Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Sweetest Couple I Know

Today, November 2, 2011, is my parents 72nd wedding anniversary. 





Tomi and Bill Hudson were married in Alvord, Texas, on November 2, 1939.  My dad was a new coach in the high school there, and my mom was a young lady, graduated from high school, and working in the town.   They met and fell in love quickly.





This is a copy of their wedding certificate which my precious dad had framed to surprise my mom on "their day".  She was very surprised as she did not even know where it was.  My dad had it stored in a safe place all these years.  It was a most special gift to present her.




Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch, wrote the dearest blog about my parents on Valentine Day.........February 11, 2011.....see it  at  http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/02/love-story-for-valentines-day.html     I think you will enjoy it as the story is so special.
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Beautiful peach flowers, my mom's favorites, and lunch at their favorite restaurant with my husband and myself, many telephone calls of congratulations, greeting cards in the mail, completed the day.




They are such a darling couple and do not show their true ages....my dad is 95 years old and my mom is 91. ( I certainly hope I have inherited some of these great genes!)


The following is an acount written by my husband, Bob, and I wanted to share it with my blogging friends.





A TRUE STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD
  
Bill and Tomi Hudson are my wife’s parents.  He is 95 and she is 91.  They celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary on November 2, 2011.  They decided to get married after a courtship of about 2 weeks.  Many said such a marriage could not possibly last. 

I have been in the family 47 years and never heard the latter part of this story until today, November 2.  I knew that Mr. Hudson was a teacher and football coach in the small town of Alvord, Texas, where Mrs. Hudson was born and raised.  I was also aware of the low pay ($30 per month) and hard times in 1939.  Without a car or any type of transportation, the only dating was by Mr. Hudson walking out to Tomi’s parents residence outside of town a ways.  I can only assume that deep feelings for each other and a desire to be together along with the huge inconvenience of travel, led to the very short courtship.


Now to the part I had never heard before. In order to get married, a license had to be obtained from the courthouse in Decatur, county seat of Wise County, some eleven miles from Alvord.  It had to be obtained a minimum of three days prior to the wedding.  With a wedding date set for Friday, November 2, 1939, a license needed to be issued on or before Wednesday, October 30, 1939.    



Being a small town football coach in 1939 meant you were also the bus driver, the medic, the trainer, and everything else necessary to play a game.  Without a car, Mr. Hudson decided that on Friday, October 26, he could stop by the courthouse on the way to a football game he was coaching that night.  Since he was the bus driver, he could do that as Decatur was on the way to where his team was playing.  He parked the bus off on a side street as there was no room in the regular parking lot for a school bus.  He put one of his most trusted players in charge of the bus and the players sitting on it.  Upon arriving at the county clerk’s office, he was informed it required a medical approval certificate before one could be issued, so his plans were interrupted.  It was time to get back on the bus and continue to the game. 
 
He saw a doctor on Monday, the 29th, and obtained his certificate.  Then, he hitchhiked to Decatur to the county clerk’s office, obtained the license, and hitchhiked back to Alvord.  All was set and the marriage was performed as originally hoped on Friday, November 2, 1939. 
  
  
In summary, think about this:  The dollar outlay for the wedding was probably less than ten dollars total.  That is a prorated cost of 4 cents for each 100 days of marriage.  Kim Kardashian’s wedding supposedly cost ten million dollars.  It also lasted for the number 72, except it was days, not years.  That prorated cost is $ 139,000 per day.  I will close with this comment: The difference between 4 cents per 100 days and $ 139,000 per day is enormous.  But it is not nearly as large as the gap of difference between the two couples as related to character, loyalty, intelligence, constitution, reputation, and positive influence on others. 

17 comments:

Entertaining Women said...

This makes me weep happy tears. Your parents are blessed with a daughter and son-in-love who show such honor and love for them. Thank you for sharing their story with us. Cherry Kay

The Tablescaper said...

Oh my goodness! I cannot imagine anyone being married that long. Super congratulations to your parents. How wonderful. There is something about commitment that makes all the difference.

- The Tablescaper

Dianne said...

Phyllis,

You parents are as beautiful as they are amazing! They need to write a blog on how to stay happily married for 72 years. What a sweet gift your father arranged and I love the thoughts from your husband too. He is so very right! Dianne

Jenny @ Simcoe Street said...

What an amazing post. Happy anniversary to your sweet parents!!!

Off to read some more of your posts :)

Jenny
www.simcoestreet.blogspot.com

Claudia said...

Wow!!! Awesome!!! Such a lovely post. I really liked it a lot. They are such a lovely couple. Thanks for sharing such a lovely true story. This post really made me emotional. Between happy marriage anniversary to your mom and dad.

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PAINTORDIG.blogspot.com said...

How wonderful to be able to celebrate so many years with one you love! Your husband surely put things in perspective didn't he. Hope your parents have many more happy years.

Marigene said...

Happy 72nd Anniversary to your parents...that is quite a fete. I love the story of your father getting the marriage license. How sweet of him to have it framed as a gift to your mother.

Sonia said...

Amazing couple! They don't look their age at all! Love this post and how you have honored their marriage and character. Kim Kardashian will never have the class your parents do...no matter how much $$ she has..you just can't buy true love or character qualities! You are truly blessed with such wonderful parents!
Thanks for sharing!!
Miss Bloomers

poppilinnstudios said...

What a wonderful, sweet post. Happy Anniversary to your parents!
-Lynn

Unknown said...

Great Post! You are blessed! So happy for them and Your family to have such good role models,Thanks for sharing,Joann Married 39 years.

FABBY'S LIVING said...

OMG! I wish I have that luck and blessing to live together with my husband for that many years, I really think is God's blessings and their children to enjoy their parent's love all these years. I enjoyed your husband's writing about their true story, it's wonderful and girl friend, you're blessed too, you're heading to that direction and yes, you have your mom's genes, you look great! Thank you so much for sharing a beautiful story about your parents in this world where you don't see young people love each other like that, so many divorces!... a breath of fresh air. Thank you for your generous comments on my daughter Alexandra. Have a blessed sunday sweet lady. Love, FABBY

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Phyllis...

Awww...sooo very sweet! Many congratulations and best wishes being sent your parent's way on their 72nd anniversary! What a glorious accomplishment...when you think about it! True love...endures!!! I think that it was so very sweet that your Dad presented your Mother with a beautifully framed wedding certificate. I do believe that he must be a true romantic!

Well dear friend, I sure did enjoy this sweet post! Thank you for sharing it with us for the Sunday Favorites party this week! I also enjoyed reading your husband's story...a beautiful tribute to your Mom and Dad on their anniversary!

I hope you're having a super Sunday, my friend!

Chari

Unknown said...

Congratulations to your parents! That is so wonderful! I love it that they were married in the "County of Wise"!!!

Thanks so much for visiting my blog tonight...hope you have a lovely week!

Sarah

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Congrats to your parents! What a sweet story! Hope you are having a great week!...hugs...Debbie

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Oh my goodness I can't but drop happy tiers of joy and to feel so honored to know you and therefore, get to know your dearest parent's story and happy married life for 72 years, I never heard of anyone like them! You and your hubby sweet lady, will live together that long too! Wishing them many blessings and lots of hugs to you too. Thank you for coming by and for the sweet comments.
FABBY

Anonymous said...

How wonderful that your parents are celebrating 72 happy years! What a blessing that is for you and all your family!

We went through your town last year. Aunt Zella passed away in Tyler and we went down for the funeral- we got to get a glimpse of the falls-

bee blessed
mary

Chubby Chieque said...

OMG! unbelievable. 72 yrs together, for better and for worst, that no one can beat.

My parents are married 70 yrs. Dad is 95 and mum is 88yrs old.

Send my heartily and warm hugs and pls tell them that I adore the their true love.

Take care,
/chie

P.S.
Pls visit me to my blog so you can be ready b4 March if you want to keep your bloggiefriends.