Sunday, April 26, 2009

A True Love Story

Her daddy thought that the boy was just comin' round to visit with his sons, a prime example for them of what a good Christian young-man should be. Even if they didn't discuss it, she and her momma secretly knew the real reason he shadowed their doorstep every weekend and she had the letters to prove it. He was a dashingly handsome fellow, with a headful of dark, wavy hair and a smile that could disarm even the most crochety old maid. How it was that her daddy finally had the blinders taken from his darkened eyes and opened to the light of truth no one ever really knew. He'd be damned, however, if he was gonna let that sorry old son-of-a-gun come around anymore. Her daddy told her she had two options...she could either write him a letter and tell him he wasn't welcome anymore, or when the boy showed up the next weekend, he'd tell him. Either way, daddy was determined to put an end to the budding relationship between his little girl and that good-for- nothing-never-possibly- amount-to-anything- so and so. So with a heart breaking clean in two, she sent him out the letter she'd never dreamed she'd have to send. He read over her words with a mix of sadness and a growing determination that he wasn't going to let things go that easily and if she loved him as much as he loved her, he knew she'd not let it either. So, he wrote back to her and told her that if her daddy wouldn't let him come to the house to see her anymore then they were going to have to get married and she would come to his house because he had to keep seeing her. As Christmas time rolled around, her momma, an unspoken ally, made sure she had a new coat and a new dress and two days after Christmas the whole family headed over to Cousin Glady's for a big Hall family dinner. She told them she was just heading out for a walk after that huge feast they'd devoured and smiled a cheshire-cat grin when she saw him waiting at the edge of the clearing. Hopping in the car he brought, they made their escape and after a flying visit to a justice of the peace, just barely made it onto the ferry that would get them into Lousiana. Her daddy was never really happy with it, but she loved her husband right till the end and a more devoted man you could never have asked for. They brought up two fine boys and were loved not only by their children and grandchildren, but by their great grandchildren as well..........

I've been thinking about my family love stories lately and the one that my great-grandparent's had has always stuck with me. We called my great-grandparents Oomaw and Oompaw and two more devoted people you never could find. Oomaw ended up having to be in a nursing home a good many years, at the end, and Oompaw would get in his little truck, every single day and head up there to spend the whole day with her. He couldn't bear the thought of his " Little Nancy" needing him and he not being there for her. My grandparents love story was one of equal love and devotion, but that's a tale for another day.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

do you remember the apollo earrings giveaway from leah sakellarides on joanna's blog a few weeks ago?! well leah is giving away another beautiful piece this week on my blog, macaroni club! she is so talented, and so sweet to do this! i'd like to invite you to come visit macaroni club, and if you like this piece of leah's, sign up to win it!
xo... sarah

Kathryn Magendie said...

Oh! this is so lovely and touching - I LOVED IT! You should compile these all together in one place - !

Joanne said...

What a sweet story! You don't hear tales like this these days, so it's nice to have that kind of history to look back on. I like Kathryn's idea - a compilation of your family's love stories!

Carmen said...

What a great love story. I had to laugh at her father's change of heart when he realized the boys intentions. I love the update at the end as well. My DIL's Dad goes by the name Boompah...love that too!