Forty-three

My husband and I were married on this day in 1968 at First Methodist Church in Newport News, Virginia. We'd met the previous August at the swimming pool of Dutch Village Apartments. He lived across the street and down a building or two from me. I, newly graduated from RPI (now VCU), had gotten a teaching job at Poquoson High School in York County. He, newly graduated from Rutgers, had gotten a job with GE and worked on the firing controls of Polaris submarines at the shipyard.

The following summer, he followed the submarines to Charleston, SC, and I started graduate school at the Citadel and taught at St. Andrews Junior High. After two years in Charleston, we lived in Massachusetts for a while. After a few more moves and retirement, we ended up where we are now. We are growing old together.

In 1973 on Smith Farm

I'm amazed how much our world—and the world in General—has changed in 43 years. Over on the Blue Country Magic blog, my writer friend Anita posted 13 ways the world had changed since her high school graduation 30 years ago. I'll see if I can come up with 13 ways things have changed since John and I got married.

1. Housing: We went from a two-room walk-up apartment to an eleven-room Southern Colonial ranch, from city living to country living, from sharing our home with no pets to having way more critters  than I ever imagined.

2. Music: We went from a KLH stereo system with big speakers and an automatic changer for our vinyl records (one of our first major purchases) to an iPod and iPad. Then we added a bulky reel to reel tape recorder/player to the system—and played a lot of Beatles, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkle, and folk music. Later we acquired some boomboxes, some with CD players. Now CDs seem a little old-fashioned, but that's the main way I get music into the computer. I still listen to the music I enjoyed back then, but now I also listen to country, classical, and Celtic.

3. Clothes: I remember when I had to wear a dress to work and to grad school. The mini skirt was was in, but teachers had to wear longer hemlines. I think I have a dress or two in my closet now, but I haven't worn one for years. During the 70s, we both wore a lot of polyester, but John never owned a leisure suit. During the 80s and 90s, I wore upscale stuff, albeit usually bought on sale. Now we dress for farm work—and often shop at Goodwill.

4. Vehicles: We went from a car each to a car and truck each to several vehicles each (we generally don't get rid of the old ones), plus four tractors and a 4-wheeler. The cars used to be sporty—Firebird, Camaro, etc. Now our PT Cruisers are practical and easier to get in and out.

5. Technology: Then, we never imagined the world computers would open up. Now we have the desktop, the laptop, the iPad, etc. I bought my first computer—a Apple Performa 550 in 1994—because the school where I taught required teachers to keep grades electronically. Then, I hated the idea of computers; now, I can't imagine how I ever managed without a computer.

6. Writing: Then, there used to be a bunch of local and regional publications I could write for and get paid. Now they're gone. This blog is my column to the world. I remember writing on a legal pad and then typing the manuscript. I can remember switching from a manual typewriter (a 1959 Remington Quietwriter that served me through high school, college, grad school, and my first couple years teaching) to an electric typewriter. Then I couldn't imagine an easier way to get words on paper. Now, I never use a typewriter and I rarely handwrite—plus my handwriting, having succumbed to the problems of age, is almost unreadable and word-processing on the computer is so much easier.

7. Reading: Then, we depended on libraries and an occasional bookstore purchase. Now, while I occasionally check out a library book, I'm more likely to buy books at libraries' used sales, bookstores—both big box and independent, Goodwill, and Amazon.com. I've downloaded apps for Kindle, Nook, and iBooks, so I read some books on the iPad and iPod.

8. Hobbies: Then, my husband was into ham radio, but he gave it up for a couple of decades. Now, he's back into it. He also became interested in the law and frequently goes to court to watch cases. He reads a lot more law-related books, too. Then, I dabbled in various things—cross stitch, painting, reading, decorating, horseback riding. In the 1980s and early 90s, we both used to show our mare Cupcake in pleasure shows. Now, I read a lot more than I used to, write, and keep the horses—Cupcake and Melody—as pets.

9. Shopping: Then, we used to run out to the store or mall whenever we needed something. Of course, then we lived close to shopping centers. Now, 15 miles from town, we're likely to consolidate our trips so we buy groceries on Senior Citizen's Day at Kroger (John takes one cart and I take another to finish faster). Before we go, I download coupons onto the Kroger card. At Kroger we usually chat with a lot of our friends who also shop the same day, so grocery shopping is a more social occasion than it was years ago. We also try to run other errands while we're in town. I rarely go to a mall; my last trip to one was in October to Short Pump in Richmond. Now, we buy a lot of things online rather than visit a store.

10. War: Then, the Vietnam War was winding down. Surely, there wouldn't be any more wars. But there are.

11. Jobs: Then, women had three career choices: teacher, nurse, or secretary. Then Women's Lib soon began and things (thankfully!) were never the same again.

12. Land: Then, land was cheap and there was plenty of it—miles and lots of farms between cities. Now, subdivisions and shopping centers sprawl where farms once were. I'm glad we bought our farms when we did. We could never afford 500 acres now. Then, Smith Mountain Lake was still filling and covering what was once farmland. Even in the early 70s, the lake was a mud hole. Who knew it would become what it is now?

13. Us: We're growing old. But we're still together.

I'll report back on January 17, 2018, on our 50th anniversay. Stay tuned.

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