#33/Oconomowoc, Wisconsin December 18, 1976

After not having a cold or at least a bad one for some 15 years...last winter at the start of basketball officiating season, I came down with a douzy that lasted most of the winter off and on. Looks like I may be back in a similar situation this season. I had a cold, albeit not bad, a couple of weeks ago...after ditching that one, I was ready for the cold free season...not so fast, I've managed to acquire another weak one...but still irritating, none-the-less.

Basketball north last night...a JV Girls game, in which the "squad" had to haul one of the girls off to the ER...didn't look serious, probably a hip pointer, but still causing a delay...can't remember the final score, but the home team got beat by 21-10 or something like that...a real ugly game, with fans and coaches wanting us to call more than we were willing to do...it would have been a long evening, especially with the varsity game to follow.....some nights you just shake your head and move on.

Nothing tonight as far as Basketball, tomorrow a JH Boys game at Waynesfield...one game next week{Tuesday} then off for the Christmas Break, until JH tournament games on the 29th and a JV game on December 30th, before one final break....then a very busy January is in store.

33 Years Ago_______

Patricia Callies and I were married 33 years ago today, on a Saturday afternoon at Martin Luther Church in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin....we had a small wedding and small reception at her parents house near Lake Nashoda between Oconomowoc and Deleafield....a 1 night "Honeymoon" at the famous "Pfister Hotel" in Milwaukee, then back home to Celina. We would have a "real" honeymoon the following October to the east coast and down to the shores, both east and west coasts, of Florida. Rick Pearson was my best man, and her sister-in-law Sandy Callies was her maid of honor...Rick actually traveled with us in my buddy Rick Tester's car to Oconomowoc...Pearson and I had been in mine when it got t-boned the week before. We drove back in a snow storm...after the weekend in Wisconsin had been unseasonably warm, with temps in the 50s and 60s.

I first met Patricia when I was 24, just out of the Air Force and working as a "Janitor" at the local schools during the day, and bartending at the infamous Red Door at night....not sure as what I wanted to do with my life...I had returned to Celina that fall of 1973, and no longer wanting to work at the local Huffy Bicycle Plant, I figured to go to college, I just wasn't ready....that would take a couple more years.

Patrica had graduated from a Business College in Milwaukee{Bryant and Statton} and had moved to Celina and was rooming with a college friend of hers, and working at the Celina Insurance Group...she was just 20 at that time. Eventually she would add a BA and MA in Special/Early Childhood Education from Wright State to her Resume, and starting somewhat late in life{mid 30s} she now has over 20 years of teaching under her...er belt.

We were married 3 years to the day after we met...December 18, 1976.....

Lots of water under the bridge, good times, tough times, kids, cars, houses, several moves, several states, and towns along the way....we have survived thus far, as has our marriage...and I have no doubt we will remain together until one of us departs...we get along, and give each other space{especially her giving me space} when we need it. Neither of us are clinging vines, and that's the way we think it should be.

Tonight, after she finishes up a school meeting for something or other, we will go to a small Mexican Restaurant in town, and have a small dinner...keeping it simple and comfortable as usual.

Happy Anniversary Patricia.....

Enjoy the weekend...back later>>>>

Photos from Oconomowoc 12/18/1976