Blog: "... and that's what life is all about!"

So many, many blue moons ago - 1903 to be exact -  when steel millionaire Andrew Carnegie sent a $12,000 check along to the cophers of the City Fathers of Atlantic, Iowa, to build one of those Andrew Carnegie Libraries, he had to have had me in mind....well, not by name of course, but for all those little girls who would believe in Santa Claus and Leprechauns and Flying Pigs and Fairy Tales...

Getting to the Kids' Section of the Library was a problem until the day Mom came to trust my built-in GPS system (it was that internal clock that told me when she was ready to put dinner on the table) that crossing Cedar and Locust streets and heading north to 507 Poplar Street was do-able for me and for her "mother-bear" instincts...

Pulling away one of those tiny chairs from a tiny table, piling all the Fairy Tale books in front of my stubby body was the precursor to a half-hour of speed reading and finally choosing which treasures to "sign out" at the Librarian's huge desk.  A week's worth of the Brothers Grimm lay ahead, their magical words laying waste to all the imagined fears and doubts that came to little girls, like me, during those Depression Years.

In due time, other books took the place of the books of the Brothers Grimm but never has another author so stirred my heart or lifted my spirit or gave me hope as they.   Even the "moral" learned from each story has endured all these years.

It would seem that none of the magic of "once upon a time" has worn off or even disappeared; instead for those of us firmly committed to Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, the Frog Prince and Hansel and Gretel (for sure) the childlike magic has been joyfully recycled for at least a couple of us Senior Guys and Dolls.  "Danke Schoen," Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm!

The Daughters Two and I were witnesses the week-end of April 6, to an event that was a combination of some of those Fairy Tales; I think you should read about it, especially if this happens to be a day when "going down the tank" is where your day is headed; you know...to stir your heart, lift your spirit and give you hope.

"Peggy Jean Gets Married!"  

Neither Peggy Jean Smith nor James Daniel Magoon was what you might call "looking"...both were happily involved in getting on with their post-divorce lives, in respective homes more than a thousand miles apart but who did have a mutual interest in Class Reunions for Lincoln High School in San Diego, California and read correspondence pertaining to same about and from mutual classmates.

As Jim told the more than 200 celebrants during their vow-making, he was literally quite taken with Peggy's smile in pictures and her genuine enthusiasm for all the Reunions, his class included.

And then there was something about guardian angels and green balloons in one of the pictures that caught Jim's fancy.  An emotional mess by this time, I reached for a Kleenex about that time, inadvertently rearranging the aisle netting, and my girls will never take me anyplace, anymore.  I just know it! 

Back Story...if you are looking for a good private investigator, see me, for my friend of 40 years is your girl!  She did what The Daughters Two caution me to do when I mention a new name here and there..."check 'im out!"  

Ex-Navy retired Chief Jim did the same and within a short time, the families of each met, gave their blessings to this couple's union; and as the Brothers Grimm would have had it, too, there we were on a lovely Saturday, a bit past four o'clock seated in the Masonic Center in Escondido, families and friends of two people dearly beloved by all the subjects in the room.  Wow!

Which is exactly what Jim mouthed to his soon-to-be beautiful bride, escorted by her oldest son, Steve, down the aisle when she reached his side.  "Wow!"  

It was at that moment Jim won the hearts of Mary, Dana and myself...Prince Charming was alive and well!

At the Reception that followed, Peggy mentioned something about kissin' frogs and I choked a bit, spurted a bit of real champagne, lost my napkin and...where is What's-His-Name- Rumpelstiltskin when you need him?

From day one of our long friendship, Peggy has always been able to read my mind; to wit, she chose the wedding theme of a Fairy Tale nature, like she knew there would be this Blog, too, in her future.

Miniature silver coaches filled with delicious chocolate-covered almonds decorated the 20 tables, pink and crystal stones (my tablemates made sure I knew they were not rock candy, as if...) surrounded candles and tea lights that complimented the colors of the wedding ensemble, black and white and what I call "Peggy's color" because it definitely was...see attached photos.

Dancing followed the sumptuous dinner and rather than cause any kind of further commotion, I stayed seated for the most part, took pictures, pilfered some of the table decorations and thought to myself...fairy tales do come true, if you are young at heart.

Looking around at the other guests, it was heart-warming to see the older Guys and Dolls sit just a tad closer together around the tables and the younger-than-springtime grandkids tendering...."Aw, aren't they cute?"

One great lesson we all learned while watching the bridal couple take the floor for their first dance (not counting the fancy dance moves they executed on the white aisle runner as they took leave of the preacher-man and their attendants)  - one is never too old to fall...down or in love.

So Peggy Jean and Jim got married.  They will live in Menifee and as Jim's brother, Bob, said during the time of toasting:  "May the pitter-patter of any tiny feet belong to their four-legged dogs!"  It was a fun wedding!

They are off to Florida soon on a honeymoon that will take them to Disney's magical kingdom.  They will return to their community lovingly committed to each other "for the long haul" as Peggy told me in a Facebook message.  I got that same message from Jim as he looked me straight in the eye after hearing a few "she could be my sister-ly" words straight from my heart.

I love Happy Endings!

"Thank you," Andrew Carnegie!

'Til the next time,

CG/CW

P.S.  I hope your day has a Happy Ending, too!

P.S.  I am going to renew my subscription to Classmates Inc.