Up The Creek Without A Paddle
I got the best end of this marriage
by Terry Toole

This is one edition, I don't usually have to wonder what to write about. By the time most of you read this, I will have been married and lived with the same woman for over 52 years.

My first wife and "ye scribe" were married on Sunday, January 8, 1956, at Colquitt United Methodist Church right after the morning worship service.

Brother Carlton Anderson finished his sermon and announced that we were going to have a wedding. "Everyone who wants to see Terry Toole and Betty Jo Mason joined in holy wedlock can stay seated. The rest of you can leave."

Now Methodists are funny about staying much past 12 noon on any Sunday, so this was quite a challenge for some of the brethren and sisters. In spite of this being an after 12 noon service, best I remember, it was a full house. I must admit that at 20 years old, I was only interested in the most beautiful bride in the world at the back of the church waiting to come down the aisle.

When the preacher and I came out, he had already spooked me some by telling me to zip up the pants of my brand new double-breasted suit.

We had the full works with flowers, bridesmaids, groomsmen and rings. It wouldn't have mattered to me if it had been just us three.

The preacher must have been hungry. He seemed to zip right through the ceremony and introduced us to the congregation as Mr. and Mrs. Toole. It must have been just right because it has lasted for 52 wonderful years.

After the wedding, we went around to Ma's house for a big dinner/reception. I think more folks came to eat than came to see us get married.

Thinking back and remembering since that time, I have never seen or been to a wedding like we had. I have been to some $20,000 - $50,000+ weddings in past years, and they were really nice, but I wouldn't swap the way we did it for all the money in the world. Our wedding might have cost a little over $100.00. I'm not even sure I paid the preacher for his services. If I didn't, maybe I can do something for him when I see him in Heaven. He was a good friend and counselor.

Talking about stepping out on faith, we did just that. I was going to college and didn't have a dime except the $100.00 Ma had given us for our wedding gift. We didn't have a car, so she loaned us her only car to take my new bride back to Atlanta, along with a used TV that Ma had loaned us. I didn't have a job. My new bride had one. We used half of our wedding gift to rent an apartment.

Thinking back, $50 for a month's rent, no wonder the mattress had broken springs in it. We were so happy, we didn't mind getting stuck by a broken spring on occasion.

I must admit that moving in with a woman, in Atlanta, was a cultural shock for this South Georgia "redneck." I was used to having several bird dogs, going fishing at least once a week, and doing what I wanted the rest of the time. We finally got a parakeet that we taught to speak, a little. That was our first pet. We had him for quite a while. We came in one evening from work, and he was gone. We looked over the neighborhood, but couldn't findTweety. I found him when I got out some seasonal clothes. He had gotten in the closet and tangled in some loose threads and died.

There are many, many stories about our early marriage. The best thing that came from our Atlanta living was our first child was born there. She was born on January 30, two years later. We moved back to Colquitt when she was 10 days old, and we've been here since.

We lost the bird, but the marriage has lasted for more than 52 years, and "yes," I would do it all again. Don't know of too much I would want to change.

I've been told by many friends and foes that I got the best of this deal. I agree completely. I sure am glad she hung in there all these years. I would try to be a better husband if I had it to go over again. When I'm gone, I do hope she gets her a better one. She really deserves lots better.

Happy 52nd Anniversary, "First Wife."