Class Get-together

After leaving the square dance weekend in Paris, we journeyed, on the bike (of course), to Plano for a class get-together. My class has reallly been great about having regular get-togethers, along with our class re-unions. We spent a great afternoon, eating, amd reminiscing with many friends. It was great, introducing Decah to everyone! She not only fits in, but she always manages, to steal the attention of everyone! I must admit, many of my buddies were surprised of our marriage!

Darryl's Birthday Cake

While in Dallas, Decah surprised me with a birthday cake, she baked! She made me a coconut cake, my favorite! It was delicious, and I enjoyed every bite of it! All who knows Decah, knows she hates coconut, so that made t even more special! I must say, it was one of the benefts of married life! Oh did I mention, she's a great cook! She has really spoiled me!

How it ALL began!

We've been having some great times!
We were really pleased with the wedding! We weren't sure everything would fall into place, but I guess it was in the cards, to happen. Decah's house in Dallas sold very quickly.
We were expecting the worse, with the market, as such. A bachelor really fell for it and, obviously, really wanted it! He kept making offers, and finally Decah had her agent tell him,
here's her price, and basically, take it, or leave it. We didn't expect him to take it, but he did.
The next hurrdle, was to get her moved. She wasn't ready to relocate to the Valley, since she had several things, in Dallas to take care of. Her youngest daughter was getting married, her best friend, also getting married, and Decah was to be maid of honor. She had to give her notice at work, and a couple of doctor's appointments that needed to be taken care of.
She decided to take a small apartment, by her work.
On moving day, I asked her who she had lined up to help us move her, and she started telling me all her family members, and friends, who had volunteered.
As it turned out, her sister and mom came over to help pack boxes but we needed help with loading the heavy stuff. Decah called and got one of her brothers in law to come help for awhile, but more help was needed. Others that had volunteered had excuses, or just never showed up! I made a few calls, and between my son, and cousin, and a few biker buddies, we had a crew, who really got the job done! This was on Saturday. We got what few things she was taking to the apartment, and got her moved in.
On Sunday, thanks to our biker buddies, we loaded the rest of her belongings in a moving truck, and I left Monday morning, for the Valley.
I called a few friends in the Valley, Ray, Marvin, and Gary, where they met me at home, and we got everything unloaded, that night.
I told Decah to never let anyone say anything, negative, about bikers! We know who our friends are!
Decah got her daughter, and best friend married, so we could start concentrating on us. To her credit, she did not want our marriage to detract from her daughter's wedding!
We decided it was time for us to start planning for us. Decah had planned to take vacation, so she could accompany me to Missouri, for a week I do every year, at the Lake Of The Ozarks. We thought that might be a great place to get married. There were many obstacles that we had to clear. She gave her notice at work, and they really freaked out! She agreed to stay long enough, to not only find her replacement, but also train them. This was with the stipulation, that she could take off whenever I was off on another long trip. To our surprise, they agreed!
Once we got to Missouri, we had to get the marriage license. Monday morning we went to the county courthouse, where we didn't know what to expect. That is: waiting period, and who knows what else. As it turned out, it was no problem, at all. We walked out with license, in hand, and ready to proceed. Next, we had to find a minister to marry us. I had contacted the Christian Motorcycle Association before we left for MO. and got a name of a member, who could marry us. As it turned out, we never heard back. Probably, was given the wrong e-mail address. As we were riding back from the courthouse, I spotted a church, along the way, and pointed it out to Decah. As I pointed, someone was walikng across the lawn, and thought I was waiving, and waived back. We decided to pull in, and check it out. As it turned out, it was the minister who waived back at us. We visited with him, and really liked him! He pointed out to us, that it was a sign, we were meant to marry!
We kidded everyone, that he flagged us down, knowing that we needed his help!
We had tentative plans to be married on the cruise ship, "Celebration", however, we had not been able to clear it with the captain. Normally, we always take an afternoon cruise, on Wednesdays, for the dancers attending our week. This, being the first week of the season, we weren't sure the captain had us on his schedule. We finally reached the captain, and he gave us the GO!
Everything fell into place, and we were ready to take the PLUNGE!
Every night, after the evening dance, we have an after party for the dancers. The other caller, and myself, had been kidding Decah, that since she was the NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, she was in charge of the after party entertainment. Neither of us thought she would do it, but she took it as a challenge, and to our surprise, she took command, and stole the show! She really endeared herself to the dancers! They really accepted her, as family. That night, Monday night, we invited all the dancers to share our wedding with us. They thought that was really special!
We proceeded with all of our week's regular schedule. I think that kept both of us occupied, and made the time pass, quickly.
Wednesday rolled in, and to my surprise, I had no reservations about what I was doing! I'm not so sure about Decah!
Everyone was on the ship, and we were ready. The ceremony was great! Reverend Jim was super! My long time calling friend, Bob Baier came through for us, and sang
Garth Brooks' "If Tomorrow Never Comes". Bob had been kidding Decah all week about the CRAZY songs, he could sing! One being "You Tractored The Fields Of My Heart, And Sewed The Seeds Of Love". Decah didn't quite know how to take Bob! I told her, "I could never prepare her for Bob"!
That night, after our evening dance, the lodge had a terrific reception for us.
We finished our week at the lake, and headed for Kansas City, for a Friday night dance. Again, Decah was the belle of the ball!
We rode to Aurora, MO on Saturady, for a dance, where you guessed it, she stole the show, again!
I must admit, we make a terrific team!
We returned to Ft Worth, Sunday, so Decah could return to work for a week. We're off to Maggie Valley, North Carolina on Friday, for another week of calling.
We're riding the bike, as usual. We've been very fortunate, in that we haven't had any bad weather to negotiate!
I hope by now, you haven't fallen asleep! Writing this has been an adventure for me!
We are really blessed to have so many great friends! We can't begin to tell you all, how special, all of you are to us!
Darryl & Decah

The Harley Cake!

As most of you know we are avid Harley riders, so in keeping with this thought, this is a cake that we had at one of our celebration parties.

D & D exchanging vows

On June 4th we exchanged vows while aboard the cruise ship Celebration, on Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. On this day we began our new adventure as husband and wife through life. The ceremony took place on the lake in the area referred to as the "Bridal Cove".

The day began as a cloudy, rainy day, but as the time approached for the ceremony, the clouds parted and the sun began to shine down upon us!
The humor of Jim Snyder the local minister, and the many square dance friends that were able to attend, really added a special touch to the ceremony.

This is the lily farm we visited in Maggie Valley where the lillies are planted on the side of a hill. You can actually pick out the lillies you want and take them with you or have them shipped. They remind me of the lillies I had at my home in Mesquite. I love lillies they are so easy to grow and are really beautiful!

Visit to Wheels Through Time Museum

This is one of the many bikes at the museum. This bike has a side car. There were a lot of really cool old bikes there. The museum is moving to Arizona in 2009 and is really worth visiting if you are ever in the area.

Here is another bike that was in the museum we visited this summer in Maggie Valley, NC. The bike is named 'Big' and was on a show on the learning channel.