Forty 2

On this day in 1968 a man and a woman made a

promise before God to love, cherish and honor

each other.

From January 3rd 1968 forward they promised

to love each other for better or worse, for richer,

for poorer, in sickness and in health, 'till death do

they part.

Im proud to say those 2 were my parents.

They certainly had better days than others, and

some years they were richer than others and

they always took care of each other anytime the

other needed them to.

And the only way they were separated was through

death.

Sadly, my mom passed away the day before their

28th wedding anniversary. And we laid her to rest

the day after.

Today I was thinking, boy, what a wonderful day

it would have been if momma and daddy were

celebrating their 42nd wedding anniversary!

And as I day dreamed of things that could have been

on this date it got me to thinking about the

present day and how times have changed the

life span of most marriages.

People stayed married so much longer

50 years ago than they ever do now. 42 years today

is a huge achievement! Heck half that number

is amazing!

Im proud to say my parents got it right when

they united 42yrs ago.

And I should know, I was right there with

them from the beginning.

I arrived 9mos and 9 days after my daddy

kissed his bride =]

Larry Armstrong and Georgia Ann Hartzo

United in marriage January 3rd 1968

If anyone wants to comment on what they

think are the determining factors that make marriages

different 50 years ago then than they are now I would

love to read them~

Georgia On My Mind

I do not remember January 2, 1996 because it was a very cold and nasty evening with lots of freezing rain and snow. Nor because it was the day before my mom and dads 28th wedding anniversary.

I remember it because this would be the day my mom would slip out of this old world and take flight to a much better place after battling the worst case of cancer I have ever seen for a little over 2 years.

I must say the good Lord sure painted her an amazing winter landscape to look down on as she left Oklahoma headed to her new home in the sky with all the glistening ice and snow, I can only imagine how beautiful that must have been.

Its been 14 yrs now, tho it sure does not seem that long....

My mom was a very talented woman for those of you interested in knowing, when I was a child I learned early she could fix just about anything. If we had an appliance go out she would tear into it and more times than not she would have it fixed and running again in no time. Having such a talent could also quieten the most annoying toys we had.

She could draw fairly well but most of all my mom was an amazing writer, one department I did not take after her at all in, sure wish I had tho, and Im sure you are wishing I had too if you have read this far.

Momma wrote songs and poetry. One song she wrote years ago reads as if Kitty Wells herself had wrote it. I can still hear momma singing it. And I have always thought it would be nice to hear someone who sings professionally sing it.

Still to this very day I will get upset and try to find the reasons why she had to leave me at such a young age and why my girls had to grow up not knowing her. Stormi is a lot like her in many ways, looks and creative talents.

I try to tell myself maybe Im lucky I got to have the years I had with her as I know some have lost parents at a much younger age. Tho I try to comfort myself with thoughts such as that it is never enough to help me understand.

One thing is for sure, no matter their age or the amount of time we get, it is never long enough with the ones we love the most~

I will always have Georgia on my mind....

{In Memory of my mother, Georgia Ann Hartzo Armstrong}