Still alive at forty-five

This shot was not posed ... we had been married for ten minutes

It's hard for me to believe that nearly two weeks have elapsed since our forty-fifth wedding anniversary.

But then, I'm having difficulty processing that it has been forty-five years since TG and I got married.

Since I know you're dying to see what I wore, I wrote about my wedding dress -- in a post about the awful practice known as Trash the Dress -- here, some years ago.

Forty-five years later, to the day and almost to the hour

We met at church. In Hammond, Indiana, of all places. The greater Chicagoland area, as it is also known.

I was there because that's where I went to Bible College from 1974 until 1978.

FYI although I identify as a southerner (since my mother was born in Mississippi as were her own parents, and my father was born in Louisiana as were his own parents), I was born in the Hoosier State.

Here is the anniversary card I gave to TG

(My late father, a USAF pilot, was stationed at Grissom Air Force Base in Kokomo when I made my appearance.)

(He and Mama, as newlyweds, had been stationed at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, when my sister Kay came along.)

At any rate, TG and I met in Indiana in February of 1976, were married in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia in June of 1979, and lived in Northwest Indiana -- "The Region" -- until 1991, when we moved to Knoxville.

TG brought me these mega balloons

But I digress.

Forty-five summers have come and gone, and here we are.

I did not ask for special diamond jewelry this time, as I did upon our thirtieth and fortieth anniversaries.

On the thirtieth, we reworked my wedding rings to include a diamond wrap, and on the fortieth, we added a nine-stone diamond anniversary band.

I made the spicy cranberry meatballs

We also toured New York and New England for eight days in the fall of 2019, partially as a gift from our children, in honor of our fortieth. Best trip ever. I wrote about it here and here and here.

I'll be thinking for five years about what I want for our fiftieth -- yes; I want something -- but it probably won't be a change or addition to my wedding rings. I'm taking suggestions if you have any.

This year I said I wanted to take trips, so that's what we are doing. 

Elliot a/k/a Skippy, the youngest of our eight grandchildren

In August we are going to Ohio to see the Cubs play the Cleveland Indians -- "Stand for the Land" -- and no I will not refer to them as the Guardians; deal with it -- and in September we are going to Chicago for two consecutive night games at Wrigley Field.

My sister's youngest, her daughter Joanna, lives in Cleveland. Her husband, Jacob, is a professor at the Cleveland Institute of Music. No we are not staying with them but we hope to see them and their two little boys, Freddy and Andrew.

My extra-tasty refrigerator pickles

We plan to visit Lake View Cemetery where Joanna and Jacob's baby son Noah is buried. I told you about that in this post.

Also buried there is Ray Chapman, the only player in the history of Major League Baseball to be hit by a pitch and die from his injury.

If you like baseball history, you may enjoy reading this detailed account of the sad event which took place one hundred and four years ago.

Our forty-five roses on the day before our anniversary

And as if that is not tragic enough, the account of what subsequently became of Ray Chapman's widow, Katie, will make you cry, and count your blessings. 

Her story resonates with me because my great grandmother, Lela McBride Cassidy, ended her life in a similar manner to Katie Chapman at the age of twenty-three, thirty-six years and one day before I was born.

She was the mother of my grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Cassidy Sandifer, and her sister, my mother's beloved Aunt Genevieve, who we called Aunt Jenny.

Several dads in our family got the Dad to the Bone card this year, haha

After their mother's death, the two baby girls were reared by their maternal grandparents, John William McBride and Lizzie Woods McBride.

As family lore goes, there was bad blood between their father (my great-grandfather) Charles Cassidy, and his in-laws. He was not even allowed to know his little daughters, much less bring them up.

It was a sorrow to my precious Mamaw for her entire life. And I understand that too.

Erica's pantry, where her washer and dryer used to be

But we are looking forward to paying our respects at Ray Chapman's grave. Both Katie, his widow, and their daughter Rae Marie are buried at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland, and we hope to visit them too.

Our beloved Chicago Flubs are having such a dismal season that I may wear black instead of Cubbie blue to all three games as well as to the cemeteries.

Erica made her excellent lemon-blueberry trifle

(It's the inconsistent pitching! No, it's the lackluster hitting! No, it's the useless bullpen! No, it's the bumbling outfielders! No, it's the clueless manager! No, it's the indifferent front office! No, it's the arrogant owners!)

We have blamed everyone but the ever-hopeful fans for this disaster but I'm pretty sure we have not figured out the problem, so we'll keep on a-wishin' and a-hopin' for a turnaround before it's too late.

My potato salad with no onions

We watch every inning in real time with our MLBTV subscription, except for when the Cubs play the Atanta Braves, which games are blacked out. We watch those the next day when they're archived.

I've digressed again. Pirate apols.

For our anniversary this year, which was on a Sunday, Father's Day, I already reported that the children bought us four dozen roses so that we could display forty-five of them in front of the church.

One side of Chericot's new room

The roses were beautiful and we carted them around all weekend, but now they've mostly been thrown away with the exception of about a dozen, which I have hung upside down in a dark, cool room to dry.

Before I did that, I divided the flowers into several bouquets and put them in various rooms in the house, to enjoy them for the longest possible time.

I told you before that on the day before our anniversary, TG transported the huge and heavy vase of flowers over to the church so that we wouldn't have to think about doing that on Sunday morning.

My refrigerator pickle recipe

We had decided, with our two girls who live here, to have a get-together for both the anniversary and Father's Day, at Chericot's house after church on Sunday night.

To that end, before the Cubs' afternoon game on Saturday, June fifteenth, I made a batch of the Spicy Cranberry Meatballs for which I am semi-famous.

We carted these roses all over town

This is the recipe I have used for years, but I'll add the note that I half-again the mixture as far as the meatballs go (as in, I use three pounds of lean ground beef instead of two), and then I double the sauce.

Everyone loves these and they are fun to make, so that's what I did for our party.

In addition, I made refrigerator pickles using the brine recipe pictured in this post. I just peeled and sliced several cucumbers and sliced a few Vidalia onions and doubled this simple brine formula.

Keep going forward and you'll end up in the kitchen

They were excellent. Very sour, which I love. Audrey does not like them so I have mine and hers too.

I also made coleslaw, which comes from a bag and is dressed with a combination of Duke's mayonnaise, white vinegar, and sugar.

You're probably tired of hearing about my macaroni and cheese so I'll just briefly say that I added more milk and cheese to that which was left over from Dagny's birthday party two nights before, and brought it to bubbling in the oven.

I sent it to one of my brothers and to Chad, who got another one, haha

I also made potato salad, which I had not done in a good long while. It was delicious.

I never peel potatoes; I scrub them and leave the skin on, no matter what the recipe. 

For my potato salad I just chunk the potatoes until fork-tender, let them cool, and add however many hardboiled eggs I decided on.

TG received this from one of the children

To that I add Duke's mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, celery, a splash of mustard, kosher salt, and coarse-ground pepper. No onion.

Erica had made her fabulous lemon-blueberry trifle for dessert.

I've told you before that Chad spent several months converting their carport into a room, and it's ninety-nine percent finished. Just a few more details have to be seen to, but they are enjoying it.

Dagny made this for TG

There are three concrete steps that lead from their kitchen to the room, and of course two walls are exposed brick.

What used to be their utility closet is now the laundry room, and what used to be a laundry area in her kitchen is now their pantry.

Erica decorates everything beautifully and the new room is so inviting.

Here you can see what is now the laundry room

On the day before our anniversary, TG had gone out for errands and came home with two huge ballons for me: a big four and a big five. They were silver.

I love balloons and he knows that so I appreciated the effort that went into that sweet surprise.

We brought the balloons from home and our roses from the church to Chericot's house on Sunday night so that everyone could enjoy them during the party.

This lovely card was from one of our daughters

(It has been hot as four dozen firecrackers here -- this week we hit triple digits more than once -- and nothing left in the car will survive.)

And yes, TG and Chad and an old friend with mad carpentry skills are still working on our deck whenever they get a spare minute. It is sixty percent completed and we can go out of one of the kitchen doors to get to the pool, but it will be a while before everything is back to normal poolside.

Later I broke the flowers down into smaller bouquets

It hasn't kept us from using the pool. TG has it sparkling and although neither he nor I have been in it yet this year, the kids have, and my niece Rebecca and her husband Rex have brought their kids a few times.

Speaking of my niece Rebecca and her husband Rex, they have had an offer accepted on the house they chose. The closing will take place at the end of July. Until then they are living in an Airbnb.

And so the summer commences and moves apace, and next week we will celebrate Independence Day, the Fourth of July.

Coleslaw with tangy, creamy homemade dressing

We have no firm plans but something tells me that some configuration of family members and perhaps even friends will show up to hang out with us on the quintessential summer holiday.

I'm getting all of my patriotic decorations ready and I'll show you those in my next post, in which I will also tell you about the party we had this past Wednesday night, during which I forgot to take even a single picture.

Dagny reading to Elliot a/k/a Skippy

It was just too hot and me pirate brain may have been a touch addled by the broiling temperatures.

But there will be some good recipes so I hope you will enjoy the persistent pirate palaver -- and no palpitations please -- even with a paucity of precious pictures of our pickle-y, potato-ey, particularly palatable repast.

That was for you, Ginny. Ginny admires my acuity in the area of alliteration.

One last parting shot of those anniversary roses

(Well, I did take a few of me and Skippy -- Elliot -- and I'll share those.)

If you're paying attention, the presidential election is heating up too. This should be interesting. Keep your powder dry.

How are you spending these sweltering summer days? Have you any plans for the Fourth? Let me know in the comments.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Friday :: Happy Last-Weekend-of-June

Comments

[Carla TePaske]

Hi... do you think it is Craig Counsell ... tee hee ... I was disappointed he left Milwaukee... but maybe he WAS the Brew Crews trouble all along. I will let your Chicago Flubs keep him. Hee Hee!!
Happy Anniversary my dear friend.
Carla

[Jennifer]

@Carla ... hahahaha like I said, No! It's the manager! Hahahaha and guess what, tonight they are playing the Brewers in Milwaukee! My prediction is that the Cubs will lose. For my money -- well, for Craig Counsell's salary, which is rumored to be $8M a year, I have not seen much that impresses me about him but I am willing to give him every opportunity to right this ship, hahaha! Love you friend! xoxo

[Mari]

Your dress was unique, lovely and little! I re-read the trash the dress post and was once again disgusted by that practice.
I think Audrey looks the most like you when I see your wedding pics.
The roses are gorgeous! I'm glad so many people got joy from them.
Cherica's room is so nice! I know they are enjoying all the extra space they got from doing that.
Did you watch the debate last night. Nothing further to be said after that!

[Jennifer]

@Mari ... so many people came to me in church and said they were amazed at Audrey's likeness to me. I only see it in certain pictures of her but apparently others see it more clearly than me, haha! Cherica's room really is nice and she is enjoying hanging out in there with the boys. I did not watch it but saw large parts of it after it was over. Oh dear it was so revealing of what we already knew, hahaha! I am so tired of being gaslit by the White House. They have such contempt for conservatives. xoxo

[Lori]

That is such a wonderful photo of the two of you on your wedding day. You were and are stunning!! You can see the love in the way you look at each other. All of your food looks delicious as always. You and TBG would have a lot to talk about. He grew up in Chicago and is a diehard Cubs fan. We're having a small BBQ for the 4th. I'm making your recipe for the skewers along with potato salad, coleslaw and sliced tomatoes. I haven't had potato salad since last summer and I'm looking forward to it. Stay cool my friend!!

[Gayla]

Loved this! Congratulations on your 45th Anniversary! Your recipes and parties sound great!

[Judee]

Well congratulations on 45 years! I enjoyed reading about how you met ! Too bad about the dress. The red roses look exquisite Sounds like you have had a chance to get the diamonds that ou wanted. I was going to get an anniversairy diamond band for our 50th, but that was 2 years ago and I really have not found a ring that I love. At this point I realize I really don't want it bc I would be afraid to wear it around Miami, I would take on vacation with me, and In Pennsylvania, we really don't go anywhere. I guess I'm being practical but I might skip it.

[Donna]

Oh my goodness...you were a beautiful bride...and your rings are SO pretty!!
The roses...just, wow...And for your 50th? Maybe Ireland...Scotland...Wales?
The babies are too sweet...look at Elliot's eyes...lolol....adorable!!!
Love the salad recipe!!
hugs
Donna

[Maryellen]

Congratulations on 45, and wishing you many, many more years sharing together all that life brings. May your lives be filled with love.

[Plain Jane]

Happy Anniversary

[Jennifer]

@Lori ... TGB is a CUBS FAN???? Then he's suffering bigly this summer too, hahahaha! We keep hoping for a miracle. YAY for the BBQ skewers! I know they will be so good. Have a wonderful time and try to stay cool because girl we are withering on the vine down here, hahaha! xoxo

@Gayla ... Thank you friend! Good to see you! xoxo

@Judee ... Well my dress is fine but I do feel for other girls who trash theirs! I could never do that. I think you need to apply yourself more assiduously to finding a diamond ring that will suit you, hahahah! Just kidding ... whatever you decide will be fine. They are expensive but SOOOOO beautiful! xoxo

@Donna ... my rings really are pretty and I should have shown a picture of them, hahaha! In five years who knows what will be on my mind but I would not say not to a trip to the UK! I hope that TG and I will still be young enough at heart to undertake such an excursion and enjoy it! xoxo

@Maryellen ... Thank you my friend! xoxo

@Jane ... Thanks Jane. Stay cool! xoxo

[hena]

Happy 45 years. I agree with your choice.. I'd pick travel over diamonds every time.
Not a baseball fan but I hope you enjoy your games and your team wins!
I still have my wedding clothes (red not white) wrapped in layers of tissue and put away carefully.
.

[Skunk (aka Mike Bay)]

45 years on the road to forever. Congratulations! No better couple to celebrate this than you two!

[Jennifer]

@Hena ... noooooo hahahaha! Diamonds were not on the agenda this year but if they had been, I would have picked some out, hahahaha! But I know how much you love to travel and I do too, and I'm looking forward very much to our trips! You should get out that beautiful wedding dress and show us on the blog sometime! I would love to see it. xoxo

@Mike ... Awwww thank you my friend! Every day is a celebration of some sorts. Even if it's just that we are ambulatory and coherent, hahahaha xoxo

[Dianna]

Happy 45th Anniversary to you and TG, Jenny! That's such a wonderful milestone. We were married 52 years this past March. It doesn't seem possible. Your dress is so pretty and I love that picture!

It sounds and looks as if you had a wonderful time of celebration with your family! I'm so glad.

I'm thinking that I have three years to figure out what I want to ask for for our 55th. :) Thanks for the heads up on how that is done. :) xx

[debbi]

Hi there Jenny! I loved this long post and all the beautiful and fun pictures! Looked like a very happy happy anniversary! I loved the picture of your wedding and I did go back and sure did enjoy the post of "trash the dress"......oh MY!! WHATEVER ARE these young women THINKING!!?? mAKES no sense to me at ALL. I loved your dress, it was SO PRETTY and you were a beautiful bride. My dress was similar to yours, I had a high neck, lots of lace, and long sleeves Back then, we saved the honeymoon nighties for the honeymoon, not for walking down the church aisle, LOL!! How is the deck coming along? Let me know so I can come on by and jump into the pool, ha ha LOL. Loved seeing all the pretty cards, and enjoyed all the recipes and good cooking. Most of all, loved your anniversary picture and your GREEN DRESS. You look glamourous and so pretty. Hugs!

[Jennifer]

@Dianna ... hahaha thank you and YES girl put your thinking cap on and start looking online for what sort of diamond jewelry you want for your 55th, hahaha! Time's a wasting! BUT Congratulations to you and Strongheart for 52 years of faithfulness to one another. That is an accomplishment but of course we know that when we are committed, God meets us and helps us through the difficulties. I hope TG and I both live to celebrate our 50th! That would be nice. xoxo

@Debbi ... I laughed out loud at your quip about saving the nighties for the honeymoon and not wearing them to walk down the aisle. Isn't that the TRUTH? It's like wedding dresses now MUST be SEXY or no girl will be caught dead in one. But we know how that all came about, and it's a shame that brides no longer blush. I hoped you would like my green dress! I couldn't believe it when I found it, back in the late winter, and I saved it for summer and I've enjoyed it so much because it's different. Thank you for the compliments and YES DO come and see me! Whether you jump in the pool or not, I would love to host you and Mr. Front Porch ... you're close enough that you can come for an afternoon and evening visit! I mean it! Email me!

... and GIRL thanks for asking about the deck! OK I would say it is maybe 65% completed but it's hard for the two who are helping TG, and for TG too, because they all work all day, and it's blast-furnace summer, and they have to carve out time to get together and put their time to the project. BUT for a few weeks now I've been able to walk out the OTHER kitchen door onto the deck and to the pool, which for a while was impossible and I was sort of stranded, hahaha! So that has made it a lot easier to wait for the completion of the thing and I'm just going to appreciate that deck so much more than I ever did before! I've ordered a new umbrella for our table because the old one was shot and we threw it away last year. The new one has SOLAR LIGHTS!!! It's coming today and I can't wait to see it lit up at night. That will cheer my heart. Love you my friend! xoxo