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It Happened at Work

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Grandma and Grandpa - The Early Years

It was 1944 when Grandpa met Grandma for the first time. He had recently returned home from a mission in New Mexico, and she was living with an aunt and uncle and working in San Fransisco. Grandpa’s mom had met Grandma before his homecoming, and instantly made note of the absence of an engagement ring.  She wrote to her son about the nice girl she had met, and he was already prepared to ask her out on his first night home.

They dated for about 2 months before he enlisted in the Naval Air Corp during World War II. Although they saw each other while he was on leave, Grandma eventually moved back to her home in Idaho.

Grandpa trained to be a pilot and expected combat experience, but the War ended before that he had that opportunity. We are all grateful for that.

When he was discharged, Grandpa returned to California to attend school, and immediately wrote to Grandma asking her to come to California for Thanksgiving. In typical Grandma fashion, she made it hard for him. She told him that he knew her address in Idaho and left the ball in his court. And in typical Grandpa fashion, he had made up his mind. In late fall 1945, Grandpa called her from California while she was at work and proposed marriage.

To say that she was suprised to get a proposal at work is an understatement, I’m sure. I guarantee that she didn’t dream of an over-the-phone proposal when she was a young girl thinking of her future wedding. Grandma had spunk and a little bit of an attitude (sometimes a bit more, I suppose) but she knew a good thing when she saw it.

Grandma told Grandpa to “hold the phone.” Grandpa says that she was gone for about 30 seconds (telling her co-workers what was happening on the phone, maybe?). She came back on the phone and said “yes.” They planned a wedding for December 1945, a snowy day before Christmas.

And the rest is history.

I never tire of hearing the story of my grandma and grandpa’s courtship. Apparently, quick and unexpected engagements run in the family. CandyMan and I were friends for 3 months before we started “dating” and then dated for a month before we were engaged. I can only hope that CandyMan and I turn out as well as Grandma and Grandpa did.

Mama's Losin' It

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About Lolli

Lolli has written 3740 post in this blog.

I became a mom in 1996, and in 2005 I had my fifth. Yes, 5 kids. In 2007, this blog was born (my 6th baby that will never grow up) and I've been sharing recipes, photography tricks, parenting tips, and everything in between. (Formerly Better in Bulk)

Comments

  4. When you know it’s right, you know it’s right. Bry and I dated 2 weeks (though we served 4 months in the same mission) and were engaged. Two months later we were married!
    What a great story to tell your kids!

  9. Great story – reminds me of that Larry King collection about WWII courtships. My grandparents are all gone, and reading this story really made me reminiscent – thank you! And, to paraphrase pencer Tracy in Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner – if you feel even half of what your grandparents felt, you and your husband will be fine.

  12. I love this story! I know the story of my dad’s parents, but not my mom’s. I’m going to ask about it today.

    Thanks so much for posting this!

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