Cheryl and I were married on February 2^nd 1968 – Groundhog’s Day.

We were both working and attending classes full-time at Michigan State University, so our honeymoon plans had to be short and simple. A friend suggested Marshall, Michigan as a suitable getaway.

It was late evening when we finally did get away – taking our leave from a modest reception we’d hosted in our new apartment. We set out into a snowstorm, happy and snug in our VW bug. The only thing I remember about the drive is that we got stuck in the snow. We had pulled off the road to switch drivers and when Cheryl eased out the clutch we simply spun-in-place. I got out and pushed.

I recall that we arrived on the outskirts of Marshall around 2:30 a.m. There was a motel. No reservations. No lights on either. I found a trailer out back and knocked on the door. The resident manager took pity on us and checked us into a room. The bed featured something called “magic fingers” so I put a quarter into the slot. With a deep hummm the entire mattress started to vibrate. We giggled together as we literally shook off the cares and chaos of our wedding day (and night).

Morning was well underway when we finally stirred to discover a day that was bright, white and beautiful. We went to a pancake restaurant and ate a hearty breakfast. Then we explored Marshall, Michigan – a quaint and picturesque flashback to nineteenth century small town America.

I don’t recall what else we may have done, but I know we browsed in two or three antique shops. We were looking for something – some special memento of the day, the visit, the starting of our life together. And we were both charmed by a little, green bud vase with the tiny figures of a boy and a girl together amidst intertwined tendrils of ivy.

Then we went home. To study and to work. And to live our life together.

Spring is starting to show already here in Atlanta. The other day we went for a walk and Cheryl picked a daffodil – among the first to bloom this year. It speaks a cheery “good morning” from the little green bud vase.

One of the first daffodils of spring. Happy anniversary!