Real-life Romance: Pop Goes the Anniversary

To say author Betty Woods celebrated her anniversary with a bit of a bang is an understatement. The good news is, even when a party feels more like a rom-com, it can still be sweet and romantic. See what you think.

​   We celebrated our fiftieth wedding anniversary this spring. Probably not the way someone would write it in a romance novel, unless it’s a romantic comedy. Our official date is March 23. The kids originally envisioned renting a nice room, simple but elegant decorations and tables with white cloths until they found out how much all that would cost. Plan B our large backyard. But since we wanted an outdoor celebration, we waited until early April in hopes of better weather. It’s an understatement to say Texas weather is unpredictable. The high was in the eighties that afternoon. As you can see in the cake picture, Craig is wearing shorts. 

​      The day started early. Our children, grandchildren and a couple of dear friends who flew in from Florida arrived by ten that morning. They came bearing pans of pulled pork, baked beans, corn casserole, Cole slaw, ribbon, signs, and balloons. Lots of yellow, gold and white balloons. They all had to be blown up and tied around our carport and yard to our daughter’s specifications. Our den soon looked like party central for a balloon drop on New Year’s Eve. We had to be careful where we stepped so we didn’t pop any balloons. We weren’t always successful, which more than aggravated our Chihuahua who hates loud noises.
         While all this is happening, our ten year-old grandson tells me he needs me to print out the jokes he’s written since he’s our designated comic/entertainer. His mom was so busy planning our celebration, he didn’t ask her to help him format everything for him to read more easily. Writer Grandma to the rescue. He follows me into my home office. Every joke is handwritten on notebook paper in fourth grade writing and spelling.  No wonder his mom/our daughter didn’t have time to help him. We decide on a large, easy-to-read font.  I decipher his words and type up his program in the order the jokes work best. Good thing writers can edit too. He’s very happy when we finish. Score one for Grandma.
       Oh, and did I mention the rental people delivered the tables and chairs during our balloon chain assembly? Our guys told them where to set up tables. Our early April spring day is promising to be very warm for a three o’clock outdoor party, so they had as many tables as possible set up under the carport. The rest of them were next to our rear entry garage for afternoon shade.
         Shortly before two o’clock, our backyard was more or less arranged to our daughter’s specifications with balloons wrapped around the posts of the carport the way she wanted. The pans of food were ready to set out just before people would start coming at three. I barely remembered to check my watch and run inside to change clothes to be ready for pictures at two. The photographer had problems with his camera and didn’t come until about two-thirty.
         We had a nice breeze about the time everyone started coming in. But it didn’t help my hair stay in place.
Whenever we had a slight gust of wind, a balloon rubbed against at metal post. Popping balloons really add to the atmosphere for an anniversary celebration.
        But all in all, we had a wonderfully blessed day. Our photographer was a dear friend we’ve known over fifty years. He took our wedding pictures, so having him there was very special. The man who introduced me to Craig came. Our middle grandson drove a little over 175 miles to be with us. We had nearly seventy family or friends come by to celebrate with us. Our grandson’s jokes were a big hit. People asked for our son-in-law’s recipe for his baked beans. Everyone complimented our kids for what they did to help us celebrate.
       Craig and I have lived through a lot of ups and downs in fifty years. God has been, and is good. 

Our daughter had this made from our wedding pictures our friend took.

What do you think? Do popping balloons make for a romantic party? Do you have a funny anniversary story to share?

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​Betty Woods writes heartwarming romance with a Southern accent. She’s an incurable history buff who was once mistaken for the tour guide at an historical site while answering her grandchildren’s questions. When not living in her make-believe nineteenth century world, she enjoys time with her family, especially vacations with children, grandchildren and great grands. Doing RV trips with her husband and Chihuahua to research information for books is one of her other favorite things.

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Treasure and Troubles

Eugenia Hampton wants to be loved for who she is, not what she has. Her parents intend to see her married and cared for, but she’s determined not to be a mere parlor decoration to show off some man’s achievements. She wants a love match or no match.
Paul Stuart is tired of clashing with people over his abolitionist views. Especially with his father who is the overseer for Eugenia’s father. He’s saving money to move from Tennessee and buy a farm in Illinois where he can live in peace with people who accept him and his ideas.
Paul rescues Eugenia after her horse throws her. They form a secret, forbidden friendship based on their common family problems. Neither of them expects their relationship to grow into love. When Eugenia’s father selects a non-Christian man for her husband, she must choose between her known and comfortable life of luxury or a lifetime of love with Paul where little else will be certain.

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