I Found My Husband in the Tenth Grade, by Yolanda Adele

I was fourteen and in the tenth grade when I found the person who would ultimately become my husband. He was older than me by two years. Though Vic was in the eleventh grade he had to repeat tenth grade English composition.

The first time I walked in to the class room I saw his head resting on his folded arms on top his desk. I had never seen such beautiful blond wavy hair on a boy. It was the color of country butter. I was tempted to run my fingers through those thick sassy golden tresses as I passed his desk.

Unfortunately, students had to sit in alphabetical order, my last name, Yudico, started with “Y” which put me at the back of the class. His name Adele began with “A”, so we were at polar ends of the room. I spent most of the class time peering around the students sitting in front of me. I tried to get a look at his face.

I hoped and waited for the teacher, Mrs. Christopher to tell him to sit up straight. But she didn't. When she called his name at roll call he merely grunted "Here!" and she noted his attendance.

After the class period was over I scurried to make my way to the front of the room to get a better look at him. By the time I got there he was gone.

The next day I nervously waited at the front door of our English classroom until he finally sashayed by me, but not before he turned to glance at me with his majestic powder blue eyes. He was beyond movie star good looks; he was “Adonically” gorgeous!

Suddenly it became difficult for me to catch my breath. Simultaneity my knees felt weak, my heart pounded like bass drums in my ears, I was sure he must have heard it too. I felt my neck and face swelter. I really didn’t understand what was happening to me. I wondered if it was just a coincidence that I got sick at that point or was my girlfriend right when she later said that I was under some kind of spell?

He was extremely good looking, but there was something else about him that made me feel safe and special just to be near him.

The first time he kissed me, I was going down the steps of our high school library and he was going up the steps. When we saw each other we stopped and just stared at one another until the staircase was empty of other students, and faculty.

Then he came up to the same step as I was on. He wrapped his arms around my waist, and then gave me my first “grown up” kiss on the mouth; like I’d seen in the movies. He lit my world like the 4th of July.

Two years later we were married.

Around the World in 28 Days, by Charlene Farnsworth

While we were growing up, our depression-era parents wanted my brother Jim and me to enjoy our young years which were filled with fun and few chores. Amazingly, with such permissiveness, we both actually became quite responsible citizens. In my quest for independence I would not let my parents buy my first car. I wanted to pay cash for my first “wheels.” With such a grand goal, I knew I must be employed soon since I had little money saved. As I confessed, I was having fun with family and friends instead of holding summer jobs.

Pursuing employment at age 18, I walked to the nearby North American Aviation (NAA) facility six consecutive days. It was great news to hear that I was hired and could start immediately. The buyer for whom I worked was a patient teacher and I began to mature and progress. My plan was to work at NAA during the summer, then continue my college education towards becoming a teacher.

This turned into a rewarding 33-year career at the aerospace company and teaching became my life-long avocation. I walked to work or took various means of transportation and, at age 21, I purchased my first car. While properly contributing to the household expenses, I continued my good habits of accumulating some savings for fun or unexpected expenses.

Shortly after my 24th birthday, my parents and I had a wonderful opportunity come our way, a 28-day trip “Around the World” staying in comfortable hotels with most meals included. We first arrived in Hawaii, then visited the following countries and regions: Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, Italy and France. Obviously, in only 28 days, we could not linger long at any one destination. We could simply meet the people, enjoy the unique landscape, and revel in the remarkable history of each land.

Mom and I were diligent in maintaining journals throughout our trip. Mom, being a photographer, fine artist and teacher, poetically described nature’s beauty and the ancient buildings and artifacts. I wrote about the people and their unique customs, costumes and personalities. We both included historical facts in our writings derived from brochures and lectures. The year was 1965 when women usually wore dresses and pantsuits were a rarity. As one can imagine, mounting and dismounting from a camel in such wear was definitely a challenge!

Personally visiting places filled with historical landmarks, where many important worldly events took place, certainly was overwhelming. Until then, we had only been exposed to such places in history books or by attending local in-person narrated travelogues. Sharing precious memories of our spectacular “Around the World” trip has been a favorite pastime. How very fortunate we were to take such a journey as a family at a time when we all were physically and financially able and before many of the places we visited were significantly changed or could no longer be visited.

Love at First Sight, by Gail Earl

When I hear the word "teenager" now, I think happy thoughts, of a life so simple. I remember dances and slumber parties and girlfriends and of course, boys. It was a time when "fitting in" mattered and "cool" was the word of the day. I have nothing but happy memories of my teenage years.

I’m sure at the time I had no idea that my choices then would affect my entire life. Teenagers have no reference or concept of an entire life. They can only relate to a few short years in their past.

When I was 16, my girlfriend Nancy and I were asked to leave our current Art class, (ok perhaps we weren't asked, but told. We just might not have been great at following class rules). We were ushered into another class room. Maybe that teacher would understand us better. As Nancy and I stood just inside the doorway, we looked around at all the other students. I spotted a very cute boy and could look no further. I told Nancy right then, "I want him". I can't tell you now just what it was, but I knew it was real and it was definite, from the moment I saw him.


That cute boy and I have been married for 42 years. We have two wonderful children and five terrific Grandchildren. We shared our teenage years and all of our life right into being senior citizens.

Although my teenage years were filled with fun and adventure, I know that they were also filled with so much more. They were the basis for all of my future. The choices I made, the growth in both mind and spirit, were made by a teenager. Two teenagers that had definite plans for the future and like goals in life. We know how lucky we are. We know that not all teenage choices and goals survive. Even with the best intentions, we know that our story is rare and blessed. (I remind him of that quite often).

To this day when I awake and see him, my heart flutters and “I want him".

Torn Inside, Beautiful Outside, by Annette Skarin

When I was a teen, a horrible incident left my already crushed soul eviscerated and stamped down to the core. I chose not to have an abortion. When I saw my perfect baby daughter for the first time in my arms-in all her pureness and innocence-my soul once more was touched by the merciful beam of redemption.


One day when my daughter was almost three, an unforeseen tragedy was about to happen. I had just returned with a friend from doing volunteer work at a hospital and the night had already grown dark. I wearily got out of his van, picked my daughter up and placed her on the sidewalk next to a parked car. I reached in the van, got my belongings, shut the door, and turned.


Just as the adrenaline shock reached my brain, I heard the screams! I saw the back tire of the van going over her little body. As if a robot had taken over my bodily actions, I ran to her, picked her up, put her into the van, and directed my friend to the nearest hospital. Her body was twisted and her eyes were rolling back in her head.


When we arrived, I handed her to the nearest attendant, who whisked her tiny body through those huge swallowing doors. Doctors soon came back through the doors-out of breath-and said they needed to operate immediately. They led me to her tiny pallid body, her belly bloated with blood. I stood in the waiting room-a desperate praying mother.

The doctors came out after her operation, and snapped me out of my stupefied state. They explained that most of her organs had been torn in two, or in fourths (liver, gall bladder, kidneys), and some of her intestine had to be removed. They said she was stable and would be in intensive care for a few days. I camped out at the hospital during the day. One morning the nurses told me they had heard singing coming from her room and thought there was a TV program on.

They went in the room to find her belting out a children’s song about Jesus. She recovered quickly except for a large hematoma which remained for a long time. I asked the doctor what her chances of being normal physically were, but he could only reply that he had never seen a child survive an accident like this. She didn’t find out until later in life that her pelvis had been broken in two.

My daughter graduated from college, then went on to an international school to teach English in other countries. She is a vivacious and well-liked person. She taught in China, Thailand, Japan and Portugal. She has done rock-climbing, surfing, scuba-diving, hiking and Frisbee tournaments. Presently she is finishing her thesis for her PhD, at Stanford University. I am so proud. But best of all I have a precious granddaughter, who is now 7 years old. That is a miracle.
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Note from Bonnie:
Annette wrote this story at my request. She told me part of the story in class one day and I was so moved by it that I asked her to write it down. I am grateful that she was willing to share such a personal story in this medium.  She has limited her story to the 500 word maximum for this post, but the story is even more gripping than appears here. For a longer, more complete version of the story, please see Annette's blog at: carinskarin.blogspot.com

My First Job, by Dora Silvers

I was 11 years old in 1939. Every Sunday I babysat Ruthie while her parents went to church. The first page on the Sunday Funnies was Dick Tracy and Little Orphan Annie. I turned on the radio and listened as “Uncle Bob” would read the funnies as we followed along. I was paid 25 cents. I learned how to budget my weekly quarter.

Movies were 5 cents on Saturday. Ice cream on a stick was 3 cents. Before the movies, I would go with my friends to the candy store. We would get two scoops (about 1/4 of a cup) of Jelly Beans for 2 cents. Movies were from 12:30 to 4 o'clock. The afternoon included a coming attraction, a serial (usually a western) which was continued each week, Looney Tunes, and then the main feature.

This memory came to me when I learned that Little Orphan Annie will be discontinued. It all began in 1924. These are good memories for me.

Happy Father’s Day, by Noemi Rabina

In 1909, Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, proposed a special day to honor her father, Henry Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran, who raised his children after the wife died in giving birth to the sixth child. He gathered all his strength, showing his unselfish love by raising successful children all by himself. June 19, her father’s birthday, was proposed to be “Father’s Day.” All over the world, fathers have been adored, respected and loved. More than being bread winners, fathers serve as role models whom we admire and look up to in times of triumph and failures, joy and sorrow.

I remember my own father, Pacifico Santiago, who did not have an easy life while he was growing up. He was raised by his aunt after his mother died, probably at child birth. At a very young age, he worked to support himself and his aunt. He got married and had five daughters. My mother was a stay home Mom in the fullest sense, taking care of us and doing all the house work. Both did not even reach high school.

My father’s dream was to give all of us, his five daughters, a career that will give us a chance to have a better life than what he had. He kept telling us that no one is to get married until we finish college. He was the only bread winner and we had a tight budget on things that others enjoy. But when it comes to things we need in school, he was always ready to provide. He gave us all that we need, not every thing that we want. His dream of a better life for us was realized when each one had finished a career.

Father’s Day is a day not only to honor fathers all over the world, but all men who portray a father figure or act as a father. Grandfathers, stepfathers, uncles, cousins, nephews, brothers, and adult male friends are to be honored on this special day. Greet them a “Happy Father’s Day” with a smile, a kiss or a hug. They will surely appreciate it.

Father's Day Invitation

Read the new post from Kacie. It will tug at your heartstrings in more ways than one. After you have commented on her story, I invite you to make a comment on this post, answering the question -- what is one thing you appreciated about your father?