when my grandmother was fifteen, she was dating a boy from another town. his name was dick. he was twenty-one, and he was a marine. they were walking down the main street from the movies and she saw a boy named jack leaning against the taxis his father owned. she said hello and he nodded. as she and dick continued to walk by, she opened her mouth and out fell the words, "that's the guy i'm going to marry." dick wheeled around with his fists up, ready to beat out the competition. my grandmother protested, "he doesn't even know me!" and a smirk settled. dick wasn't sure if she was playing him or if she was serious.

she and jack have been married fifty-one years.

happy birthday, grandma.