Monday, December 31, 2012

The New Year's Eve that Changed My Life

      In my family the New Year's tradition was fairly standard. There was no celebration of New Year's Eve. On New Year's day there was a traditional family day. Mom's cousin and her family would come over and a big turkey dinner was eaten at noon. All afternoon we visited, played games and nibbled. Since we were farmers the men would leave to "do the chores" around five PM. In other words they went to tend their livestock. Then about 6:00 PM we had a rather lavish cold plate. More of the same until midnight when we had more lunch and the day ended. It was a complete day of feasting.

     Once I left the family so that I wasn't able to be home for festivities, I had to try something different. So I was introduced to the New Year's Eve party with dining and dancing and drinking lots of "pop."

    Now the New Year's Eve that changed my life happened rather innocently. There was nothing earth shattering. There was no epiphany. There were no great resolutions. I needed somebody to take to the New Year's Eve party. I tried to phone a certain nurse but I guess she was on shift and I couldn't reach her. My friend was in the same boat. We were moaning about this to a public health nurse who lived in our building. She said, "I'll see what I can do for you guys". Now Merle had a wicked sense of humor. she would set these up as blind dates. We didn't know who we were going to end up with. If it was somebody we really didn't want we were ready to run out the door. We you guessed it. Merle got the girl I had been trying to phone.

    Now the rest of the story is that the nurse I took to the party became my wife! So New Year's Eve 1964 was the first date I had with my wife. That certainly changed my life forever..

28 comments:

  1. SOOO sweet. thanks for sharing that tonight!

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  2. Red!
    You are a true romantic and with a gift for perfection.
    Merle, obviously knew what she was doing. I hope after
    you got married to the lady of your dreams, “She who must be
    obeyed”, you thanked Merle?
    Pity that I didn’t have a Merle here in Australia. Maybe I should have gone
    to Medicine Hat, Merle in 1970, might have helped me????
    Lovely report, Mate.
    Cheers
    Colin (Brisbane. Australia)
    PS: This strange balmy weather continues. It must come to an end soon
    for the sauna bath variety. Fingers crossed, that rain will come, the cooling
    variety with the cooler temperatures as a follow up. Happy New Year to you
    both.

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  3. So great how things work out unexpectedly! Happy New Year from downunder!!

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    Replies
    1. Happy New Year to you and all the best for 2013.

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  4. What a great story! It certainly did change your life, didn't it? Happy New Year AND Happy Anniversary of meeting your wife. :-)

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    Replies
    1. some things hit you from away out in left field. This was one of them.

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  5. Oh, what a great story Red - sometimes those blind dates do work out, more than one would expect. I love stories like this. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Well, it wasn't and it was a blind date. You see, I was trying to contact her and because of the difficulty it turned out to be blind.

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  6. What a great tale, Happy New Years Red.

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    1. We often laugh about it. I'm sure many people could tell a similar story.

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  7. Awww, this is phenomenal, what is meant to be will be... even if fate (karma or whatever you choose to call it) doesn't present to you what is meant to be, just talk to Merle! :-) Thank you Red for sharing this and filling my heart with hope, light and silly notions... even if only for a little while.

    Once again... I hope you have a blessed, prosperous and wonderful New Year!

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    1. I guess I'll have to send for Merle for you !

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  8. Great story! I Loved it! It was a good match ..apparently! Happy new Year Red! :)

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    1. Sometimes good matches require lot of work.

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  9. What a fortuitous happening for you. Happy New Year!

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    Replies
    1. Well sooner or later it had to happen if you're standing around!

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  10. A great reason for you to celebrate, though as I get older is has become impossible to stay up that late!

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  11. I think most older people would share your comment on staying up late. I went to bed about 11:30.

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  12. Ahhh, that is lovely and sweet and well just perfect!

    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
    http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

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    Replies
    1. Well, as you see it wasn't planned...it just happened.

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  13. A lovely story, Red. No doubt it was meant to be.

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    Replies
    1. Well, it was just the way it happened.

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  14. Visiting from Hilary's.

    You tell a good story Red. You obviously adore your wife as much as you did in 1964!

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    1. Thanks for dropping by Hiawatha House.

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  15. Replies
    1. Well, while it was happening to me it was quite surprise.

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