1961

Well. 

If I had been invited to mom and dad's wedding reception I know what gift I would have brought.  A camera.  We basically have no visual documentation of their first year and a half together.

Oh yeah.  Except for this one important event...

Here are some tidbits from Mark's baby book. 

     Daddy took my picture right after I was washed.  (Bribed the nurse)  I was the biggest baby in the hospital while I was there.  At the time I was born, most hospitals had a ruling that only fathers could visit.  I was stubborn and kept mom waiting (The doc thought I should have been born sooner) so they started mom on her due day at 8:00 am.  She only had to wait 4 1/2 hours-1 hr. hard labor. 

**LeeAnn says, "And I do believe mom was knocked out for his delivery.  Right mom?"**

Dad sent mom a dozen long stemmed red roses.

The President was John F. Kennedy.    The Governor was George Dewey Clyde.    The Mayor was J. Bracken Lee.

New inventions and gadgets of my era:  self defrosting refrigerators, self cleaning ovens, vaccines for polio and measles, kidney transplants, electric can openers, and TOP-LESS BATHINGSUITS! 

**LeeAnn says, "And I thought bikinis were bad!"**

Happy Birthday Mark!

Ouch in 1960!

Ouch I say!  If I have the story right, Dad was driving to Salt Lake to see mom.  And the weather was bad.

   --wait a minute--

--I need to clarify something--

OK.  I just called mom and she says he wasn't coming to see her.  He was travelling to Cody from Yellowstone and the road curved and his car didn't follow that curve.  It went off the side of the road. 

No, they weren't married yet.  Not even engaged.  But these are the only photos from 1960 I can find (other than the marriage photos).  And I'm going to try to go through each year of Mom and Dad's history together and post some snap shots and stories to chronicle the 50 years of fantastic-ness they and we have had.  So while they were not yet married, I still think it counts.

For the sake of sharing memories, do any of you want to share some harrowing car experiences? 

I'll share for Boyd.  One night, on his way home from our house he fell asleep.  (Yeah, I think it was between 2 and 3 in the morning.  Yes, I know it is terrible to stay up this late.  With my boyfriend/fiance or not.  You don't need to tell me again.)  This was going south on 9th east which turns into 7th east in Sandy.  He veered to the left (east) crossing two lanes of opposing traffic, narrowly missed a large brick business sign and went through/underneath a chain link fence before stopping.  He was maybe 2 minutes from his home.  When he came to pick me up for church the next morning I wouldn't believe he had been in an accident until I saw his car.  What lessons do we learn from this experience?  #1--Don't stay out so late!  I admit Boyd and I were terrible at this. #2--Guardian angels do watch over us.  Don't make them work so hard by staying up so late.

I'll share for me!  When I was expecting Marcus I was getting off I-15 on the Bangerter exit.  Traffic was backed up and I had to stop a little quickly.  I prayed the people behind me would be able to stop in time.  One car went by me down the shoulder.  Another car went by me on the shoulder.  The third car hit mine, flipped over, landed on it's top, hitting another car on it's way.  I was fine.  The guy in the upside down car was fine.  My girls, who were strapped in their car seats in the back were fine.  Amelia's comment was, "What was that big bump mom?"  What lessons do we learn from this experience?  #1--Leave LOTS of space between you and the car in front of you.  #2--Guardian angels watch over us.