1968

Today we took a drive through old Sacramento. It has changed a lot in 39 years.
To begin:
In 1968 Your Dad gave me my first and only set of wedding and engagement rings. Prior to this time, we could not afford them, We were married and that was all that mattered. I did not need a ring on my hand to prove that or to make me faithful. In those days, If a woman did not have a ring on her finger and she was carrying around a baby or was pregnant, everyone thought she was an unwed Mom. True story.
In 1967 Wynell loaned me a set that was given to her by Mickey MacWilliams, Her first Love. She wore then while pregnant with Mark, and she was not married to the father. She also word corsets to keep her tummy in, and she kept working until the due date. Most people were none the wiser but she had the rings to wear, in case she was showing. She told me her cousin, Used to put her knee in Wynells back, and pull the corset as tight as possible. She barely showed when he was born. Poor baby, it is a wonder he made it.
So I was loaned the rings, when I had none and was big pregnant.
We celebrated by taking a trip to Old Sacramento, We had planned on a several days, Coy and Lou kept the boys for us. Ken was one year old. Charles was 4.
I called several times a day, I checked in at night, I had never left my babies and this was hard for me. We spent much of our time walking around the town, We walked the capital building and all the grounds. It was a very nice 2 days. Yes you heard right, We came home early on Sunday. We knew they would be in church, but I marched right in and picked up my babies. I had missed them so much.
When we arrived in church, Ken lit up like a candle. He ran for me, his eyes were red from crying, he missed us so much. He spent the next few days at my feet, constantly.
Charles was a tough 4 year old but he missed us too. he was equally happy to see us.
Coy and Lou asked why we were back so early. My response.
I could not stay away from the babies any longer. They laughed and said " We took good care of them."
That is one thing I never doubted, Lou and Coy Loved the boys.

So driving through the old part of town brought back those memories. We loved it and talked about it for a while, we even tried to find the motel we stayed in. Of course everything has changed but we stayed at 15Th and I street. A motel stands there today, same one , different name. We ate at a Sam's restaurant, New then, it was immaculate. Years later we tried to renew that weekend away, with our kids, but it had all changed, plus we were older and had more money so it was not as big a treat as previous time had been. I was only 22 years old then. I thought then I was old, Now I wish I Were 22 again. No not really, I have been so blessed with you all, your gifts to us of grandchildren, your respect, would I change things, Probably, but who knows, maybe I did make the correct decisions back then. a new avenue would have taken us to different ends of everything we did. Each move was a road we chose, Each of our lives branched off those roads in the direction each of you travel now.
Remember, What you choose today will be there forever. One way or another.
So now you know how we spent our 5Th anniversary.