Last Updated on September 21, 2018 by Terry
“You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because your reality is finally better than your dreams.” – Dr. Seuss
Yep, this is where it all started. Back in the day, I had the best job in the world. I was fresh out of high school and had learned a lot about brick and stone work. When I was twenty, I was working for myself laying stones and building fireplaces.
Having a fireplace was a big deal in the 1970s. In the north they burned coal, and in the south we burned wood. People from all over can tell stories of families sitting around the fireplace. It was family time. (Maybe we should get back to fireplaces.)
So I would build a fireplace and go fishing until I ran out of money. Go back and build another fireplace and go fishing until I ran out of money. Life was great! I had a great truck, a fine boat, superb hunting rifle, and the best fishing equipment. Then something happened that literally changed my life; I met this girl. No complaints, after thirty-nine years, (Tonight at 7:30) she’s still here. Amazing!
Even though I had to make adjustments, I have no regrets and can’t wait until she gets home from work each night. You’re not going to believe what she did to me. She rejected my gift. Her special anniversary surprise was me taking her fishing tomorrow. What could be better? Well, I found out what was better: me cutting the grass and cleaning up my kayak area by the drive way. (How boring.)
I can’t explain everything that has happened in my life but fortunately, everything I am involved with will somehow turns into an adventure. Adventure has always found me no matter what I am doing or about to do.
Even at work, every time I come back from a training trip, the people at my office will ask, “Okay, what happened this time”.
Example: I just got back from Williston, ND last night at midnight. Two different plane ride stories and three people stories to write about. (Later.)
One thing is for sure, my life has not been boring. Good! Life should be about having fun and I have had plenty. You will discover a lot about finding fun and adventure during everyday life in my next book, The 99 Truths of Life: Joining the Revolution of Recovering Life Values. (Launch date is October 1st! Available for Pre-Order this coming week! )
Today’s particular adventure began on the afternoon/evening of September 21, 1979. Wedding night, and a Friday night by the way. We had the entire event planned out. I had been careful not to share our plans with my friends like Allan, Gerald, and other hooligans due to the fact that I knew they would have plans of their own. The typical stuff, shaving cream inside and outside the car, weird things tied to the bumper, who knows what else.
We parked Carla’s 1977 Camaro at an uncle and aunt’s house. Another uncle would drive us to that house and we would leave from there. I even had my brother ready with his truck to block the street after we pulled away from the church so we would not be followed.
Everything was working to perfection. We said “I do,” kissed, ate some cake, and ran out the side door of the church in order to dodge everyone. My uncle sped away and my brother pulled into the street on cue. We made two turns and realized that we had accomplished our mission, no one was following.
We arrived where our car was stashed and headed to Branson, Mo. It was about a four-hour trip back then. The wedding didn’t begin until 7:30 and we knew it would run a little long, so we didn’t want to start that long of a trip at 9pm.
The plan was to drive thirty miles to Conway and stay at a motel we had reserved earlier in the week. We had also decided to stop and eat something as we left our home town. We ducked into the Western Sizzling on Rodney Parham, ordered, finished eating, and got back onto bypass 4:30 heading to our motel. Our plans were going great.
What we did not know, was that these friends of mine were also forging a plan in their devious minds. They had headed home, changed, met back at the church, and all jumped into one of their trucks.
I had accidentally told one of them we were stopping for the night on the way. I had even mentioned the city. It was not a large city back then and they were determined to search every motel in the town until they found our car. They were going to complete the earlier idea of messing up our vehicle in the normal wedding way.
As they headed north, they were approaching the exit Carla and I had gotten off at to eat. Guess who pulled out right in front of them? They must have been very proud of themselves with that turn of events. Now instead of hunting for our motel, they would simply follow us to our destination and then swing by a convenience store to pick up their weapons of dastardly decoration.
After we arrived at the motel, Carla informed me she had forgotten an important item. Something about “removing make up” she explained. Her plan was for me to go to a store to fetch it. I think this might have been on purpose in order to find out how submissive I will be in the future. “Training me right” she told me later.
As I pulled into the store, I noticed a very familiar truck parked right up front. I peered through the window and sure enough, there they were. I eased in behind them at the counter. They had a whole pile of things. They were going to do our car up right.
As I stood behind them, I asked if I could help. The surprise on their faces was worth the entire episode. I immediately formed a plan of my own. I told them to head back to the room and surprise Carla and that I would put the things back as I searched for Carla’s item. They fell for it and left. I found what I was sent for and paid for it and also their stuff. I drove back to the motel and got busy with their truck.
I had made it to our room as the manager was calling to explain that he does not allow parties at his motel. I told you they were hooligans. I apologized, sent my friends out, and locked the door.
Finally, the honeymoon was able to get back to normal. (And it’s still going on!)
“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” – Mark Twain
Leave a note for Carla after you finish reading. Remind her how she could NOT have done better than me!
Don’t forget to like and share.
Also, more fishing videos coming on the You Tube channel.
