Mountain Musings with Uncle Mott: We’ve Only Just Begun

It seems like just yesterday that I hooked up with my “child bride,” but, no, it was 52 years ago on Aug. 25 that I married my college sweetheart at a fancy church wedding in Whittier. Like a lot of weddings back in the day, the first song played by the organist was one made popular by Karen and Ken Carpenter.

We’ve only just begun to live. White lace and promises, a kiss for luck and we’re on our way. We’ve only just begun. (“We’ve Only Just Begun” – The Carpenters – 1970)

I must say our marriage seems like kind of an anomaly…I mean, how many couples even bother to tie the knot these days, let alone keep it tied for 52 years? According to the latest stats, fewer than 50 percent of couples living together in the U.S. are married, and more than 50 percent of marriages end in divorce.

So, what the secret to our success? Gosh, I don’t know, maybe it was the pizza. Huynh, what’s that you say? Here’s how it all began… when Rhea-Frances showed up for a free pizza I was giving away in a contest on my college radio show, it was love at first bite…she came for the pizza and stayed for the next 52 years. Ahh, but first she had to pass the test… she had to be able to cook.

Well, she accepted the challenge and came over to my pad to cook me a dinner I would never forget: spaghetti and meatballs that we devoured by candlelight. Needless to say, she passed the test with flying colors, even though I learned later on that it was the ONLY thing she could cook.

So, after leaving the church with a string of beer cans tied to the rear bumper, we hopped a plane for our honeymoon in Acapulco, which was divine, all except for the hurricane, which held us captive in our honeymoon suite with nothing else to do. Actually, we got bored and found something to do. I’d tell you now, but it’ll have to wait…I’ll tell you when you’re older.

Before the rising sun we fly, so many roads to choose. We start out walking and we learn to run. And, yes, we’ve just begun. And when the evening comes, we smile, so much of life ahead. We’ll find a place where there’s room to grow. And, yes, we’ve just begun.

Keep it flyin’,

Uncle Mott