When I met my husband Fred in 1967, I knew right away God had answered my prayer. We met in a church in Fremont, California. As providence would have it, we both were in a Christmas play together and during rehearsals we had to kiss in one of the scenes. Needless to say, even thou it was a short kiss, I loved it and we began dating shortly after. He took me to places I hadn’t seen before, like the aquariums in San Francisco and Golden Gate Park. He brought me flowers and courted me like a true gentleman. We’ve had other relationships that fell apart so this time we were ready to find true love.
We were married in that same church a little over a year later. We were both just 20 years old. It was a small wedding followed by a great reception and then Fred and I were off on our own to dine at the “Shadow’s Inn” on Nob Hill in San Francisco, a small German restaurant with a wonderful view. From there we drove to Carmel by the Sea for our honeymoon. We stayed at a place called Normandy Inn. Carmel was enchanting with quaint little shops and art galleries. Since it was between Fred’s sophomore and junior year in college we had plenty of time, so our honeymoon continued for several days in Yosemite National Park. It was the first time visiting the valley for me and like stepping into Heaven. The mountains were majestic. After a few days hiking and relaxing we traveled to Disneyland, California, for several more days of fun and exciting adventures. It was a great honeymoon.
Fred graduated from college in 1970 and began to teach at a Christian School and I was working in the administrative side of an auto parts specialty store. We were looking forward to having children but I somehow did not get pregnant. We went all through the testing and they determined we apparently were not going to have children. Well, God often has other plans. After we “gave up” on the idea of children, I became pregnant with twins. Maybe the secret to life is giving up and letting God do it.
Meanwhile, Fred was about to receive a draft notice into the Army so he joined the Navy. He left for the Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island where after five months he became an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. During his time at OCS I stayed with my family back in Fremont because I was four months along with the pregnancy of the twins. I also was able to care after my ailing mother who was ill with Multiple Sclerosis. Right before Fred graduated from OCS, I had a beautiful little girl we named Janna, followed by a handsome little boy we named Freddie. To tell the truth it was a miracle as the doctor’s had confirmed I couldn’t get pregnant.
In June of 1972 Fred got stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base in Illinois. It was our first time traveling across the states, and our first time being “away from home” and we now had a family of four. Two years later I had another precious son named Keith.
My mother was confined to a wheelchair so naturally I couldn’t wait to move back to Fremont to help my family. We were able to do this after Fred’s discharge from the Navy in 1975. Things for mom got gradually worse with MS, a slow degenerating disease of the muscle, bone and nerves. Five years after assisting her she was placed in a convalescent home. It broke my heart to see her suffer. Shortly after being placed in the home she passed away. Life is so precious we never really know how long we have to live. Several of my family members passed away during those three years of her passing. My father remarried and life settled in.
We raised our children in Fremont, a great town to raise a family. By 1996 two of our children were married by this time—marrying young like we did—and the third was off on his own, so we decided to move to Portland Oregon. Once again we were on our own. It was another adventure for us. My dad traveled the country in his motor home until he passed away by the lake where I grew up.
My husband and sister, Jodi, have been through a lot with me and I am grateful for their support. I have diabetes and renal failure. Fred is a strong and a positive force in my life. He has offered to give me his kidney. He has stayed by my side encouraging me through sickness and health. He gave me three beautiful children and loved my parents like his own. We've had our rocky moments but somehow time seems to iron out all the wrinkles and leave us with dear memories to last for a lifetime. We just celebrated our fortieth anniversary.
Today I enjoy painting and writing. I find time to read and tend to my plants and pets. I love visits from my three grandchildren and my own children when they have a chance to travel. I love teaching art and cooking for my family. I love trips to the coast and road trips with my husband.
