother fulfilled her grandmother's wishes and returned to Texas in 1963 to take secretarial courses at a business college. At around the same time, a young man from a small rural community was also enrolled in accounting courses at the same business college. Despite his humble beginnings, he dreamt of a better life.

From Strangers to Sweethearts

In the fall of 1963, during the last months of President Kennedy's tenure, my mother and the young man came to study their respective courses. My grandmother, through her spirited and outgoing cousin, introduced them. Initially, my mother didn't take a liking to him. She was put off by his fraternization with other girls and his flirtatious nature. One fond memory was of a city carnival where she saw him with another girl. Embarrassed, he quickly walked away from my mother. However, things changed over time. My mother began writing to him while she was back in Illinois, and one fascinating tale my father shared is that he and his then-girlfriend sat in the balcony of a movie theater, where he broke up with her and instead went to see the girl he wrote to.

A Lifetime of Romance

Their courtship eventually led to a significant date: February 3, 1967. That day, the young man, now my father, made the right choice. My father's decision reflected not just a romantic choice but also a commitment to a future with my mother. Their story continues to inspire and resonate with each generation, reminding us of the enduring power of love and the importance of following one's heart.