50 Years of Kisses

50 years of Kisses



Today, Fred and Ethelyn were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. A big celebration was planned by their three grown children.  Their children wanted them to repeat their vows but Fred told them “I married her once, isn't that enough?”. That first wedding day came floating back through his mind as he remembered the sweet passionate kiss they shared just a week before they wed. 



He was walking down Main Street in town with his navy buddies. His buddies were looking to have some fun that last week ashore before shipping out to sea.  As they were talking and laughing about what all they could get into they had dared him to grab the first girl he saw and kiss her.  Anyone that knew him knew he didn't back down from anything or anyone.



They were walking by the drugstore and this small whip of a girl rushed out and right into him. His arms went around her waist automatically to steady her and keep them both from falling.  He looked down at the girl and into the most beautiful green eyes he had ever seen. Instinctively he lowered his lips to hers; tender and sweet was that first kiss. He raised his head and the most beautiful smile stretched across her face and those green eyes were sparkling like emeralds. 



One would think after a sweet kiss like that your heart and soul would be warm and cozy.  But no, not him.  Instead his chest was wet and freezing cold.  He relaxed his hold on the girl and together they looked down at his uniform.  There plastered on his white uniform was her yellow cone that had contained the double dip chocolate chip ice cream she had just purchased in the drugstore.  Laughter filled the air; not just from the sailor and the girl, but from his buddies who were standing close by watching the entire scene.   



The next week was a true whirlwind.  Beginning with purchasing Ethelyn a new cone of ice cream then explaining to his commanding officer what happened to his uniform.  They spent every waking moment with each other laughing and enjoying life.  The day he was to ship out they found themselves standing in front of a minister with his buddies as witnesses.  Everyone thinking they were making a mistake;  this would never last. 



Here they were, 50 years later, three children and grandchildren, a beautiful home and now here he stood at the altar watching her walk down the aisle towards him.  He knew without any doubt 50 years ago today he had made the right choice.  He would not be where he was today in this life if it was not for the love that grew from that first sweet kiss with his beautiful Ethelyn.





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