Saturday, August 27, 1966

August 27, 1966

It was Saturday, under the sign of Virgo.  The US president was Lyndon B. Johnson (Democratic).  In that special week of August people in US were listening to "Summer in the City" by The Lovin' Spoonful.  In UK "With a Girl Like You" by Troggs was in the top 5 hits.  "Alfie", directed by Lewis Gilbert, was one of the most viewed movies released in 1966 while "Valley of the Dolls" by Jacqueline Susann was one of the best selling books.

Are you old enough to remember any of those events?

August 27, 1966 was also the day that Edward (Ted) Allen and Judy Theal became husband and wife.  That's right – 50 years ago I became a wife.  (Well, actually it is tomorrow but I don't think I will have much writing time on Saturday.)

We were married at HMCS Stadacona in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  It was a small wedding – our best man and bridesmaid and the best man's wife were present and of course the chaplain who did our ceremony.  I don't remember much about what he said but I remember I had an almost uncontrollable urge to giggle which I suppose was nerves.  Marriage is a big step!  Ted was 19 (he turned 20 in October) and I was 21. He still likes to say that I robbed the cradle.

Leaving on our overnight honeymoon. 

We were poor.  We scraped together enough to go away for one night.  Sunday, if I remember correctly, we went to Shubenacadie Wildlife Park and then moved into the room we would share for about 10 days until Hubby went to sea.  There was a girl from Prince Edward Island living across the hall from us.  She gave me a jar of homemade cherry jam after she had been home for the weekend. We had to go downstairs to the next level to use the shared bathroom.


I 'think' the first meal I cooked for us was pork chops. We had corn we had purchased at a roadside stand when we were in Shubenacadie. I don't remember any of the other meals I prepared before he left on his 2-month cruise.  (Of course a navy cruise is much different from the cruises we take now.)

Last Sunday our kids had a family gathering at our son's home.  Ted's 80-year old sister filled us in with lots of family stories from their growing-up years.  I was wishing I had a tape recorder because my memory isn't what it once was. 

They made arrangements for us to go away for two nights.  We are not going far – all the way to Kingsville.   (I don't enjoy long drives anymore.  We had talked about going to Niagara Falls but I am quite happy to travel the 10 miles to Kingsville.   We will have two nights at a cottage by the lake.  The weather is supposed to be nice so I plan to sit by the lake and read. 

(This is the picture we submitted to our hometown weekly newspaper.)

Edward (Ted) and Judy Allen were married August 27, 1966 at HMCS Stadacona, Halifax, Nova Scotia. They are blessed with three children and five grandchildren. They are celebrating their golden anniversary with family. 

And this is a picture of the five of us.  Our granddaughter took it last Sunday when we were all together.

Fifty years - where did the time go??