20 yrs. ago, my wife made me a happy man.EDIT added below re. a link.

[John Schmidt]

It's the second time around for both of us, no need for the dirty details of priors except to say; after over 30 yrs. for both of us, we weren't the ones that strayed. We dated for over four years, many of the younger set were surprised that we didn't live together....but we didn't. She had her home, I had mine. About 4 miles apart and if the traffic was light I could make it door to door in about 12 minutes. Going home always took longer. We had been planning a trip of flying into Kalispell, MT to visit Glacier Nat'l. park, then on up into Canada, going north on the east side of the Rockies and south back to Kalispell on the west side. One evening I quietly suggested this would make a great honeymoon, to which she promptly dropped all the brochures in her hand. When questioned if that was a proposal, I was required to make it official and in a proper manner. We still laugh about it.

We entered the Park from the west, spent two days traveling and burning up film, and arrived in the town of East Glacier Park on July 3rd, staying at the Glacier Park Lodge(believe that's the name)EDIT: It is the right name and I'm adding this link http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g45152-d276472-Reviews-Glacier_Park_Lodge-East_Glacier_Park_Montana.html#LIGHTBOXVIEW. On July 4, we went back into the Park and found a beautiful spot called Indian Falls and decided that's where we wanted the service performed. My wife-to-be had previously contacted the hotel, asking if they had anyone on staff to marry us...which they didn't. But were told since this was Blackfoot country, the Tribal Judges actually had the power to do it, so the arrangements were made before we ever left Florida and one of the judges happened to be a lady which is the one we chose. Early on July 5th, we jumped in the car and drove to the county seat, Cut Bank, bought the license and had a good chuckle over their office set up. Seems one gal, an older lady, was a jack of all trades. The phone would ring and she'd answer "County License office." Then, for example, if you wanted a local occupational license she would transfer the call and hang up, then walk into that office and answer; "occupational license." Same woman, different hats.

On the way back to the hotel, it dawned on me my new bride-to-be didn't have a bouquet and that just wasn't right. There were no flower shops in the town, but once we got back into the mountains I spotted a huge mountain meadow filled with hundreds of different wild flowers. I stopped the car, pulled out my trusty pocket knife and proceeded to create a wedding bouquet that was second-to-none. Upon returning to the car I was met with my honey in full blown, red-eyed, snotty nose blowing, tears. Oh good grief, now I've done it so I asked what's wrong; "nothing, it's just beautiful."

Later that evening(was still bright daylight at 8:00pm) we were married in front of a waterfall in Glacier Nat'l. Park. The service was conducted by a Blackfoot Tribal Judge, using the Blackfoot ceremony, with her husband and daughter as witnesses. It wasn't a religious ceremony, but it was very sincere and spiritual. A strange coincidence happened as I was trying to set up the tripod with the camcorder which I was planning to operate with the remote. I just couldn't get it set up to take us all in, when we heard voices from up nearer the falls. Here comes a guy and his wife about our age with all kinds of camera equipment hanging off his shoulders and bags of stuff for making shots. They were surprised to see us and I asked if he knew how to operated my camcorder. A dumb question, he was on photo shoot assignment for Nat'l. Geographic. He grabbed the camcorder, dropped to one knee and in seconds he was ready for action.

The next day we headed north into Canada, the first couple nights were spent at the Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton Park. Click on some of the pictures, they're beautiful.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g184841-d185683-Reviews-Prince_of_Wales_Hotel-Waterton_Lakes_National_Park_Alberta.html#LIGHTBOXVIEW

Then we headed north to Banff and stayed in the Banff Fairmont hotel which looks like a huge castle. Golfing is interesting there due to the Elk.
http://www.fairmont.com/banff-springs/?cmpid=google_bsh_search-generic-topus_hotel-e-revsh&gclid=CJrG_9qwrr8CFcvm7Aod6CsA2A

From there we headed to Lake Louise, another beautiful spot where we spent a couple days exploring.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g154912-d186815-Reviews-Fairmont_Chateau_Lake_Louise-Lake_Louise_Banff_National_Park_Alberta.html

Next, we headed north toward Jasper, stopping at various glaciers along the way, took a ride out on one which was mind boggling. The scenery going north on the east side of the Rockies and back south on the west side was absolutely the most beautiful I've ever seen and I went through a bunch of film during that part of the trip. At Jasper, more exploring and hiking, then had to leave and head back south, crossing over to the west side of the Rockies through the Yoho Nat'l. Park, and back toward Kalispell.

Upon our arrival home, we were met with a dripping sound in the middle of the night. Result....we had to have the entire house replumbed to the tune of nearly $3k. Lovely....here's your wedding present, you need new plumbing. Later we found out all the homes in our 'hood had the same trouble.

So here we are 20 yrs. later, through all the ups & downs both financially and physically. I've had open heart surgery twice, my wife has been suffering through Parkinson's Disease and a form of slow moving blood cancer for the last 14 yrs. Due to her constant tremors, she seldom spends the night with me, but there are nights when she becomes terrified if it's real bad. Those nights she'll come in with me, I wrap her in my arms and only then will she relax and fall asleep. Today, she's very frail, no strength to do much more than walk to the mailbox...on a good day. She's a mere shadow physically of the woman of 20 yrs. ago, but to me is still beautiful....and still has a sense of humor. She claims her Parkinsons comes in handy at times because she'll offer guests a martini....but only if you want it shaken, not stirred.  

If I bored you with my personal history, I offer no apology. I just started reminiscing & typing. This is the result, thanks for your tolerance.

[wav6940]

no need to apologize. great story.after 34 years of marriage I like to hear these kind of stories.

[sheets]

A wonderful read!   

[HayHauler]

Nice story John.  Thanks for sharing it with us. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[R J]

John, those were some sweet places you staid in on your honeymoon.   Castles and all.     

Plumbing issue was probably just a wake up call to things happening later, but it is a wonderful write-up.

Happy Anniversary Brother.

[flsix]

John thanks for reminiscing. It's a good story.

[Pappy!]

Great story John and super photos as well.
Question.....is this the reason you went with the theme on your bike?

[John Schmidt]

Great story John and super photos as well.
Question.....is this the reason you went with the theme on your bike?

No, Rita is part Cherokee, hence the Native American motif in the paintings on the bike.

[musclehead]

congrats! 

[Super Santa]

Thanks for sharing and Happy Anniversary.

[HayHauler]

P.S.  BJ and I have 20 years under our belt also.  Takes a special bond to make it. 
Congrats again. 

Hay
Jimmyt

[cookiedough]

congrats and happy Anniversary as well.  Just goes to show you that you don't need all the fancy affairs of a formal wedding to live happily ever after.

We married with just immediate family members present but rented a mansion wing with the local judge marrying us.  Our honeymoon I borrowed my dad's fishing boat and went camping/fishing the next few days.  

My family is huge but wife's is very small no one close by would attend so we figured it would look odd inviting about 50-100 on my side and 4-5 is all on the wife's side of the family.  No sense in blowing 1,000's even if it would be our folks money on a wedding for just one day.  

[Popeye]

Congrats. Nice read.

[Ken Tarver]

beautiful story John, you are blessed sir.

next thursday is #44 for for my bride and I.


Ken

[wiggydotcom]

Congrats, John...that was right out of a storybook! It was a wonderful read and the pictures were beautiful!

[eric in md]

   great story .. love your reads.. congrats

[8Track]

That was beautiful story John. No need to apologise for sharing it. Congratulations on 20 years.

[sixlow]

Congratulations John,      very touching story, my screen even got a little blurry there for a minute.

[Punisher]

John, you are quite the storyteller, I could see it all in my mind.   Thanks for sharing that with us.

I read this to Jackie and she is sitting here ballin' her eyes out.  

You have a way of storytelling that expresses the feelings you felt in those moments and we all feel it with you.

I am very grateful to have met and talked with you at length during IZXIV.

Good on you and your lady, soul mates.

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for sharing John. 

[blotar]

Great Story! I was truely moved! I am very happy for you.
Blotar

[John Schmidt]

I've added a link to the Glacier Park Lodge, take the time to look through the pictures. Those beams and uprights that look like tree trunks; they actually are. Many years ago, a railroad built that lodge and a few others in the NW so their employees would have a place to stay after a tour of duty. I don't recall the name of the RR company but was one of the big ones. The small bldg. you see in one of the pictures is a RR station directly across the highway from the lodge. When we were there, the grounds in front were covered in a huge flower garden.

Which brings me to another of Rita's escapades in Banff. At the end of the main street is a regional Canadian gov't. office, don't recall what branch just now. I was surprised to find out the grounds were kept up by members of the Canadian military, and a beautiful job they did. Flower gardens galore and dozens of Rita's favorite flowered bush....lilacs. After I finished taking some photos I started looking for her, found her with her face buried in the lilacs. We then got back in the car and headed for the hotel, but I kept smelling a strong odor of lilacs and finally commented she must have rubbed some on her clothes. Well...not quite!  She lifted her blouse and underneath her clothes was a large branch she had broken off and stuffed under there so she could take it back to the hotel. Good thing I didn't see it before we left.  

[T-Bird]

Thank you John for a very uplifting love story

[Oss]

What a wonderful story

We hope there are many more pages left to be written for you and your bride

Someday we hope to travel those roads and see those sights

[Flrider]

John
No apologies needed.
Thanks for sharing that part of your life with us, what a wonderful story.

[larue]

Both very touching  and moving story
happy anniversary John

[MacDragon]

John, great story about the beginnings of your life with the new Mrs.  Very touching and real.  Congrats to both of you.

[DDT (12)]

John,

Remarkable story! But, it is more than just a good read... It also amplifies and highlights the qualities of the man behind the story. Among the many things about you that I admire is your ability to stand tall when adversity smacks you full in the face. Your journey of life has taken you far and over some pretty rough stretches, but nothing, it seems, has caused you to become calloused and cynical to the point you've missed any of the wonderful parts of the trip... Well done!!!

DDT

[solo1]

John, I just read your story.................wonderful.  I know why you wrote it and posted it here but I won't go into that.   

I lost my dear wife to COPD after only 46 years of marriage. I was a caregiver for her for only three years. Before that we had some good times and even during, we had some memorable times.

Memories are wonderful things. They keep giving and nothing can take them away (well, almost nothing).
A written record like yours, helps refresh those moments to be cherished.

Someday ,maybe I'll do the same here.

Thanks again John for a wonderful story.

Wayne, solo1

[YoungPUP]

Thanks for sharing a piece of Your history.    Congrats on the anniversary!  I wish you many many more.

[Charlie McCready]

Good story John. I knew it would be when I started reading it. I'm proud to call you friend and wish you and Rita a very Happy Anniversary !!!