First Date

 Thursday, March 23, 1972 was our first date where we dined at Wally's Roast Beef in South Zanesville, Ohio.  We munched on roast beef sandwiches, deep fried mushrooms and milkshakes.  I was 19 and Ruth Ann was 18 years of age.

This blog isn't about our world cruise so skip it if you're not interested in how Ruth Ann and I met.

This is the view from behind my 1968 Rogers blue sparkle pearl drum set I was playing a couple weeks earlier at The Lounge on Maple Avenue in Zanesville, Ohio.  I was playing in a five piece rock-n-roll band called Crystal.  

                                                                            The Band

At that time, drum solos were popular and I was young, strong and fast on my drums.  I put my head down, closed my eyes and played my very best version of my rhythmic self for 5-10 minutes which most often resulted in a roaring round of approval from the audience.  When I finished my last flurry of moving drumsticks, I looked up and locked eyes with the most beautiful girl I had ever seen. 

He finally gave in to his friend's girlfriend
When she said, "there's someone you should meet"
At a crowded restaurant way cross town
He waited impatiently
She walked in their eyes met and they both stared
And right there and then everyone else disappeared, but

One boy, one girl, two hearts beating wildly
To put it mildly it was love at first sight
He smiled, she smiled and they knew right away
This was the day they'd waited for all their lives
For a moment the whole world revolved 
Around one boy, and one girl

A week or so later, our guitar player, Bob, introduced us.  I was told her name was Mabe not knowing Mabe was her nickname from high school.  Mabe gave me a telephone number to the Catholic nurse's dormitory where she was staying while in nursing school.  

                                                                        The dormitory

    

I didn't know there was only one telephone per floor and I figured her real name must be Mabel.  So I call the number and asked to speak to Mabel.  The young woman who answered knew of no Mabel on her floor or anywhere in the dorm.  I didn't give up easily.  I persevered until finally she said "You must mean Mabe".  Mabe agreed to a date.  I arrived at the nurse's dorm in my red 1964 Dodge 880 4 door with a push button transmission, affectionately known to my homies as The Red Sled.  I had to sign in and meet Mabe in the parlor where there were strict rules about attire and etiquette.  We had to sign out and she was required to return by 9:00 p.m.  It was the most important roast beef sandwich, mushrooms and milkshake of my life.      

                                                                        Autumn-1972

                                                                        September 22, 1973

In no time at all they were standing there
In the front of a little church
Among their friends and family
Repeating those sacred words
Preacher said, "Son, kiss your bride", and he raised her veil
Like the night they met time just stood still for

One boy, one girl, two hearts beating wildly
To put it mildly it was love at first sight
He smiled, she smiled and they knew right away
This was the day they'd waited for all their lives
For a moment the whole world revolved 
Around one boy and one girl

One Boy, One Girl sung by Collin Raye

It is March 23 here in the Tasman Sea between New Zealand and Australia.  As I write this, the date is March 22 in Ohio.  Therefore, we'll wait until tomorrow to celebrate today.