For the last few days, I have been dredging up memories which are incomplete. By being incomplete, I mean they had no sense of being finished. One example is the day Clyde passed from this earthly home into his eternal home!

One minute we were looking forward to the day we would share and talking about what we wanted to do later; less than fifteen minutes later, we were headed to the hospital in separate vehicles. We would never speak to each other again. No more making plans! No more hugs or precious kisses! No more “I love you!” Wow! How quickly things can be changed– my world was turned upside down!

We met for the first time when I was seventeen years old! I was a senior in high school, and he was a devastatingly handsome motorcycle policeman! I met him quite by accident! I do mean an accident. I was on my way to the city library in my hometown, and I was in a car accident which he investigated. He wrote me a ticket for following too closely and causing an accident! I was angry because I had to miss a track meet and go to court.

One year later, we accidentally met again! Yes, it was another accident! This time it was not my fault, but I had to go to court again! I was really upset because I had to come home from school in Tallahassee to be in court. We always joked that he married me to keep me out of trouble!

Three weeks after our first date, Clyde proposed to me. Three months after our first date, we were married at 3:00 in the afternoon on August 3, 1963. I was his third wife, and we had three children by 1973. Three was a number which became important to us! In 1983 I graduated from college and began my career as a teacher. Three years later I received my Masters in Middle School Education and started pursuing my Education Specialist Degree.

Through all of my educational pursuits, Clyde was supportive. My dream was that “some day” we would have “time” to do the things we always planned to do in the future. Well, let me tell you: some day doesn’t always get here! My advice to every person is don’t put off until tomorrow any of the things you want to say or do because we never know when that may become an incomplete plan. We should never, never, never postpone making our loved ones feel loved and appreciated! The opportunity is here and now! Don’t be afraid of reaching out and doing what is right! Live, love, share, laugh, cry, and most of all be real and truthful!