Celebrating 65 years...

Later this week, Laura and I will be headed "home" to join in celebrating a milestone anniversary for some family friends.   

This happy couple will be celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary!   

But you know who else would have celebrated their 65th this month? 

Yep- these two..

As Richard and Audrey were married 8.22.1959

So in honor of what would have been our parents 65th anniversary- I thought I'd do a little creative writing.   Neither Richard or Audrey shared with us a lot about their lives before becoming parents- and their courtship and subsequent wedding would be no different.   

It is what it is- it just means that we are left to our own devices for crafting a story based on the bits and pieces that were shared with us over the years.

Fear not for I am a voracious reader of all things chick-lit and have been known to spend some time in the company of the Hallmark Channel- so with a little help from google and some creative liberties...I hope I can do their story justice!

The Story of Us-The Granum edition..

Element #1- Two Lovable Characters

As we know- a good rom-com features two very lovable characters...

and for sure we have that...

Let's start with our female lead...Audrey

The second daughter of the second daughter...this girl had some spunk! 

And while  her childhood would be marked by the tragic loss of her father in 1943...

when Audrey was just 7 years old

She would show us all that she was going places..

and we don't mean just to the junior prom!

As for our leading man- well, Richard also was a man of many talents...

From adorable baby

to hard working farm lad...

this kid  also was going places...

and we don't mean just to  the county fair with his award winning gladiolas!

*well- he did that too...a couple times in fact if his stories are to be trusted

ELEMENT #2- The Meet cute

Essential to any good rom-com is the moment our characters meet, aka the meet cute.   

There was a wholesome camp counselor..

and the dashing new high school grad..

because yes, back in those days you could 

participate in 4H until your mid-20s.

When in the summer of 1951-on the sparkling shores of Green Lake...

there would be a barn dance marking the end of

a great adventure at 4H camp..

And at this dance- the boy would ask the girl to dance..

and voila-

You've got your meet-cute!

Editorial side bar- while it is unclear if this is the actual barn that they met-it is reported that this barn- the William Carey barn on Green Lake was used by the US Military to hold some 400+ German POWs in 1944.  It's the only barn that popped up on google images for Green Lake-so we'll just go with that.  

Element #3- A unique or troublesome situation

Now in a Hallmark classic-soon after the couple meets something epic would occur that would pose a problem for the new couple. 

 In the case of Richard and Audrey- nobody would be selling the family farm to a developer (that would have to wait for the next generation), nor was either one already promised to someone else (hmmm...define promise- as there were obligations to Uncle Sam that would need to be completed).

   Nope for these two- the troublesome situation was just basic arithmetic

with an age difference of 3 years...it meant that 

Audrey still had a few years of high school left..

and Richard was headed off to college at the newly renamed

Wisconsin State College-at River Falls..

With a 2 year stint in the US-Army following college graduation in 1955

Just for the curious- we are now approaching the six year mark- their story was clearly not going to make it onto the next episode of "90 Day Fiancé!" 

Element #4- At least one great side kick

Experts in this genre of story telling note that while the main characters have to be lovable (which while we are biased, can both agree that they are)- You also need to have at least one side kick that is absolutely unforgettable!

For this love story to take flight- the side kicks  would be Phyllis and Royal...

Let's see how they fit into the script- so it started with Richard and Royal meeting each other on the college debate team at River Falls.   

One weekend- Royal invited Richard to join him as he went "home" to visit his  high school sweetheart

A young Phyllis Bohren...

And well, wouldn't ya know it- in the true Hallmark way- 

Phyllis just happened to be the older sister 

Audrey, Phyllis and their "cousin" Zona

of that sweet young counselor he had danced with the summer before!  

 if  Hallmark classics have taught us anything...

 we know exactly where this love story is headed...

Straight to the altar...

Ah, but we're getting ahead of ourselves, aren't we? 

Element #5- A super fun montage

Now this is the part of the story- where all the wonderful photos of the young couple doing cool things together occurs.   However, I am sad to report- there are few photos from this era.

It's possible that the photos for the super fun montage are now in some landfill in Lacrosse County 

*if you know what I mean-boxes of slides tossed in the great purge of 2022

But it's more than likely that there weren't any photos.  After all-we're talking about a man who never got around to tossing his wife's chemo wigs-and moved the bag containing said wigs several times in the 34 years that followed her passing.

*those wigs we made sure were sent to the landfill

   

More than likely-the absence of photos is a reflection of the times.   A college kid and a working girl-didn't have a lot of discretionary income to spend on photos.   

Instead- we shall go with what artifacts we do have..

A card was saved...

with a signature

and a note..

Element #6- Relationship in jeopardy

There comes that time in every classic rom-com that the relationship is put to the test.  Somebody gets called away-back to the big city or home to help save the family Christmas tree farm.   

For these two- the call came from Uncle Sam- and Richard found himself headed out to complete a two year assignment in South Carolina

What exactly he did while in the service remains somewhat of a mystery

...the stories always changed-depending on the volume of cocktails and their potency!

Element #7- The Lightbulb moment

Element #8- The Grand gesture

It's that moment in the story- where the couple realizes hey we belong together....and while we have no idea what occurred to spark that realization...we do know what the grand gesture was...

Do you recall in Sleepless in Seattle when Annie notes that "you make a million decisions that mean nothing and then one day, you order take out and it changes your life?"

Well for Audrey- she didn't order take out- but with a little prompting from her big sis- she sent Richard a valentine. 

Make that  she sent him THIS valentine..

A rather simple in design and sentiment, right? 

But it was this simple card that sent a powerful message...I'm still single and interested.

Knowing just how reserved Audrey could be- well- you go girl!

I told ya she had spunk!  

Element #9- Happy Ending

A staple of every romantic comedy is the "happily ever after"...and guess what- with this part- no creative energy is required on my part- as their nuptials were featured in the local newspaper-  Instead- all that's left to be done is add the photos to the text featured in the paper!   Easy peasy!

Hope Evangelical and Reform Church in Fremont was the scene of the nuptials that took place at 4 o'clock in the afternoon.  Two large bouquets of white and yellow gladioli and small arrangement of the same combination on the alter were the decor.

The Rev. Gale Wolf of Madison read the service uniting

the daughter of Mrs. Clarence Bohren, Weyauwega, and the late Clarence Bohren and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Granum of Holmen, WI. (also in this photo is Richard's grandmother-Lena Volla)

Bridal attire was a floor length gown of white organza fashioned with scoop neckline, short, gathered sleeves and a skirt with appliqués that had sequins and pearl trim.  The same adornment was used on the crown head piece.   Sweet-heart roses and stephanotis were the flowers comprising the bride's bouquets.

Mrs. Royal Fraedrich, sister of the bride appeared in wood hue blue organza over lighter blue taffeta as did the others in the wedding part, Miss Constance Bassuener, Sheboygan and Mrs. Robert Granum, Chippewa Falls, sisterin-in-law of the bridegroom.   Their dresses were designed with bateaus neckline, light blue cummerbunds and full skirt.   They complemented them with light blue picture hats.

Flowers were crescent sprays of white glameilia with gladioli buds.

Another participant  was Lynn Fraedrich, the brides niece from Milwaukee, who was the flower girl.

 

*Family legend is that Little Lynn may have run down the aisle a tad too fast- and took a slight tumble-announcing to all that "oops I ran too fast!"   Cool Uncle Boo (aka Clair- the youngest of the Bohren siblings) would not let his niece ever forget that story-much to her great dismay!

Konvald Bergum of Hinkley, MN had the duties of best man and there were two groomsemen- Robert Granum, brother of the groom, and brother-in-law of the bride, Royal Fraedrich.  

     Two hundred guests were entertained

*I love how the photographer captured Audrey-mid laugh..

reflecting just how happy she was on her wedding day! 

 at a buffet supper and reception 

that was held in the church parlors.   

Mr. Granum has a bachelor's degree from Wisconsin State College, River Falls and a Masters degree was received in June from the University of Wisconsin.  Cudahy will be the future home of the couple- they will be residing there after Labor Day. 

Roll the credits... 

And as I wrap up this entry- I am reminded that love is not necessarily about how many days, months or years you've been together (or for that matter- how many days, months, or years it took to get to the altar), it is about how much you love each other every single day.

Richard and Audrey would not reach the milestone number we will celebrate this weekend...but I know without a doubt- that when these two exchanged their vows and declared their love before God and their family...they truly meant it!   

Happy Heavenly Anniversary- Mom and Dad..

Taking life one stitch at a time

As we packed up the treasures of the Holmen house in September of 2022- we stumbled across so many treasures...

Some brought us joy...

while other items tripped us up with just how sentimental Richard could be..

there was proof that he had started the task of decluttering...

while still leaving us with plenty to sort through..

But one of the things that brought a smile to my heart..

was the number of stitchery items Richard had kept.

Many items were faded and were no longer suitable for display..

while a few treasured pieces found

themselves a new home here in CO.

As I began the great sift-sort-scan project, I would stumble across a pretty decent stack of photos that featured past works completed by Audrey!  

And while I knew she enjoyed her cross-stitch

 I'd forgotten just how many projects she would crank out...

At the time, it didn't cross my mind to ask what it was that fueled  the desire to always have a project (or two) that she was actively working on.    So instead- I shall make up my own answer...

It was a way to express her creativity...

and share her talents with those she loved the most...

It would be a hobby I would take on..

and even teach my bestie how to do...

So Thank you Mom...

for showing me that when life feels overwhelming...

grab your pattern...

find a comfy spot...

and just start stitching'...

for eventually...even just taking it one stitch at a time..

your project will be complete..

and it will be time to pick up a new project

Until next time..

Be thankful for where your story began..

and never forget that

if we had no winter...

Spring would not be so pleasant...

Loving lessons taught-and-stitched by Audrey...