Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller
Today is DeDe and my 37th wedding anniversary.
Wow.
This story, from Deep Roots, expresses how I feel after all of these years.
Running through the Lobby: 8 short minutes; 30 years ago
It’s nearly midnight– Mountain Daylight Time on the last night of a great Writers’ Conference. I’m sitting on the floor in the Marriott Denver lobby. (I’m close to an electric plug for the laptop and on the floor because I can spread out “my gear.”)
I’m doing what I love best: writing. It’s quiet. Everyone with any sense has gone to bed.
I’m glad I’m up because if I hadn’t been I’d missed them.
I heard them before I saw them. A young couple in white, running and giggling. She was in her beautiful wedding dress (carrying her slippers) and he wore a white tuxedo. They were running (as much as you can run in a wedding dress) toward the elevator.
Visibly deeply in love. Laughing. Full of emotion of a special day that’ll live on in their hearts.
They didn’t see me but I couldn’t resist, “Congratulations.”
They both smiled and waved. I added, “My wife and I just celebrated thirty years. Believe me, it only gets better.”
They both replied. “Then congratulations to you.” I heard the elevator door open, then shut, and they were gone.
I was so glad I saw them for that brief moment in time. My prayer is that they’ll feel the same way in thirty years that DeDe and I do.
I thought back to that Thursday– August 9, 1979.
We got married in her parents’ living room. I have a photo of us as a newly married couple with the mantel clock behind us. It reads 2:08 PM.
Our wedding took eight minutes. However, a knot can be tied securely in less than eight minutes. It’s a matter of the heart.
8 minutes.
30 years ago on an August afternoon.
Brought back to me by a running giggling newlywed couple in the lobby of the Denver Marriott.
Long live love.
Life is good.
C.I.
Two weddings – one day – Just shy of 21 years – all to the same man. You see, Nick and I were married at 2 pm and 4:30 pm….on the October 1, 1988 with different ministers (two came from the church we attended in college to perform the 2 pm wedding). It was raining that day and both slipped away during the reception to return home, which was in Lake Charles and DeQuincy. We weren't paying attention because we were busy at the Dry Creek Baptist Church celebrating our wedding with our friends and families. It was only when we stopped long enough to sign the marriage license that we realized that no official from the ceremony was present. The concerned call went out to our friend and minister who also attended the wedding, Bro. Kermit Soileau, who gladly returned to the church in his suit to perform the final and most important ceremony of the day. And as he performed the ceremony again, he stated that "this wedding was just as important as the first." And he was right – I was less nervous and remembered more from it than the earlier ceremony.
I too, believe that marriage only gets better. And I'm grateful that God has blessed us with a special relationship that can be celebrated twice in our lifetime.
Curt, thanks for sharing memories.
Kay Fox
That is so sweet, Curt. Oh my, makes me all teary-eyed just thinking about the visual and what you said.
Hug your sweet wife. Sending blessings to you both!