Uncle Rich's and Aunt Karen's Story

Uncle Rich and Aunt Karen’s Story as told by Aunt Karen: I can’t remember the first time I met my husband, I probably was only 5 years old. I married the boy who lived across the street. We started dating, when I was 13. He seemed like he really liked me and he had a good sense of humor and could always make laugh. Rich was two years ahead of me in school, but we planned to get married as soon as I graduated. Those plans changed suddenly when he was drafted on April fool’s day 1968. He had already tested for each branch of the service and he decided to join the Marine Corp because they guaranteed him electronic schools if he signed for 4 years. After basic training and his basic electronic school, he came home at Christmas and we were married on December 28th 1968 in a small chapel at the foot of the mountains in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The chapel was decorated with red poinsettia plants, I wore my wedding gown and he wore his dress green uniform. He had to leave to go back for two radio repair schools and I was able to join him in San Diego, California. We went to North Carolina than he was sent to Viet Nam for one year. When he left I was 2 months pregnant with our first son. I was able to meet Rich in Hawaii for R+R and he got to meet our three month old son. After serving in Viet Nam we went to Virginia until Rich was discharged in May 1972. We moved to Ohio, had another son and 39 years later we still call Ohio home. We just celebrated our 41st anniversary and our love for each other is still strong.

I was/am a Clumsy Child!!!

The night we were banned from Ponderosa: as told by Mom. It was a Friday night Dad and I had worked all week and decided to take you girls out to dinner. I’m not sure why we choose Ponderosa I suppose it was because of the price; in hindsight it probably wasn’t the best choice with 4 small children. Ponderosa was a buffet restaurant you ordered your steak and while it cooked you went to the salad and potato bar. Well the first disaster of the evening was while at the salad bar you dropped a plate which broke and cut Megan’s foot, we shuffled you all back to the table with Megan crying and went up one at a time. Disaster number two, you were rocking back and forth in your booster chair , I caught you out of the corner of my eye and before I could tell you to stop you rocked the chair over into a fake tree, more crying I can’t remember if it was you or me. There also was a pretty nasty look from an older couple sitting next to us. We ate fast and left, Dad said that was it, no more out to dinner and we were going straight home. Being the eternal optimist that I am I convinced your dad that we should not bag the night but go on a walk in the Metro Parks. Disaster number three, we parked the car and all got out Dad warned everyone to be careful and no goofing around we walked for a very short while when you and Lindsey started skipping and again before I could say anything you wiped out. Skinned bloody knees and all, we got back in the car after not even 5 minutes and headed back home. It was such a ridiculous night Dad and I couldn’t do anything but laugh by now and tease that we were banned from Ponderosa. I have to say we never have been back since. AAHH the things memories are made of!!

These are the Moments...

I have always been the type of girl who once I figure out what I want to do I will always find a way to get. I try my hardest and put my whole heart into whatever it is I am trying to achieve. Deciding on which college to go to was no different. I came to Rexburg, Idaho for the first time when my family took my sister Donna out to college at BYU-I. I remember the university was just transitioning from a two year college to a four year college. As we were walking to get my sister’s books for her classes we walked in the middle of campus. At that moment I remember feeling as if this place and I had a history together. Strange I know. But the feeling was so strong that I could never doubt it and from that moment on I just knew that Brigham Young University- Idaho was the college that I would go to. When it came time for me to apply for colleges I knew that I only needed to apply for one and so I did. BYU-I was the only college that I turned an application into. I do not remember waiting with anxiety to hear if I had been accepted or not. I was stressed out as I always am with a huge decision, but I still always knew that I would be at this college. This is the place where I have learned so much and had so many amazing things happen that would not have happened anywhere else. Here I have witnessed divine moments. These are the moments that are shaping the rest of my life.

Blind Date

St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Church
How Grandma and Grandpa Met told by Grandma(Sally):
I worked with a girl named Sally at Halle’s department store at Westgate Mall in Rocky River. Sally was married to Bill who was good friends with a man by the name of Joe. Sally asked me if I would like to go out with a friend of Bill’s that was very nice and handsome. Bill asked Joe if he would like to go out with a sweet pretty girl Sally worked with. We both said yes and the four of us met up at a restaurant for dinner. Joe and I dated for about a year before we became engaged. Some of our favorite dates were going to the picture show (movies these days) and out to eat. We also babysat often for Joe’s sister and brother in law Ann and Nick’s son Teddy. One night when we were babysitting for Teddy Joe asked me to marry him and I said ….??? YES! Later we went together to pick out the ring. Grandpa and I were married on August 9, 1958 in St. Theodosius Russian Orthodox Church in Cleveland, Ohio. My best friend Diane Alberts and Aunt Ann were my bridesmaids and Grandpa’s cousin Walter was the best man, Uncle Don and Uncle Ray were both in the wedding party also. The wedding was very long and in Russian but very beautiful. When we were first married we lived in my mother’s house in Bay Village while she was in Florida then we bought our first house in Fairview Park. And the rest is history!