1973: A Most Excellent Year

A number of significant events took place in 1973, the year I began my junior year in college. The infamous Roe v. Wade decision came down from the Supreme Court; President Richard Nixon announced the cessation of offensive action in Viet Nam, which was quickly followed by the first release of American POWs and the complete withdrawal of American soldiers; Watergate became a household name; the Arab Oil Embargo was our first introduction to gasoline price shocks and long lines at the pump; legislation was approved authorizing the construction of the Trans-Alaskan pipeline.

The big movies of the year were The Sting, American Graffiti and The Exorcist (which continues to this day to be #1 on my list of scariest movies of all time). Elton John, Led Zep and the Stones released new albums, as did The Carpenters, Frank Sinatra and Elvis.

But the only memory that really stays with me, the one I still cherish and replay in my mind, is the warm July evening, 32 years ago on this date, when I stood wearing a tux — and not well, I might add — for the first time in my life, and was awarded the unfathomable privilege of claiming a lovely and loving girl (she wasn’t quite 21) as my mate-for-life. Why I was selected by God to receive such a wonderful blessing is still a mystery to me to this day, but not one that I examine too closely.

She continues to be my best friend and the best living example of a “Proverbs 31” wife I’ve ever seen.

Happy anniversary, sweetie!

23 comments

  2. Congratulations!
    I won’t tell you how old I was in ’73, but I was a mere child.
    Many blessings and prayers for another 32 years together in marital bliss.

  4. Thanks, folks!
    32 more years is a given, but it’s simply a fraction of an eyeblink of our time together. Some of it will be here on earth; most of it won’t. The former is cool; the latter is beyond cool! 😉

  9. It’s not 1973, It’s July. 39 years ago this Saturday the 16th I stood in front of the minister in my one suit and this wonderful 18 year young girl said I do. We did. We still do.
    Congrats on your life. Proverbs 31 ia weak sometimes even. I’ll bet for you too. Way to go Eric.
    G

  10. What a cool tribute to a neat couple. And to the massive patience of YLB. Do you ever, as I do, wonder how you got so blessed. Or are we just great salesmen :-]

  11. MLB, what are you doing lurking around here? You should be working to support me in the manner to which I’ve become accustomed! 😉
    Jeff, thanks to you and yours. (Did she tell you that we ran into each other a few weeks ago at lunch?)
    Gene, July 16 is also a special day, as it’s MLB’s birthday. Yep…this time of year is a double whammy! But congrats to you as well.
    And Gregg, there’s no salesman on earth good enough to pull off what we did! 😉

  12. Didn’t anyone tell you not to get married while still in college…..those romances never work out!
    Congratulations to you both…..
    In 1973 I was 23 years old. Had a undergraduate degree, had been to Infantry Officer School, Airborne School, Ranger School, to Vietnam and back and was working on my MBA. I was an overachiever back then. I’ve made up for all that zeal since.

  13. I was an overachiever back then. I’ve made up for all that zeal since.
    I’d have to say that you backslid significantly into overachieving when you snared Julie. 😉

  14. Happy Anniversary to a precious couple! I’d love to see the pictures of the wedding.
    Did the tuxedo have large lapels? (My best Napolean Dynomite question!)

  16. Did the tuxedo have large lapels? (My best Napolean Dynomite question!)
    Julie, I think the lapels were so long that they touched in the back!
    And, speaking of Napoleon Dynamite, my best man could have actually broken a horse for us, because he (my brother) was doing that as a sideline business back then.
    But, don’t hold your breath on the photos…
    And happy birthday early (to the both of yous!!)
    Well, thanks Sherry, although you’re actually late for mine, which might explain why your usual lavish and extravagant gift hasn’t yet arrived. 😉

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