Highschool Sweethearts 4ever #CathyChats
Good-morning, kittens & dawgs! I like preparing posts in advanced. While looking for a cover artists to use in Thursday’s BoTB, I came across the Atomic Kitten (doncha love their name?) but this isn’t my first time. I found them a couple of years ago but I didn’t use them then or since but this morning, I’m changing that by sharing their YouTube playlist below. 😉
Today’s Cathy Chats’ prompt is Share anything that has to do with love – story, poem, artwork, song, photo, whatever!
DH and I knew each other most of our lives. You can’t help but not know most people when you live in a rural community. I think I shared bits over the years how DH and I became a couple but I’m going to tell the story again. It was the fall of 1976. I was a freshman in high school. In my school district the 9th graders did not get to migrate to Iaeger High School until our sophomore year. Anywho, as I was saying, it was fall, a beautiful fall day at that rich blue skies and warm autumn sun kissing my skin. I sat outside on the sidewalk like I did every day after school to wait for my bus chatting with my girlfriends. The buses filed in busily to whisk kids off from my junior high with each new bus hauling high schoolers (grades 10-12) arrived and on this day like so many others before, a green Nova sat waiting for one high schooler to dismount and board the car to ride home with his mother who taught at my junior high. Being the friendly personality I am on this particular day, I waved and yelled out a hello to Robin (aka DH). He shot back a “Hello Doll!” before getting into the driver’s seat. I giggled, blushingly by his greeting. I never had anyone call me “Doll”. That boy deserved some major points with that, don’t you think? Anyhow, I went back to chatting with my friends while the warmth in my cheeks slowly diminished and forgot about the incident by the time I got home. Being the good child that I was pat myself on the back I went straight to my room to get my homework done. I had barely gotten into my studies when I got a call. It was Robin. He asked if I would like to go bowling Friday night. Again, I blushed and told him I’d have to ask my parents. I was only 14. I told him I’d let him know something tomorrow. After talking with my parents, they agreed I could go but that’s only because they knew Robin’s parents. One’s good standing in the community really meant a lot where I grew up. Excited that my folks gave permission I phoned him the following day with the good news. Needless to say the week went by like a snail.
Friday finally came. I was nervous. What would we talk about? How do you bowl? Would he like me? He picked me up and like a gentleman and opened the car door for me. He was driving his mother’s green Nova. Do you remember bench seats in the front? Well…the car had a bench seat. I sat beside the window. He got in and buckled up and asked that I buckle up, too. My family wasn’t big into wearing seat belts. I wasn’t even sure how to work it so he made sure my belt was properly fastened. The contraption felt strange. Living in rural West Virginia meant to do anything remotely fun meant driving at least 45 minutes. We went to Welch. I can’t recall our conversation on the way to the bowling alley. Worried his seemingly quiet nature would be a problem compared to this chatter box I soon found talking to him was easy. I had never been bowling, so that was a fun first experience. I felt awkward and I stunk at it but I remember picking up a spare. Jubilantly, I flung my arms around his neck with my accomplishment. Could that have been the first spark of love? I dunno but it was exciting. 🙂
On our way home, sitting next to the window, I felt more light-hearted and at ease. A few miles away from the bowling lane, Robin invited me to sit closer to him and I agreed. We stopped momentarily for me to sliv over and buckle up next to him before continuing. The ride home went quicker than I wanted. I was enjoying talking to him. The evening got away from me too quickly and there we were standing on the front steps of my home talking just a little more as that awkward feeling between us rose and I wondered, would he kiss me? We said our goodbyes and just like that he kissed me quickly, a fast peck on the lips. Disappointed and slightly embarrassed, we said goodbye. I went into the house. I guess he didn’t like me after all, I thought.
The next day, Debbie and I had a date to buy majorette boots. Her mom drove us to Richlands, Virginia at which time she grilled me on my date. I told her all about the good time I had and relayed my fears that I thought Robin didn’t like me. I got home later that day. My parents weren’t home. They went to church and locked the front door. Luckily, the dining room window was left unlocked. It wasn’t an uncommon thing for me to climb through windows as a kid to get into the house, just my house. I’m not a Cathy Burglar. 🙂 I’m not sure how I knew to do this unless mom told me before hand. Anyhow, I recall the house being lonely, dark, and cold. I flipped all the lights on and stirred the coals in the furnace to get some heat going. Feeling lonely, I wanted someone to talk to and thought about calling Robin. I felt apprehensive about calling as I didn’t want to seem forward. I turned the pages in the phone book hoping his dad’s name would jump out at me cause I didn’t know it when the phone rang. It was him! We spent the next two or three hours on the phone getting to know each other. It was then I knew he was the boy I wanted to marry and an answer to my prayers. The following Wednesday, he picked me up for mid-week Church service and he asked me to go steady. The rest is history as they say with nearly 42 years of togetherness behind us.
Last October, I shared some of the classic “Love is…” comics which inspired me to create an original artwork done in a similar style and the sentiments ‘best girl’ is what DH calls me. I love being his best girl!
You may want to check out the authority, visit Love is Comics!
Join my linky party open for this week’s prompt or random posts. I’m flexible! 😉 The only thing I ask is that you share the tweet above.
Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day? Our plans are generally kept low-key. I sketched DH a Valentine’s Day card design and I plan to make heart-shaped chocolate dipped shortbread cookies for my Valentine. You may recall I made some for the holidays. The recipe is here if you’d like to make some for your sweetie. DH really liked them a lot and asked if I’d make them for him. I’ll share these things with ya next week. 😉 Eugenia posted an interesting word for the day, Kerfuffle along with some rhyming words which I lifted to try my poetic prowls.
OH, THE FUSS
©2018 Cathy Kennedy
Feeling puzzled
My feet scuffle
Why is there a struggle
To buy a single truffle
Tomorrow this kerfuffle
Will only be a brain muffle
Until…next Valentine’s Day
Do you have a topic you’d like to see on Cathy Chats? If so, drop it in comments for consideration. I’m linking up taking a HOT coffee break with Stacy Uncorked and Eugenia @BrewNSpew this morning and you’re invited to come with and let me remind you to visit again tomorrow for not-so Wordless Wednesday.
22 Comments
Stacy Uncorked
Awwwwww! Cathy! What an awesome love story you and your hubby have! You gave me goosebumps!! Love that you two are high school sweethearts, and have had an amazingly strong love all this time! You rock!! 🙂
JamericanSpice (@Jamericanspice)
Indeed Atomic Kitten is quite the name. I’ve not heard of them before.
Thanks for the intro.
You are such an artist Cathy and so creative!
I loved reading the love story of you and your husband. He is precious. You both are.
I wish I had a love story.
Thanks for sharing.
,,
Cathy Kennedy
Colette,
You’re such a sweetheart! I bet you have a love story to tell, too. You just gotta remember! 😉 Thanks for popping in for a visit.
Colette Sears
Indeed Atomic Kitten is quite the name. I’ve not heard of them before.
Thanks for the intro.
You are such an artist Cathy and so creative!
I loved reading the love story of you and your husband. He is precious. You both are.
I wish I had a love story.
Thanks for sharing.
Cathy Kennedy
Colette,
I see that you left the comment multiple times. Were you having problems?
Colette S
Indeed Atomic Kitten is quite the name. I’ve not heard of them before.
Thanks for the intro.
You are such an artist Cathy and so creative!
I loved reading the love story of you and your husband. He is precious. You both are.
I wish I had a love story.
Thanks for sharing. ..
..
Arlee Bird
Nice old-fashioned love story. I never really had a girl friend in high school. I did reluctantly get a high school ring, but I sold it about 10 years later because I needed the money more than a ring I never wore much.
Lee
Tossing It Out
messymimi's meanderings
Your beautiful love story makes me smile. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Cathy Kennedy
Thank you, Mimi!
greyzoned/angelsbark
What a sweet story Cathy! I loved reading it. Made me smile and your words were playing like a movie in my head and I followed along visualizing the whole thing. And YES! I remember bench seats! Those were so fun. Especially when a guy would pull a “Move over Baby” driving maneuver (when he makes the car turn in a way that you can’t help but slide over in the seat to him). Remember those? 🙂
Your “Cathy Burglar” made me giggle.
So fabulous that you all have been together for 42 years! That’s huge. And high school sweethearts too. That’s just precious!
Oh, and thanks for the introduction to the Atomic Kittens… Fun name too…
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, celebrating your love with your love…
Michele at Angels Bark
Cathy Kennedy
Michele,
Sometimes I get slung around now but we don’t have a bench seat. lol I do have a hand grip above my head to grab. 😀 The 42 years, include our courting days. If God blesses us then June we’ll celebrate 39 years of marriage. Last night, DH presented me with a dozen long-stem roses and four Godiva truffles after he got home for an early V-Day surprise. He beat the crazies and rainy weather a day early. Smart, smart man! Anywho, I couldn’t have hand picked a better husband than what God gave me.
Pamela
That is just the sweetest story and it’s so great to hear about great romances that have continued to grow through the years. My beloved and I didn’t meet until I was in my mid 20’s and he was in his late 30’s, but I feel like I’ve known him all my life and that I was just waiting to meet him.
Thanks for sharing your story Cathy, and have a lovely week.
Cathy Kennedy
Pamela,
I got lucky meeting DH early on and thankfully you found someone special, too. God has a plan for our lives if we’re patient. Have a blessed week, my friend!
15andmeowing
That is a sweet story and photo. XO
Cathy Kennedy
Thank you, dear Ellen!
John Holton
The Atomic Girls are very good. I stopped listening at “Ladies’ Night” (a classic Kool & The Gang song) because I looked ahead and saw there were all kinds of other artists besides the AG, but I’ll probably go back at some point.
Man, I remember being as skinny as your husband…
Cathy Kennedy
John,
DH was very skinny in his day. I think when we were dating he was around 135-140 which is to thin for someone 5’10”. I had such a fat face but that’s youthful collagen plumping it out. We’ve been blessed to keep our weight within the range of normal but we both need to drop some pounds. The holidays always do us in, then we have to work like crazy to get it off. It’s a never-ending cycle. We need to have more restraint! Thanks for dropping by!
-Eugenia
Love it! I love your story – a true fairy tale with a good ending. Wowsa! Great job on the poem. Brava!! So, I guess I can’t reblog your post to BrewNSpew? Wah! I shared it on Twitter.
Cathy Kennedy
Eugenia,
Not all stories have happy endings, I’m thankful God has given us one. Oh sure, you can reblog this if you want and thanks for the compliments. I appreciate your kindness and encouragement, dearie. Thanks for sharing on Twitter!
Comedy Plus
What a beautiful story of your love that’s lasted for all these years. I loved every word. This post made my heart happy and that’s a very good thing.
Have a fabulous day, Cathy. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
I can’t imagine life any other way. DH is a true Godsend. I couldn’t be any happier if I tried. Thanks for sharing with me!
Patrick Weseman
Very beautiful story and it is great that you two have been together for 42 years. Bless both of you. Wishing for 42 more. Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful rest of the week, .