Wedding Day July 16, 1983. The day started like any other except is was raining which was very unusual for a hot July day in Kansas and I was as nervous as a cat. Half excitement to be marrying my best friend, a person whom I could be just me with, half nervous to be standing in front of everyone. You see even though I was a cheerleader and class President I absolutely hated being the center of attention. (I loved being in charge, and still do ?) Luckily I will be marrying a man who loves the spot light who is willing to stand in it until I become comfortable. I asked Ronda Tole to ride to the church with me. We stopped through the drive through at McDonald’s in El Dorado for lunch as the wedding was early afternoon. We arrived at the church the same time as the florist and I could smell the aroma of the yellow roses that would be in every bouquet and flower arrangement. Heading downstairs to begin bridal prep my mom arrived all excited and ready for the day. I turned the electric rollers on and unpacked my wedding dress, shoes, undergarments and make up. As I began to curl my hair I could hear that other wedding participants were beginning to arrive, listening carefully to hear John’s laugh in hopes that he too was in and not going to leave me at the alter.
Wedding complete , cake and punch were served and final photos were taken. As John and I ran to his car our friends and family cheered and threw bird seed at us, wishing us luck and good fortune. Sitting in the passenger seat with a large smile and a grateful heart John and I headed to my childhood home in Towanda to change for our honeymoon.
Now change to my mom Pat, as John and I were headed to Towanda Mom was beginning to clean up the church when it struck her that she had locked the front door of our house. Now this was something that I don’t know ever happened in the 20 some years of living with her. Our home was only locked at night when we were all in bed fast asleep. I never had a key and didn’t know if one ever even existed. Well, mom had read somewhere that burglars read the Obituaries and Wedding announcements making note on their burglar calendars of the days and address’ where homes would sure to be vacant. Who knew? My mom did and she was no ones fool, not even a burglar’s. So before she left for the church she locked the house up tight. Now cleaning up and thinking of John and I heading to the house to go on our honeymoon she remembers her safety precautions and jumps into the air as she shouts to my father, “get the car keys and meet her at the car! I forgot to give Jayme the keys to the house!”
Back to John and I heading to the house to change and begin our life together. We were so excited and planned to run into the house change quickly and leave before anyone gets home. We were ready for our trip and were done chit chatting with others. We pull into the drive way, John opens my car door still wearing his Silver Tailed Tuxedo to help me out as I was wearing my wedding dress vale and all. As John opened the screen door I reached for the front door, turning the knob, well, it didn’t turn, trying again wondering “Huh” John tries to open the door and exclaims “its locked!” Me, “What? Mom NEVER locks the door.” Thinking how are we going to make our great escape to our honeymoon if we can’t get inside to gather my suitcase and change my clothes? We stepped down off of the porch John went around the house to see if the sliding door was unlocked. No such luck it was locked tighter than a tank. That is when I looked up at the window to the kitchen which was in the front of the house, I noticed that mom forgot to lock the window. “John if you could lift me up I can take the screen off the window and slide into the kitchen.” Now the Window was a good six, seven foot off the ground so in order to accomplish this he had to lift me up over his head. Lifting me in my dress was another issue as it was full and had many layers, just trying to find me in it was a challenge. John bends down and lifts me up, not able to see anything except my many layers of dress in his face, I direct him and take the screen off. Lowering me to the ground I notice that the same car that drove by as he was going to lift me drive by again very slowly looking at us as we were standing out front of the house. Now holding the screen to the kitchen window I smile as they drive past. I then looked and John and said, “lift me up, I can fit through that window and on the other side is the kitchen table I will slide right on top of it.” As John lifts me up I am halfway into the window with John’s hand on my back end pushing me through I can hear a car pulling into the driveway, not able to see who it was as I was looking at the kitchen table at this time. I hear my dad shout “Oh no, you married her, you are keeping her!” At that time I slipped through the window landing half on the table and half on the dinning seat. When I am able to look up there stands Mom, Dad and John in the kitchen looking at me. Laughing hysterically we realize that we are not going to make our quick “get away” but we just made a wonderful memory.
Comment below is from John:
Our Wedding Day Break-In
As we pulled up to the house, the objective was a quick getaway. A quick change of clothes, grab a bag, head to the car wash, and off to start our life together.
I’m guessing I was being the gentleman and opening the door first. A locked front door is not an unknown event, but by Jayme’s reaction, I could tell this was not normal on Mechanic Street in Towanda, and quickly learned that not only did she not have one, she couldn’t remember ever seeing a house key.
In 104 degree heat and wearing a tux, I head back to the back door. No luck. Jayme’s idea to try the window above the dining table seemed logical. (I would have said it was the window over the sink, but she had the better view, so I’ll trust her memory.)
Now I just have to prove how big a man I am and gracefully lift my petite wife, in her wedding dress, over my head. She quickly opens the window and slides in. I have none of the memories of cars driving by or even her folks pulling up. I was covered in taffeta and focused on the task at hand.
Her dad’s “Oh no you don’t, you married her, you have to keep her” comment is priceless and lives on. It illustrated one of the things I love about Jayme’s family – a really quick wit. It ranks up there with some of his classics.
The day was terrific – my family, JJ’s family, college friends, high school friends, Mark Gillihan my best man – my best friend from our pre-K years when he moved, and we’ve kept in touch ever since. A beautiful bride, a great day, a great start to a great marriage.
