On one Sunday, a while back, on July 13, I was enchanted to meet a personable and sightly young woman.

On that Labor Day, (I figure it as 48 days later), she said she'd marry me. She was a public school ("public", US style) music teacher.

"When shall we get married?"

"How about next summer?"

"Okay. Sounds good to me."

Still, as a few weeks went on, that seemed a long time away.

"That's so long! How about during spring school vacation?"

"Great!"

After a few more weeks or so, spring vacation seemed a long time away.

One night in late November, as we were talking, she asked if I REALLLLLY wanted to marry her.

"I'd marry you tomorrow!"

"How about Christmas?"

"You're on!"

So as soon as both of us were available for the Christmas break (me from the court, she from school), we were married, on December 21st. The longest night of the year. We were no fools!

Now some might think that was a thoughtless whirlwind courtship, and predict a brief married life. And maybe it will all go kerflooey pretty soon.

Maybe. We'll have to see. It's only been forty-three years.

Dave Oesterreich