Cupid Comes Calling - Kelly L Lee

Hey everyone! I'm honored to kick off the Cupid Comes Calling Blog Hop. The first story about meeting a "forever love" that flashed through my brain is a real-life account directly from my grandfather. One of my favorite things would be to climb up on his bed while he watched TV in his recliner in the bedroom. I'd ask him, "Big Daddy, tell me the story of how you met Big Mama."  (Yes, I really called them Big Mama and Big Daddy, and yes, I'm from the South.)

Anyway, he would grin really big, kick back in the chair, and tell me this story....

I was 18  years old working as a supervisor on the fifth floor at Swift & Co.  in 1930. I remember walking down to the other end of the building, I don't remember why, and that's when I saw her. She was standing at this big industrial sink peeling onions. Tears streamed down her face. I joked years later that she was crying when I met her, and I've been crying ever since! Anyway, I'd seen her around, and never paid that much attention but this time, there wasn't anybody else near us.

Well, I walked right up to her and said, "My name is Claude Adams. I've seen you around here, and I've been meaning to ask, would you like to go to the picture show with me some time?"
She wiped her eyes with her sleeve and cocked her head to one side, and asked me, "What  was your name again?"
I replied, '"Claude Adams."
She nodded once and politely said, "I don't think so, but thank you just the same."
I thanked her anyway, and went on my way.



A few days later, I had borrowed a friend's car, a fancy new 1929 Chrysler, and was at the local gas station. I was dressed up in the only suit I had; I was on my way to pick up a date that evening. Lucile and some of her girlfriends were in a car driving past me, and zoomed  into the same gas station, one of her friends asked, to no one in particular, "Who is that fella over there?"
I heard Lucile answer, "Why that's Claude Adams."

The next day  at work, I made my way down to where I found her peeling onions, and there she was in the same place. I asked her one more time, "Lucile, will you go out with me?"
This time, she gave me a bright smile that I'll never forget, and she said, "Yes."

Our first date was on Valentine's night 1930, and we dated pretty regular for the next 3 years. Our dates were mostly sitting in front of the nickelodeon watching people go by. Back then, most dates were chaperoned, but I remember one time we got caught kissing in the backseat of my car by her brothers. Luckily, I'd already met them once or twice, but I knew right then, I'd better make good friends with them because those boys were big! When I did finally propose, I did it at work in the same spot I first asked her to go out with me. Just like Lucile did at the beginning, she didn't answer me at first  but made me wait a few days. When I finally go a hold of her a few days later, I asked her, "Well, what are you gonna do?"

She replied, "We're getting married October 7th." And so it was. After we got married, as all married people do, we got into an occasional argument here and there. When we did, I'd go outside to mow the lawn and she'd sit down at the sewing machine that sat near the window. I'd make 3 or 4 passes past the window, where she was working, and she'd pretend not to notice me. When I knew she couldn't hold out much longer, I'd stop the mower by the window and make funny faces right at her. She tried to ignore me, but she would eventually break down and smile and wave me away with a flick of her hand. I knew if I could make her smile, every thing would be alright. Boy oh boy, she was a corker.

After 67 years of marriage, Big Daddy died in April 2000. I stood up and read this story at his funeral. I'll never forget the experience, and the honor I felt at telling everyone about the way they met, and how cupid struck an arrow at Claude.

Good luck on winning the $200 gift card!

Hugs,
Kelly L Lee
www.kellyleefiction.com