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A GI and a Girl

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World War II is being waged. A neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, like many other neighborhoods, has a program in place that gives the name of a neighborhood GI to a local girl. She is to write him and send him news of home. One such girl, Shirley, gets the name of local guy named Gordon. They start a correspondence. She is young – in her teens. He is 4 years older. They decide to exchange photos. Gordon sends a rather rakish photo of himself in khakis, no shirt, dogtags around his neck – leaning against a wall. Shirley sends him a photo of her pretty face – she cuts off the rest of her body in the photo as she has bobby sox on and doesn’t want him to see them.

When Gordon finally comes home from War, he arranges to meet Shirley at the corner drug store for a soda. They talk, flirt (I’m sure) and Gordon walks Shirley home. On the walk, Gordon tells Shirley: “I’m going to marry you.” Shirley thinks to herself, “Oh, come on. What a big talker.”

Six months later they are married. She is 18 and he is 22.

I love this story. I love hearing it. It is wonderfully romantic. Gordon and Shirley are my parents. They are celebrating 65 years of marriage today. Sixty-five. I’m sure glad Mom pulled Dad’s name out of the hat. Their devotion to each other has only grown stronger. They love each other deeply. And, in a world where the percentage of marriages that end in divorce is very high, they have stuck together through tough times, personal crises, illness, financial struggle and the loss of a child.

Happy 65th Anniversary, Mom and Dad. I love you both with all my heart. Thank you for everything.

Comments

  2. Sending happy anniversary wishes to your sweet parents… 65 years~ they are such a great inspiration!

    Hugs,
    Jill

  4. A lovely romantic story. How wonderful to celebrate a 65th wedding anniversary. My congratulations to your parents!

  5. Claudia, please send Happy Anniversary wishes to your mom and dad from me. I had no idea as I was reading that you were writing of your parents (I’ll chalk that up to the late hour that I was reading)… What a wonderfully romantic story :)… Donna

  6. Claudia,

    What a beautiful story and you tell it beautifully. My parents were absolutely devoted to each other too and would have been married 70 years in August. I miss them terribly.

    Carol

  10. Sweet story. Happy 65th Anniversary to your parents!
    They were well matched, and they respected each other enough to work through the tough times, not give up.

  12. Oh to have a marriage that lasts that long. My husband and I did not marry until I was 53 and he was 56, so I doubt we will ever see the 65th anniversary, but we are sure going to try!

    Happy Anniversary to your Folks!

    Di

  14. That story makes me happy. Thanks for sharing it in such a beautiful way. And congratulations to the lovebirds.

  16. It this doesn’t sound like the perfect WW II movie with Donna Reed and Clark Gable I don’t know what does! I love this story, honey. And your folks. And You!

    D.

  17. What a beautiful story! David and I send our best wishes to your parents on their 65th Anniversary!! There is no love like the kind that has endured all of the joys and heartaches of life. May they have many more happy years together. And one more special message from me ~ I know that they must be wonderful because they have such a lovely, warm hearted daughter!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xoo

  19. Oh, my that is the sweetest love story. Thank you for sharing the story of your parents. I actually have tears in my eyes.

    Sweetness to you and have a nice evening.

  21. Oh, what a precious story, Claudia….. I love it.

    My dad lived across the street from my Mum (in Detroit) …he was seven years older. He went into the service and while he was overseas, he sent my Mum an engagement ring. She figured, since he sent it, she’d better marry the guy….She did and they had the sweetest marriage….that lasted until he passed away. He adored her…and she him……

    Huggies,
    Spencer

  24. Hi Claudia,
    What a WONDERFUL story! This would make a great book or movie… I was waiting to hear the name of the book :) I would love to see some photos of your parents at that time. Maybe you could post them someday on your blog. How wonderful that they have been married all these years! Congratulations to them and to you for having such wonderful parents! You are blessed! xoxo Kim

  28. HOW WONDERFUL CLAUDIA, 65 YEARS, YOU DON’T SEE THAT TOO MUCH. IT’S A WONDERFUL STORY, TRUE LOVE.
    HOPE YOUR MOM IS DOING BETTER, AND YOUR DAD IS WELL. TAKE CARE, RIZZI

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