I have combined the questions: “What is the hardest thing you have ever done?”
and “What was your wedding like?” They are closely related.
For my wedding we eloped to Pauls Valley, OK.
He was 18 years old. I had been 16 years of age for two months.
After locating the Justice of the Peace in Pauls Valley, we were told we needed two witnesses. The JP office was upstairs over the fire station. Someone called downstairs and two firemen came up to be our witnesses.
We were married and drove home.
He went to his home and I went to mine.
The hardest thing I have ever done was to tell my parents that I was married.
I waited for Dad to come home for lunch so that I could tell my mother and my dad at the same time.
Mama, Dad and my two little sisters were at the table eating lunch.
It took awhile for me to work up the courage to tell them but finally I said, “I am married.”
I saw Mama turn to Dad and say, “Do you believe her?”
Dad said, “I think we have to. She’s as white as a sheet.”
I remember that very clearly.
I don’t remember anything after that. To this day I have no memory of what happened next.
I don’t remember if there was any further conversation.
I don’t remember if there were any questions asked.
I don’t even remember leaving the table.
My next memory was knowing that the family was scrounging around for furniture for my new home.
I don’t know who went apartment hunting.
I don’t know who moved the few pieces of furniture into the apartment.
I only remember being taken to the apartment; my new home.
It was a garage that had been converted into an apartment.
I didn’t return to school.
At that time, married students were not allowed to attend school.
He transferred to a nearby country school.
Sometimes I wish I could remember the parts I have blocked from my memory.
But then I remind myself, “Be careful what you wish for.”