THEN and NOW
The year was 1948. It was Miss Mary Olive Jones 6t' period History class at Andrew Jackson Senior High School. I spotted this good looking fella sitting several rows from me. Wow, I think the butterflies immediately did a number on me! After all, I was just a 16 year old high school girl. The questions began to flood my mind - who was he and what was his name. It wasn't long before Z had my answers - not to the History questions, but to who he was. The flirting was quite obvious between the two of us. Miss Jones never said anything to us about it. I do believe she cared for us from the start. This same situation occurred in Miss Mary Cochley's English class and once again, Miss Cochley just smiled.
The school year was about to end and both he and I had plans for the summer. He went to Georgia to help his Uncle crop tobacco and I went to Alabama to spend some time with my grandmother. There was a lull in our relationship with me in Alabama and he in Georgia. When we returned from our summer being away, it just so happened that we both went to the Brentwood theater one Saturday afternoon and we spotted each other once again. The butterflies returned! On October 1,1948, he had a party at his house and I was invited. After that, the sparks began to fly. My birthday was coming up on the 17th of October. He asked to take me out for dinner. He borrowed his parents' car and we went to Biser's restaurant - the rest is history. Graduation was in 1949 and he left to join the Army and I went to work. Our romance continued to blossom. As the saying goes, absence really does make the heart grow fonder. In order for us to get married, he went into the Airborne because paratroopers earned $50.00 more money per month.
We had our beautiful wedding on May 21, 1950 at the Anderson Memorial Methodist Church and began our married life together. Little did we know, he would be sent to Korea in September. He was with the 11th Airborne Division, 187th Regimental Combat Team stationed in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. During the war in Korea, he had to make two combat jumps. Fortunately, he was gone only one year. After his return in 195 1, we lived in Clarksville, Tennessee which was close to the base at Ft, Campbell. Upon his discharge in 1952, we returned to Jacksonville where we welcomed our first born daughter on August I, 1952. We were later blessed with another daughter in 1954, a son in 1956 and another son in 1960. On May 21, 2010, we will celebrate our 60th Wedding Anniversary. We are truly blessed! By the way, the butterflies still remain!
Mary and Homer Blackman
May 21, 1950 to May 21, 2010
60th Wedding Anniversary Salutation
TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
My mother wrote, and gave the above essay to all of us at their celebration.
I am very thankful that she wrote her story down, about how she and dad met.
It is hard for a child to see their parents as young and in love teenagers. It is a sweet vision.
They were not perfect parents, they were young kids, doing their best. Their best was pretty awesome.
The year was 1948. It was Miss Mary Olive Jones 6t' period History class at Andrew Jackson Senior High School. I spotted this good looking fella sitting several rows from me. Wow, I think the butterflies immediately did a number on me! After all, I was just a 16 year old high school girl. The questions began to flood my mind - who was he and what was his name. It wasn't long before Z had my answers - not to the History questions, but to who he was. The flirting was quite obvious between the two of us. Miss Jones never said anything to us about it. I do believe she cared for us from the start. This same situation occurred in Miss Mary Cochley's English class and once again, Miss Cochley just smiled.
The school year was about to end and both he and I had plans for the summer. He went to Georgia to help his Uncle crop tobacco and I went to Alabama to spend some time with my grandmother. There was a lull in our relationship with me in Alabama and he in Georgia. When we returned from our summer being away, it just so happened that we both went to the Brentwood theater one Saturday afternoon and we spotted each other once again. The butterflies returned! On October 1,1948, he had a party at his house and I was invited. After that, the sparks began to fly. My birthday was coming up on the 17th of October. He asked to take me out for dinner. He borrowed his parents' car and we went to Biser's restaurant - the rest is history. Graduation was in 1949 and he left to join the Army and I went to work. Our romance continued to blossom. As the saying goes, absence really does make the heart grow fonder. In order for us to get married, he went into the Airborne because paratroopers earned $50.00 more money per month.
We had our beautiful wedding on May 21, 1950 at the Anderson Memorial Methodist Church and began our married life together. Little did we know, he would be sent to Korea in September. He was with the 11th Airborne Division, 187th Regimental Combat Team stationed in Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. During the war in Korea, he had to make two combat jumps. Fortunately, he was gone only one year. After his return in 195 1, we lived in Clarksville, Tennessee which was close to the base at Ft, Campbell. Upon his discharge in 1952, we returned to Jacksonville where we welcomed our first born daughter on August I, 1952. We were later blessed with another daughter in 1954, a son in 1956 and another son in 1960. On May 21, 2010, we will celebrate our 60th Wedding Anniversary. We are truly blessed! By the way, the butterflies still remain!
Mary and Homer Blackman
May 21, 1950 to May 21, 2010
60th Wedding Anniversary Salutation
TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
My mother wrote, and gave the above essay to all of us at their celebration.
I am very thankful that she wrote her story down, about how she and dad met.
It is hard for a child to see their parents as young and in love teenagers. It is a sweet vision.
They were not perfect parents, they were young kids, doing their best. Their best was pretty awesome.
Sixty years living with someone, is a miracle. My miracle, my parents.
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I *love* this story! Beautifully written, too.
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