Young Adult Years

 In 1966 Johnny and I we went away to college. I went to Lon Morris, a small Methodist junior college, on a work scholarship. I could sew and that was a good thing. Johnny went to Notre Dame to study pre-Law. He was an excellent student. He even nominated me for homecoming queen. I was honored, though I had no idea how many nominations there were.

In my little college I competed for roles in the various productions. The Director of the Drama Department ran it like it was a company. If we stayed through the two years, she promised to get us into any college in the country. She selected me for private prose presentation tutoring. 

I returned home after the first year to attend the local university when I could see that I wasn’t getting the leads I was accustomed to. I enrolled in the theatre program at Lamar University and did well.

Dating

I attended the First Baptist Church again, but very seldom as I was dating Bob, my future husband. He had serious resistance to church or anything God related.  As our relationship progressed, I insisted we talk about church. “I want my children to grow up in church,” I recall saying. He replied, “That’s okay as long as you don’t overdo it like Ginger does.” Ginger was his step-sister.  I thought I could handle it.
I often thought my life would go the way my sisters’ lives had. My oldest sister married a Roman Catholic and they managed fine. My next sister married a handsome gentleman, an Air Force pilot, who went to church along with her.

Married

Bob and I married September 26, 1970 in a small Southern Baptist church. We had a reception at my brother and sister-in-law’s home. And we were off to Pensacola where he was in Officers’ Candidate School on the U.S. Navy base. Life was good.

I was impressed by the patriotism of being a part of the US Navy. The first time I drove on the base and soldiers saluted me I didn’t know what to think. I later learned it was because I was driving an officer’s car and they knew by the tag. I went there to buy groceries at the commissary and to go to the ceramic shop.

Religion

Early on Bob and I attended the church at the chapel on the grounds of the Naval Base. Afterwards Bob said, “I liked the use of the Nicene Creed, it was my mother’s favorite Bible verse.” I quickly snapped back in my know-it-all, Southern Baptist way, “That’s not a Bible verse.” I have regretted  that remark ever since. His mother had died with breast cancer a few years before. He remained silent.

The Navy had overestimated the number of men they needed and gave a large number honorable discharges. Bob accepted their offer and was able to return to work for Brown and Root. 

After we were back in Houston I recall his step-mom saying, “Baptists just seem to think they are the only ones who have it right.” She and Bob’s dad attended Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. I had great respect for her. Her words rang true.

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I raised three children as a single mother before I remarried. In 2007 I founded SMORE for Women, a nonprofit whose goal is Single Moms, Overjoyed, Rejuvenated, and Empowered. I’m also a Certified Professional Coach and my stories have been published in several Christian books and magazines. My book, Living Learning Loving is available on Amazon.  My Website.