"If they were but a week married, they would talk themselves mad." (Much Ado About Nothing)

Today is Barbara and Joel's 29th Anniversary. They were married in Temple Emanuel in East Meadow on this day in 1979. I had only known Rhoda for less than two years, yet she agreed to help make the wedding for those two lovebirds. It would be difficult for the Vlasachs, who lived in Pennsylvania to make the wedding because the "kids" wanted to marry in East Meadow. I first met Barbara in Australia during my world tour...and it was in January. She and Joel had graduated college and went to Australia to teach...for some long forgotten reason. She worked in Sydney and he in Tenterfield. My understanding was that she was terrified before meeting me, but after we met, I set her mind at ease that I wasn't Shrek, the ogre. Barbara was beautiful and engaging and I thought to myself that she was a "keeper". I don't know when they decided to marry, but Joel thought the idea was best if Barbara converted to Judaism...which eventually, she did. And so the way was cleared for the union. I don't believe that Barbara's conversion sat well with her family, but that is certainly understandable. When Barbara's late father sat in the Temple, he looked as though he felt he was in the Devil's hideaway. For in his eyes, as a Christian, the only pathway to heaven and salvation was through Jesus. But, of course, that's a religious belief, not a fact.

When Barbara and Joel were married, they were very poor. I don't believe they are poor any longer. Joel retired from the CIA after 20 years, and now is successful in private industry. Barbara has been teaching in Virginia now for many years. Gratefully, they provided me with two brilliant grandchildren, Hannah and Adam...both of whom are embarked on successful careers after college. Our relationship with Barbara and Joel is a memorable one ever since Rhoda and I spent our honeymoon with them while he was stationed in England in order to spy on the Queen. Adam was just a baby then. But our honeymoon was exciting and enjoyable, especially when we took a motor tour in their car around England. Another, not so enjoyable occasion occurred during their visit to us in Florida while Hannah was still a baby. It was while we were in a Chinese restaurant that the waiter put the pot of hot tea too near Hannah and reaching over, she spilled it on herself. We rushed her off to the hospital and Rhoda held and comforted her while waiting for the doctor in ER. Happy to say that Hannah is OK now, but that event was scary to say the least.

During the early years of their marriage, whenever we four got together, we spent many hours just talking and shooting the breeze about any topic. We got into what we later called "sessions" which meant that we kept talking right past midnight. It was quite enjoyable and we got to know each other. Barbara and I used to go out running miles and miles together. I believe she still runs. She used to call us regularly, like a good daughter-in-law should, and spent hours on the phone with Rhoda. Well, we rarely hear from her anymore, and that puzzles us because we don't remember doing anything that would alter our relationship. But now they are in that big house in Virginia; the "kids" have left the nest; and after 29 years they have to face each other again. Happy Anniversary to the loving couple. (I only gave them twelve years.)