October 21, 1970. My brother and I got dressed up and went to Grace Community Church in his white 1959 Thunderbird, where I married my high school sweetheart, Sandra Kay McDermett. The ceremony was presided over by 81 year old Rev. Clarion Edwards. It was Rev. Edwards' second to last marriage ceremony, the last being his grandson, Randy. From there, we went to Sandy's parents and had a small reception, and then left in mom and dad's 1964 Mercury station wagon for Denver (my 1960 Thunderbird wasn't reliable enough for a trip).
We stayed at the Howard Johnson's on Hampden Ave and I-25, which at that time was on the extreme edge of the Denver metro area. The next day, we went to Estes Park where my aunt and uncle owned a huge cabin. We stayed there for a couple of nights, and then went back to Pueblo and work. We didn't have a proper honeymoon until about a year and a half later, when we made a week long tour of Western Colorado in our 1968 Torino GT. I remember that trip. I took $100 in cash, and we spent six nights in cabins and really didn't scrimp on anything, and I still brought back $20 in my wallet.
So, here we are, 3 children and spouses, 11 grandchildren, and 1 great grandson. Most all of this is due to the patience and generosity of my loving wife, Sandy. We are going to celebrate with the whole family (except Jonathan, who is somewhere in the ocean in a submarine) on Saturday,.. We found a Brazilian restaurant in Colorado Springs who agreed to accommodate all of us. We haven't tried the restaurant yet, but the kids say it's wonderful.
