Janet W. Ferguson 
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Blog: Under the Southern Sun

Family Secrets, Anniversaries, Engagements

11/7/2016

16 Comments

 
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My parents kept a secret from their children until their fiftieth anniversary!
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I thought my three-and-a-half-week engagement after six months of dating was short…until my aunt let it slip about my parents at the fiftieth anniversary party. She said something like, “We all thought James was crazy marrying someone he barely knew.”
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Heads turned and mouths fell open. “Say what?” We needed to have the full story right away.

It was 1944 and World War II had center stage. My twenty-six year-old father was in the army and on a train when he met my mother. She was a nineteen-year-old nurse cadet. 
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The ride must have been a long one, and the chemistry strong, because they wrote letters afterward, then my father took his first leave to go visit her. He met her mother in Alabama and then took her to meet his mother in Hickory Flat, Mississippi. Then they married on that same trip! We have what we believe to be those letters, now that they’ve passed on.  

Sometimes when I’m writing fiction, I wonder if a storyline is believable or not. Pretty much every time, I’m reminded that real life is indeed stranger than fiction.



It’s fun to hear about people meeting in all kind of crazy ways, how they came together and stayed together.  
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​My parents’ short courtship, if you can really call it that, resulted in a marriage that lasted from 1944 until 2012 when they parted in death.

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My own twenty-fifth wedding anniversary is this month, and I'm so thankful!
Do you have or know of an interesting engagement story?



16 Comments
Jackie Layton link
11/8/2016 05:11:05 am

What a great story! I'm sure you treasure those love letters!

And happy 25th anniversary!

Reply
Janet Ferguson
11/8/2016 02:57:29 pm

Yes, my sister has the letters, but I made copies. It is a treasure. Thanks for the happy wishes, Jackie!

Reply
Richard Polzin
11/8/2016 06:44:22 am

Loved your parents story. WW11 resulted in many such romantic ventures. My wife's father who is 93 and lives with us, landed on the beaches of Normandy during the invasion of France. His memory is fading but his WW11 experience remains strong in his memory.

Reply
Janet Ferguson
11/8/2016 02:56:19 pm

That's so wonderful that you've heard some of his stories, Richard. I was glad I wrote some down from my father and my uncle before they passed on.

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Belinda Melson
11/8/2016 10:59:35 am

I love your parent's story of how they met. I loved them and miss them being around. Sweet memories....

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Janet Ferguson
11/8/2016 02:58:13 pm

Thanks, Belinda! They were fond of you, too!

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Lisa
11/10/2016 05:38:40 am

If I could have had a mentor at church, it would have been your mom:) A version of their love story (plus I love WW11 era stories) is definitely book worthy!!

Reply
Janet Ferguson
11/10/2016 01:49:49 pm

She loved you and all the ladies at church! Yes, maybe someday I'll write a book, Lisa!

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Missy Purvis Burney
11/10/2016 10:09:49 am

Janet, that is so sweet about your parents. Their enduring love is evident in the length of their marriage and one of the products, you, from that marriage. I'm glad that you and Bruce found each other and have had such a great marriage.

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Janet Ferguson
11/10/2016 01:51:03 pm

Thank you for the sweet word, Missy! Yes, I've been very blessed. Not all days are easy in any marriage, but we've made it so far :)

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Mitzi Still
11/10/2016 07:19:39 pm

My aunt came to visit my parents while she was in nursing school. Daddy got her a date with his boss's son. They went to Memphis with another couple. The next morning they woke my parents up when they called to say they had eloped! Daddy had to tell his boss! They had 3 children and were married about 45 years before she died!

Reply
Janet Ferguson
11/10/2016 08:30:36 pm

Wow! I think that wins the prize for sure, Mitzi! What a fun story!

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Melissa Romine
11/11/2016 12:33:15 pm

My parents were pen pals. My dad was a friend of my mom's roommate's brother. Her roommate got the girls in her dorm to write to him while he was stationed in Germany. They got married not too long after the first time they met in person. They were married for 49 years.

Reply
Janet Ferguson
11/12/2016 04:22:03 pm

Melissa,
That is so sweet! The war surely made people not take love and life for granted.
Thank you for sharing their story :)

Reply
Andrea Stephens
11/12/2016 07:27:18 am

I love this story! My story is, I was working behind the counter at Kentucky Fried Chicken, a guy kept coming in, nearly everyday. I was very friendly to all customers, but I talked to this guy more as he sat in the dining room when it wasn't busy and I was out there cleaning tables or whatever else needed done. One Wednesday after seeing and talking to this guy for nearly 6 months, he said, "do you ever get out of this place?" I said, "I'm off this Sunday." We got married 3 months later. Still together, 33 years now.

Reply
Janet Ferguson
11/12/2016 04:20:47 pm

Andrea,
I love your story!! That is so sweet! 33 years, wow!
Like I said, real life is always more amazing than fiction :)

Reply

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  • Home
  • Southern Hearts Series
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  • Blog: Under the Southern Sun
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