The bad part of growing older

Here in the motor home we have our own phone directory.  Since we are seldom in the same area I have compiled a list of Kin, friends and businesses we like to have handy. Yearly (or close) I update the list with changes and adds we have penciled in. I just went thru 15 pages of the directory and make probably 50  changes. I did get one printout before the system crashed and I lost all the changes. Soooooo, I will have to go back thru the list and re-do the changes. We have two copies, one in the car.
I don’t like that. But what I did not like was ‘deleting’ friends and family who have passed.
I did not count but I am sure I deleted about  8 names we held dear, who have gone on.

 1948 Desoto coupe
Most were older than I, as it should be.  I deleted the names of Douglas and Grace Carver. He died first, followed by Grace. One of their daughter's Patsy, took them into her home and took care of them until they passed.

(Douglas and Grace Carver and their first child, Joey)

I liked Doug because he was instrumental in me asking Sherry for a date. I don't remember why, but I was in an old 1948 Desoto business coupe. Dale Hartness was driving, Doug in the shotgun seat and Billy Ogden in the back seat with me. We had been to Ruby Falls near Chattanooga. I don't remember why I was with them.

 I don’t remember how the subject came up but it was suggested I ask Sherry for a date. I thought she was out of my reach. She was a beautiful girl and also a class ahead of me in school.  Billy had dated Sherry. Doug and Dale were married but friends of Sherry’s. If she didn’t stick with Billy (who was a tall handsome wavy haired dude) why would she even give me a second look? But she did.

·       That is one of the ‘sorrows’ of getting older. WE see folks pass on. 

(I could see my girl in bed, Benefits of this motor home) Just minutes ago I tucked my girl in bed. Always a highlight of my day. She is still the most beautiful woman in the world. I had never asked her before, but I just asked her why she didn’t hang with Billy? She said, ”I liked him, but I couldn’t like him as a boyfriend.”

I said, “All I can say is, it was his loss. I GOT YOU!”  Amazing isn’t it? Life.  I probably would never have had the fortitude to ask this beauty for a date, if it had not been for a chance conversation in an old 1948 Desoto coupe. Boy, am I lucky.  That was over 61 years ago. Life is still as sweet as it was that first date.
Nite Shipslog

 This car was about new when Douglas was born in 1928