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Match-making by mail

Soapweed

Well-known member
It was Christmas 1977, and my aunt and uncle had given me a present. I opened the wrapping paper to find a nice pair of deerskin gloves. There was a little slip of paper on top of the gloves that I thought might be verification of some sewing checker. Upon further study, it turned out to be an ad from a lonely country-loving gal seeking romance, along with her Colorado address. I had a good laugh, and thanked my relatives for the gifts.

At the time I was 26 years old and still single. The thought of finding a nice wife prospect had crossed my mind, but I was still idealistic enough to want any potential mate to meet certain standards. First off, being a Christian was most important; then being a cowgirl, teetotaler, non-smoker, and a good dancer were next in line, in that order. It was difficult finding just such a gal when my main sources for looking were bars and honky-tonks where country music was being played. In those years, I was about the bar-hoppin’est teetotaler going down the road. From my experience, it isn’t possible to drink as many Cokes as your companions can drink beer, but after enough Cokes, you can go to the bathroom just as often as the beer-drinkers.

January rolled around and the weather got cold. One day I remembered the “want ad” and thought, what the heck. A letter was written describing my philosophies on life and my occupation as a cowboy. Licking and sticking on a 13-cent stamp, the letter was put in the outgoing mail.

In less than a week, an answer letter from the love-seeking Colorado country girl was in my hands. With eager anticipation, the envelope was opened. The girl seemed to be a nice young lady who grew up on a ranch, and was presently working in a beef processing plant in Brush, Colorado. I’d have maybe been more impressed though, had she written on stationary instead of merely tearing out lined paper from a spiral notebook. There were little frizzly hanging chads all along the left side of the letter pages. Though she sounded nice enough, I didn’t write a letter back. Calving was soon underway, followed closely by branding season. I was too busy to think much about girls, or at least that particular girl.

Though my main occupation was being a cowboy on our family ranch with my dad, mom, and three younger sisters, I was also employed part-time by Uncle Sam in his Army National Guard. My home unit was at Chadron, Nebraska, but in June we were scheduled for two weeks of summer camp at Fort Carson, Colorado. I had submitted my name early so I could take a POV (privately owned vehicle), instead of riding in an army truck with the convoy. Knowing that Brush was on the most direct route from Chadron to Fort Carson, I decided to write the Colorado gal to see if she was still available, proposing to meet her for dinner at noon on Saturday if she was interested. She fired a letter right back on the characteristic ruffled lined spiral notebook stationary, saying that would be fine with her. We made arrangements that I would pick her up at high noon, twelve o’clock sharp, at the packing plant where she worked.

A friend, John, was riding in my pickup with me on the trip from Chadron, Nebraska to Fort Carson, Colorado. He was well aware of my dinner plans, so when we pulled into Brush I let him out downtown. I told John to stand by a certain stoplight, and I would drive by with my dinner date so he could “check her out.” It was with fear, trepidation, and anticipation that I pulled up in front of the packing plant. It seemed that all of the other employees were in on the dinner plans of this young lady. They made sure that no one else was parked out front, so that I could have the premier parking spot. I casually dismounted from my pickup, and sauntered into the office. Taking my hat off, I tried to look both nonchalant and bold as I inquired about the young lady. She emerged from a back room, wearing a nice dress looking pretty spiffy, and I introduced myself. It was amazing how all the workers had urgent business in that office, checking me out as they went about their work.

I opened the passenger door, and tried to act like a gentleman as the lady climbed in the pickup. I shut the door, went around to the other side, and we drove down the street. As we pulled up to the stoplight, I waved to John and laughingly told the gal that he was checking her out just as her friends had done with me. She knew the town, so I told her to pick where we would have dinner. She recommended the Old Fort Restaurant a few miles outside of town. This gave us more driving time so we could get acquainted. We had a nice dinner and a pleasant visit. She said she had received 43 inquiries from her ad in Capper’s Weekly, including one farmer from Iowa who didn’t have time to come to meet her but would send money so she could travel to Iowa to visit him. Our time together was short, as I had to hurry so John and I could arrive at Fort Carson at the same time as the National Guard convoy. As we drove back to the beef plant, I leveled with her that this was done pretty much as a lark on my part. As I wasn’t a real serious contender, it was my recommendation that she sift through the other 42 prospects and pick out one of them instead. We said our good-byes, and parted ways. I found my friend on the streets of Brush, and we journeyed on to Fort Carson.

Incidentally, later that summer I started dating John’s younger sister. She and I got married in late June of 1979, and you all know her as “Peach.” She fit my ideals to a T. When Peach and I returned from our honeymoon in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and Glacier Park in northern Montana, there was a letter waiting from the girl in Brush. By this time it took a 15-cent stamp to write back that I was no longer available.
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Good story, Soap. You have a great writing style. And, I really liked
the ending...Congratulations to you and Peach. You two are an inspiration.
 

HighDesert

Well-known member
Nice story Soapweed. I sorta stole my wife from a guy that I knew 26 years ago. He still will not speak to me but, I think I came out on the good side of the deal. In my defence, she didn't like him near as much as he thought he loved her.
 

balestabber

Well-known member
great story soap, i'm not real handy with a camera and pics sometimes seem to dig up old bones.i,m not real handy with a pen but i sure do enjoy a good story or a testimony with a happy ending.------------
i married my bride in 1975,,she was 15 yrs old and i was 17. a no smoking sign in my hot rod and had only a beer or two.green as a redneck could be.seemed to be a good marriage for a few years then we lost our first born.things seemed to go downhill after that and she run off with a sandhills drifter.i begin to like good whiskey and would go to the water hole emotionally hurt and wake up next morn physically hurt.i was mad at the whole world.then one day 10 yrs later,,she called. after picking out a head stone and a long visit we reconciled.dont know if it was the coors beer or the sandhills wind that brought her back ,but we're still together.started a family again and now have 3 pups for a write-off on my taxes. my testimony------- FWIW-------



I remember when----the whole world i was mad
today as i look back----it makes me real sad
its been awhile now----as i recall those days
when i worshipped the devil ----in so many ways
i'd work hard during the day----then i'd run at nite
i'd yell and curse----and scrap and fight
i'd smoke my pot----in a pipe or a joint
i'd snort my coke----others used a sharp point
sometimes i'd drink whiskey----sometimes i'd drink rum
sometimes i'd get rowdy----or sick or just dumb
i remember once i got drunk----and fell face in the dirt
and i knew then----i was in a world of hurt
then early one morn----while think'n of death and the end of my life
the telephone rang----it was my ex-wife
we talked about the bible----heaven and hell
i swallowed my pride----and told her i was well
but i knew as sure----as my name was rick
that i was dieing of hurt----and feel'n real sick
she said before she hung up----for me she would pray
and i went on----as if there was no other way
a few days later----about day three
i knew it was true----God had spoken to me
i could feel His spirit----deep within
He said ,rick,i can save you ----from all this sin
i knew right then----there would be a change
some old friends still think----i'm a little bit strange
but i'm very happy ----with my new life
i'm happily married with my 3 kids----and ex-wife





written by richard
1999
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Very touching Richard. I'm happy you and she got it put back
together. The best things we can give our kids is a two-parent
household with God in it.

thanks.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Kind of makes me think of the time I got arrested for speeding. I was sailing down the road passed this trooper runnin radar.

He came out behind me and I never slowed down. Well they finally set up a road block and stopped me. Old boy came stompin up to the car asked me if I DID NOT SEE THE FLASHING LIGHTS AND if I DID WHY did I refuse to stop.

I told him very politely that my first wife ran off with a state trooper and I thought it might be him bringing her back! You know he went ahead and wrote that ticket never smiled or nothing just turned around walked off. Truth be known he was the one that got her.


By the way soap great post and congratulations on gettin a good one.

I was raised in the north went south and married stayed down there a few years and picked up that Tennessee twang. People up here in the north want to know how long I been up here.

I tell them most my life and if its because of the hillbilly accent they are asking that the reason I HAVE IT IS i went south and married AND she talks like this also. Some smile some walk off when I tell them I cant get rid of the accent or the wife of 42 years either. :oops:

Keep thinking there might by chance be another stupid state trooper out there somewhere!

:lol:
 

balestabber

Well-known member
i've heard the trooper joke before,probably from the same evanjalist,but my testimony is real and from the heart.the heifer made it back home and the drifter is still south of Valentine,any more problems and the sandhills will have another steer.like ranching, theres still the old and new
and i'm not as green as my younger days.nuff said, i'm put'n my tounge to the pump handle :D
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
balestabber said:
i've heard the trooper joke before,probably from the same evanjalist,but my testimony is real and from the heart.the heifer made it back home and the drifter is still south of Valentine,any more problems and the sandhills will have another steer.like ranching, theres still the old and new
and i'm not as green as my younger days.nuff said, i'm put'n my tounge to the pump handle :D

Balestabber I did not untill now read your post. I truly hope that you did not think my post was based on yours. Nothing could be further from the truth and if you did think that I am sorry again untill right now I had not read your post.

I saw Soaps and went and posted just now visiting back an I FOR SURE WAS NOT CUTTING ON YOUR POST OR REFERENCING IT IN ANYWAY.

Take care and may GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU AND YOURS.
:wink:

I sure wish I HAD NOT PASSED OVER EVERYONES ELSE POST AND IT WOULD NOT HAVE LOOKED LIKE i was taking a shot at you. :oops:
:oops: :oops:

Again if you thought I was referencing you I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE BECAUSE I TRULY TRULY WAS NOT!
 

chrisy

Well-known member
Nice story soap, hope that young lady had a good as story as yours, in the end suppose we will never know.
Been married twice myself second one still married to after 24 years a keeper I think. first one went to pieces after the loss of our first baby, second one didn't pull us together, he hit the bottle and I couldn't deal with a drunk, and new born, sad but still a long time ago now.
 
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