October 18 – 19, 1969

In all the wedding excitement, Mom and Dad had a reason of their own to celebrate. It was their 28^th anniversary, and as always, their weekend was crammed with activity. Mom was planning and attending a bridal shower, painting the living room, teaching Sunday school, playing the organ in church, shopping for drapes, making airport runs, and studying music choices for our wedding.

My Aunt Joyce and Uncle Edward (Dad’s brother) had come to town on their way from Washington DC back to California, and Nate and I had dearly hoped to join in on the fun. It was always a special treat to spend time with my aunt, my mentor, and yet things were happening in Champaign, too.

Nate was bearing down on his law studies with mid-terms on the horizon and was also hunting for a part time job.

As Mom and Dad’s anniversary came closer, I realized I hadn’t planned ahead for a gift or good wishes and decided to send a telegram – the only way to get a message to them quickly, apart from a phone call. I thought a telegram might make a bit of a splash…. and knew it would get there on time.

In the end, it was a good thing we stayed in Champaign. Our newspaper ad for the Corvette was getting a lively response, and the first young man who came to see and drive it, ended up buying it. Nate stood nearby as this guy and his buddy spent 2 hours inspecting every inch of the car. They even pulled the front end up onto a curb and squeezed themselves beneath it, conversing under there about what they were seeing.

Finally, well after dark, they began negotiating with Nate. He told them multiple parties had called in response to the ad, and by the time he climbed the stairs back to our apartment, he had the cash-in-hand – our full asking price.

Though it was sad to watch our beautiful car pull away with two strangers in its red bucket seats, having made the sale brought us one step closer to a practical replacement vehicle.

As the weekend closed, Mom sat down and wrote us to say thanks for the telegram and to report on their anniversary festivities. At the end of the letter she showed her love for Nate in an unusual way.

She surmised we were having fun together in Champaign but decided to caution me about overdoing it. She wrote, “Keep in mind, little girl, that Nathan must study. No time for frivolities until the Christmas break.”

Little did she know that he was the one initiating most of those frivolities.

“There is a time to laugh… and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:4)