40 Years Ago

Why am I writing on this subject?  It was so long ago.  On Sunday, February 2, 2014, it will be Super Bowl Sunday.  No, I am not writing about football.  I don’t even watch NE football, and could care less about any football, baseball, basketball, or soccer game.  Correction- if my grandkids were involved in one of these sports, then I would care about the game.  I am not writing about Groundhogs Day either.  I do hope that spring is just around the corner, so we can get out and camp.  I am writing about the event on 2-2-74, our wedding date.  Yes, it has been 40 years.  We are still living and together, which is an achievement these days.  We still love each other.  I know I do, and I am speaking also for Pat.

I am writing this to my four grandkids.  - You can keep reading.

Dear Grandkids, I want you to know about “How I Met Your Grandfather.”  I have no idea how my grandparents met or even my own parents.  Angie and Julie you may not even know some of these details.  Pat you may not either, since my memories may be different from yours.  Hey it has been 40 years ago.  It is strange how different our past memories can be.  Angie and Julie’s memories are as if they each grew up in different homes.  

OK grandkids, it all started back during our senior year of 1969/1970.   Your grandfather and I attended Omaha South High on 24^th street in South Omaha.  We were in the same English class taught by Mr. Biggs.  The first time we saw each other was in Sept. of ’69.  You know how your grandfather is a man of many words, just kidding.  We were in an auditorium for class and he stood up to let me pass through the row and said, “Do you ride to school with Rich Z… in the mornings?”He asked.  “Yes, at times.” I replied.  Well that was it.  Oct.-March went by with both of us in the same English class.  In April, I was in the girl’s bathroom, when a friend from English class said that this guy was asking about me.  He wanted to know if I was dating anyone.  She of course said no.  I had a few dates and phone calls during high school, but was way too busy with school, work, babysitting, and saving money to date.  I of course asked Becky, many questions.  Was he cute, tall, dark and handsome?  What was his name? 
Where does he sit in class?  I had no idea who he was.  I came to class and kept thinking was that him or was that him? He talked again to me, and asked if I would go on a date with him. 

 Our first date was on April 9, 1970.  We went to see the Guess Who in concert at the Civic Auditorium.  Grandchildren this was a rock group that had some popular songs like, No Time, American Woman, These Eyes.  I have to stop singing and get back to writing.  I can still remember those songs.  Your grandfather had an 8 track of their greatest hits and we listened to that 8 track over and over years later.  I think your Great Grandma Deloris was more excited than I, when I started dating your grandfather.  She had been worried that I would never marry and give her grandchildren.  You see I was going to be a nun.  You may not know what that is.  Goggle it along with 8 tracks to find out.  I know now as I look back, that it was God’s plan for my life. But back then it was my mom’s plan.  She changed my future plans by lying to me. 

  I attended catholic grade school up until 9^th grade.  I was a very good catholic girl and those girls went to a catholic high school, and then went on to study to be a nun.  It was the 60’s.  I took the test to get into the local catholic high school and I failed.  They did not want me.  I was too stupid.  I could not be a nun, because I would have to go to public high school.  Only the smart kids went to catholic high school.  Public high school was so easy, I got ones and graduated in the top 10%.  My mother Deloris Bedrosky had lied to me.  I was accepted, but she did not want me to be a nun.

Your grandfather and I grew up in the same neighborhood within blocks of each other, yet did not meet until senior year.  His brothers knew my brothers.  I went to elementary school with his guy friends.  His mother’s family grew up in the same neighborhood in Valley, NE, that my mother’s family did.  Grandpa’s uncles played with my uncles.  My grandmother even left a care box of food on his grandmother’s porch when she had heard his grandfather was out of work.

We dated. We went to prom together. We went to a lot of baseball games, wrestling matches, concerts, movies, out to eat, bowled, and attended friends weddings.  Grandpa went to UNO after he graduated.  He wanted to be a teacher.  I find that very funny just thinking about that.  Back then it may have worked because teachers did not have to have patience.  If a student would act up grandpa would just turn on the McQuinn evil eye and the misbehaving student would settle down. Grandpa and grandma was so busy dating and having fun that Grandpa had no time to study, so he quit college.  Grandma was too stupid to go to college.  I later got over that and earned a bachelor, master, and specialist degrees and endorsements’ in preschool, elementary, middle school, high school, and special education and transition education. Yes, grandkids you could say I spent my whole life teaching and going to school at UNO and Lincoln. I worked for three school districts and taught every grade level.  My favorite was young adults ages 18-21.  Grandpa went to college later in life to METRO a community college.  He worked for the City of Omaha until retirement, and belonged to the stage hand union for 30 years working part time for them.

Back to the 70’s, Grandma was busy working at Mutual of Omaha and then went to work at Northwestern Bell making even more money and saving all the money I made. Grandpa paid for everything and drove me around, since I did not drive. On 11-11-71 we needed to get away from Grandpa’s grandmother who was staying with him at her rental house on 3^rd and Woolworth. The man of many words said, “Let’s get out of here and go to Zales and pick out a wedding ring.  So we left.  I knew that we would marry because earlier he had given me a promise ring.  Back in the day that was a thing to do.  It was a diamond chip set in white gold.  If I still have it, I will show it to you someday.  Not sure because when I was not working after the stroke, I got really carried away selling things to help pay the bills.  In the bag of jewelry that I was selling was also my wedding ring, so I am sure I sold the promise ring.  Funny story, months later I was using the bag that had held the jewelry, there in the lining was my wedding ring.  It was not meant to be sold at that time.  I am now wearing the wedding ring to keep my other rings on, since I have lost weight, yes back to my wedding day weight.  

Grandpa still had to get away from his grandmother Inez, so we had to go out and buy a house.  He had to move as far away as he could, so we bought a house in a town called Millard, now called Omaha.  It is the house by church on Oaks Lane that we have shown you.  Grandpa always has to say that it looked better back then, when your mom was little.  We only looked at three homes and the third was a charm.  Remember kids, I worked, and worked, and saved.  It was fun buying a house and a house full of new furniture, some we are still using.  I bought quality furniture back then.  The orange flowered couch and loveseat, along with the oil dripping decorative hanging lamp went bye- bye many years ago.  Back then you could buy a car, furniture, and make a huge down payment on a house with cash from savings.  Grandpa moved in right away, yes to get away from his family. My first night in our new house was on our wedding night.  Ok kids someday your parents will give you the talk or a book.  Grandpa bought me a book, and Angie got your mom one for her wedding night.  Aunt Nan was with Angie and yelled across the book store asking where the _ _ _ books were? 

We got married at 2:00pm, at Saint Patrick’s 1404 Castelar Street.  We had six attendants, my sister Nan, friends Patty B., Cathy C., Bob L, Mike G, and Steve K.  I am still friends with Cathy and Patty.  Cathy sang two Carpenters’ songs; We’ve Only Just Begun and For All We Know. I wore a close out wedding dress maybe under $25. The bridesmaids wore recycled dresses from Patty’s sister’s Grace’s wedding.  My sister wore my pink dress, Cathy her pink, and Patty wore her blue dress.  Great way to save money and helped decide who would be my attendants.  Father Patrick Carroll married us and we had to attend his marriage counseling weekly classes in order to marry at the church.  My cousin Ron G took the wedding pictures.  We went riding around in our 1970 orange Chevy Malibu that was paid for with my savings.  My grandma Em thought that your grandpa had married me for my money.  We all hung out at our new house until 5:45 and then went to the reception.  The reception was at St.Pat’s gym.  The buffet dinner was from 6:30 to 8:30PM and a dance with a live band was from 8:30 to 12:00.  My aunts and cousins all helped out with the decorating and making of the food.  My color theme was hot pink for the reception. We had a dollar dance and earned $60.  We used our wedding money to add a fence for our first dog Brandy, that grandpa’s uncle put it in.  Brandy went to live with a new family after Angie was born.  Child and dog did not get along.  

 We left the huge reception at 11:30 for our honeymoon. We spent it in our new house with all my new wedding and shower gifts.  Back in the day, everyone went to receptions even if not invited.  All my brothers and grandpa’s brothers and sisters friends attended, because hey free food and beer along with a live band.  I am sure they did not check ID’s back then.  Grandpa even danced with me, but then he had too, since he was the groom.  I had two wedding showers. Just recently at last year’s garage sale, I got rid of wedding gifts that I had saved for 39 years and maybe only used the things a few times in the past.  I still have 39 year old wedding towels that are used for rags.  Yes, I have a hoarding streak.  That may be a subject for a future blog.  I would have to call it the Hoarding Curse on the Bedrosky/Bussell family side.  Never know when I would need an olive green fondue pot, so I saved it up until last year.  Someone did buy it.

Fast forward, Angie was born on 3-3-77 and Julie on !-23-79.  My last day working at Northwestern Bell was 3-2-77.  My goal had changed from being a nun, to being a wife, and stay at home mom.  I did daycare for years while the girls were younger for spending money. I also had a lot of money saved when working at North Western Bell, but knew it would not last long. Don’t get me wrong, I really missed my job and yes, I missed the money.  I was working on a special project of converting the telephone directory to computer.  I did all this, coding, keypunching, etc and could work as many overtime hours that I wanted. Back in 1975 at my desk, I had made a promise to the Lord when I read some Bible verses about how Jesus died on the cross for me and rose from the dead.  My being a good catholic girl or nun was not the way to get to heaven.  It was grace through faith if I accepted that gift.  So I accepted, but before that I had promised God if he was really up there listening, I would really like to quit and be a mom ...  Grandkids, that is another story that I will write about someday.Maybe call it "Saved from Death to Life."

 Happy 40^th Anniversary Pat.  Love you!

Grandkids, I will put a copy of this How I Met Your Grandfather, in your binder of writings and letters that I have written to you throughout the years.  Sorry Weston, your binder is the smallest.  You are my youngest.  Jocelyn you have the largest because you were the first.  Katelyn and Easton I love you also.  I hope this will help you in the future when you met that special someone like mom did 10 years ago and grandma did 40 years ago.  Your special someone that the Lord has planned for you may ask, “How did your grandparents met?” And you can tell the story.  Also another reason I am writing this is; if I do begin to lose my memory, I may ask you to tell me the story of, “How I met your Grandfather.” Think of it this way; remember how many times you ask me, “Grandma tell me the story about when I was born.”  Thanks, Julie and Sean for allowing me to witness four of the top highlights of these past 40 years, the birth of my four grandkids.

One last thing kids, in ten years I am planning on having a 50^th party that you all will give us.  Jocelyn and Katelyn you are in charge of making the cake, but please go easy on the sprinkles.  If you decide that a party is too much work; then just send us on a cruise to somewhere warm.  You all are invited, but you will have to pay your own way.  Ten years will not change my thriftiness.  I will be still saving for retirement, so no money for cruises.  Just trying to stay busy.  Maybe I can talk Grandpa into letting me do daycare for extra money for retirement?