7/19/07

Happy 21st Anniversary, PKR!!!


Today PKR and I celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary. We were married in Kellogg at the United Church of Kellogg on a beautiful summer day in the Silver Valley.

As I think back on this day it takes me back to the day PKR proposed to me. It is such a great story that I'd like to share it with you.
In December 1984, PKR and I were both students at the University of Idaho. I was in my senior year, and PKR was in one of his "super senior" years. We had been dating for about two years at this point.
I lived in the Tridelt sorority, and PKR lived in Upham Hall. He was a "hasher" at the Tridelt house, which means he helped serve the meals and worked in the kitchen at meal times. So he was a familiar face at the sorority.
A tradition at sororities when girls get "pinned" by a guy from a fraternity, or get engaged, there is a ritual called a fireside. This is when all the girls in the sorority gather in the living room in a circle and pass a candle around and their close friends read special poems and then it is revealed who is pinned or engaged.
So, on the evening of December 10, 1984 it was announced there would be a fireside. I had some ideas who it might be, and planned on going. PKR and I went over to his dorm room to do some studying, and when it came time to go, I was a little tired and wasn't sure I wanted to go back to the house. PKR convinced me to go.
As we all gathered in the living room, and passied around the candle, different girls started reading poems that sounded familiar, but it didn't really hit me what was going on.
All of a sudden, Paul comes around the big grand piano and comes and kneels down in front of me, and quotes me Shakepeare's 29th Sonnet:
When in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man's art, and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts my self almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
Then he asked me to marry him.
My response was, "Of Course."
As you looked around at the 40 or so girls sitting in the Tridelt living room, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.
It was a beautiful start to a wonderful, exciting life of committed love we have shared for 21 years.
Thank you for the last 21 years, PKR. I look forward to the next 21 or more years!!!
I Love You!!!!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey, I've heard that story somewhere before. Sometimes I think I've based on whole career on it! Happy anniversary, and thanks to you both for inspiring my love of Shakespeare!

Christy Woolum said...

Happy Anniversary! I loved reading that story again.

MarmiteToasty said...

wow, congratulations of 21 years, that in this day and age is a beautiful thing to here........ I only got to 20 LMFAO...... dam.... :)

much love to you both........

x

Carol Woolum Roberts said...

Laurie--Yes, I almost went into that, but thought maybe you could guest post some day and tell your own Sonnett 29 story.

IEG--Thanks. We had a nice dinner at Noah's Canteen, the new Silver Mountain restaurant, then off to do the show. It was a nice day.

MT--Thanks for the nice words...and we plan on making it many many more!! PKR is definately a keeper!!!

Christy Woolum said...

Congratulations Carol. I have chosen you for a Blogger Reflection Award. Check out my post tonight!

Sam said...

Oh my, happy belated!

That fence in the picture looks like the one on my grandma's backyard in Kellogg.

Carol Woolum Roberts said...

Sam, rhis fence is similar, but constructed a bit different. Our house is just around the corner from your grandma's house. She was also my ninth grade English teacher. I still remember collecting poems for a poetry section we did in her class, and I'm sure we studied Romeo and Juliet as well.