By RAY DAY
Tribune columnist
March 14, 2008 11:23 pm
—
It will soon be the 51st anniversary of Ray and Ramona, a couple who found love in the eyes of each other and have continued to find that love is still the company of each other as they blend into one being to live as one.
Back in the days of old, a young couple in love was like a waterfall in that it continued without any stops, and, sometimes, the overflow is overwhelming. It was like having the world at your feet, not to worry about anything but the love of each other. Having places to go at any time was a big plus for two lovers, as there were plenty of ice cream shops, burger joints and movie houses to go to. Kokomo was not hurting for places to hang out without someone chasing you away.
Rock Around The Clock was one of our favorite places. You could get any sandwich or any pop and you could listen to the music that filled the air. Another place that had inside seating and sold the best food for either a meal or just a quick sandwich and drink was the HobNob. Music to your tastes was there too, and it made for a nice date on a Saturday night.
One thing I always did was to hold off of the onions. Nowadays I use as many as I can. As a matter of fact, both of us are heavy on the onions. Down on the south end there was the Lighthouse, where once again you could eat inside or stay in the car. If you went inside, you played the favorite songs and you sat across from each other looking and smiling like there was a big secret you wanted to tell. All of these spots were there for young and old lovers to just sit back and take in the feelings of contentment, and to tell your love that you will be together for a long time.
And if you wanted to spend your date downtown, there were many places to go. If it wasn’t too late, you could get a nice sandwich and coke at Kresges, and there was Mary Lou there to serve you. Mary Lou Budd is Ramona’s aunt, and she still is one great looking lady. If you are ever out at Friendship Haven, say hello to her. Hello, Mary Lou.
The ’50s was a great time of life at its fullest, and it was a time when there wasn’t a chance of any kids going wrong with drugs or holding up places, because not only were we raised right and we knew right from wrong, there were places run by responsible people where two people in love could hang out and then be home at the proper time set forth by the parents. And yes, many times the parent was still awake until that son or daughter was back safely in the home.
Yes, those were the days when love meant a lot and having places to go, and gave that love a chance to bloom and eventually blend into the flower garden of life. Respect of each other and their respective families, and the blending of that respect upon each new member through the years grew abundant, and to this day, it is still there.
Through sickness and health, richer or poorer, the love of two as one is still in the air. The raising of two daughters was part of the blending of eternal love, and still is.
So to put it all into one neat little package, here is my message to Ramona. I take Ramona to always be the love of my life, through sickness and in health, richer or poorer, in good times and in bad, in joy as well as in sorrow, to honor and respect you, to laugh and cry with you and to cherish you for as long as I live.
This I promise with God as my witness to you, my love of all these 51 years. Many times we might go without saying it, but my love for you is greater each day. I know that you feel the same, too.
Ray “Uncle Ray” Day of Kokomo is
a weekly contributor to the Kokomo Tribune. He can be reached by e-mail at uncleray@skyenet.net.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Photos
Ray Day
Tribune guest columnist