Grandma and Grandpa

This past July, my grandparents celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. WOW! That is a truly amazing feat in a day when some people have more marriages than I have shoes. Let's hope Grandpa doesn't do anything crazy and they end up divorced before their 60th anniversary! Heehee...knowing Grandpa, I seriously doubt that would happen.

Eddie Mutschlechner and Rita Henderson had a quite unorthodox engagement. Honestly, I don't think there ever was an engagement period, unless you count the 30 minutes from the time he asked her to marry him until the time they walked in the Justice of the Peace office. They had only been dating 18 days (yes, my darling children...don't ever think we will allow a repeat of this when you are older!) and I guess the feelings were all there so they got married. There wasn't a wedding reception, or a walk down the aisle for that matter. It was very simple and sweet. Typically, when two people are married, they begin their new life together that evening. However, for 15 year old Rita (yes, young, but smart!), she went back home to her parents and 21 year old Eddie went back to his home. The next day, each of them told their parents and siblings and as luck would have it, no family fights were fought, or parent's disowning a child, not a thing. Hearing from Grandma what happened back in the summer of 1949 is truly a family history moment.

Rita Henderson, now Rita Mutschlechner, moved in with Eddie. She learned to spell her new last name and how to be a wife. Mind you...she was still in high school. She finished school (and later attended college), and Eddie finished getting his degree at the university. Within a few years, Jack Edwin came along as their first born. Next was Dennis Lyall (my dad), and finally Wesley Clay who has never gone by his first name. As the boys got older, Eddie started a business out of his home and as it flourished, he moved his offices into a "shop" in town. Things went well and family life went on.

The first grandchild (this is where I come in!) was born in 1973. Years later, more came along and the family grew. As grandchildren started to marry, great-grandchildren were being born and the Mutschlechner family that was started by two people, became over 2 dozen individuals.

Growing up with my grandparents was a special experience. We had family meals on Sundays after church, Christmas was always a big event, and love was always abundant in the house. I have never seen two people more supportive and loving of one another as I see in my grandparents. They are both warm and caring people who take pride in their family. They endured tradegy with the car accident that took their middle child, Dennis, from them, which left my mother a young widow and pregnant with me. But they also saw hope and love in the lives of those still here and they show that love everyday to each of us in their family. I hope that one day Greg and I will be celebrating our 50th or 60th anniversary and we'll have a dozen or so grand kids and great-grands running around our feet. At least I have some good inspiration.

Congratulations on 59 years, and can't wait for the big 60!!