68 years of wedded bliss

On June 15, 1968, we gathered at Whitworth Presbyterian Church in Spokane to welcome a new member to our family. Her name was Joyce Dahm, and she was marrying my brother Kevin. They had met at Schweitzer Basin where Joyce came to ski and Kevin worked on the ski patrol. The groom and his ushers, including a perennial at the craft of standing up for grooms ( John Pucci) wore the standard black pants, white dinner jackets and bow ties.

At the time, our little brother Jim was five years old. He looked pretty smart in his tux too, but at the last minute he chose not to fulfill his duties as ringbearer. Instead, he began the wedding sitting in the back pew. Slowly, throughout the ceremony, he quietly moved forward toward his mommy and daddy, one pew at a time.

After a honeymoon to Glacier Park, Kevin and Joyce moved to Missoula, Montana, where he worked for the Forest Service in fire control. Joyce resumed her college education and graduated from the University of Montana. She worked as an elementary teacher at Bonner and Clinton, taking time off when their son Scott was born. Kevin continued his career with the Forest Service.

Since the day I first met Joyce, I've considered her a wonderful friend. We're the same age, and from the start, we enjoyed many good laughs and engaged in lots of talk about the teaching profession. As Kevin's little sister, I was very happy with his choice for a bride. I remain so today.

Six years after their marriage, on June 15, 1974, the family welcomed another new member, Louisiana transplant, Bill Love. I stood on the altar of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, among my five siblings (Mike, Kevin as Best Man, Barbara, Laurie and Jim, along with Joyce as Matron of Honor), all serving as the wedding party.

This time Jim, now 13 and again wearing another tuxedo of "tight" black pants, white dinner jacket and black bow tie, happily cooperated and spent the ceremony on the altar as Fr. John (at the time) O'Donovan declared us husband and wife.

The Wooden family played guitars and sang during the folk wedding while church music director June Hofmeister played the organ on this hot June day where temperatures soared to 95-plus degrees. During the ceremony, my brother Mike's pants split in the crotch when he knelt. We tried to stifle our laughter. I don't think the wedding guests caught on.

My parents were proud to have the wedding party consist completely of family members. It was a great day which had capped off a fun week of visiting with relatives and friends. After a reception in the church hall where the punch ran short and folks ran to the store for more Hi-C fruit juice, Bill and I set off toward Lewiston for our honeymoon which would take us to Yellowstone Park and the Grand Tetons.

Thirty-one years later, this morning we've exchanged anniversary cards and promised to celebrate this weekend in Seattle with our favorite daughter Annie who has sent us airline tickets that cover our birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and our anniversary. We'll geocache, dine out, enjoy a Mariners game and visit Mt. Rainier while our favorite son Willie and his bride Debbie watch the farm.

Today, however, while Bill attends a meeting, I'll be joining that little brother Jim, now 41. He won't be wearing one of those outdated tuxedos. Instead, he'll be dressed up in a flight uniform with goggles and helmet. He'll be hooked up to a glider. Then, he tells me, he'll RUN off a cliff on Hall Mountain north of Bonners Ferry.

If all goes right on this June 15, 2005, he'll float through the air with the greatest of ease and will land in a farm field without crushing his knees.

Yeah, corny, I know, but the words came out that way. I'll celebrate when I meet him after his landing in the farm field. And, all day today, I'll celebrate the 68 years of marriage my brother and I have enjoyed with our wonderful spouses.