Jan 3, 2012

Our wedding was responsible for another wedding.

While attending the graveside part of the funeral on Dec 29, 2011 for my Aunt Carma Hansen Allen (mother’s younger sister) I was surprised by a story that of my cousin’s husband told me which I had never heard before.

Dave Thomas was dating my cousin Jeannine Allen. She was about my age and one of the cousin to whom I had the closest relationship. Just before my marriage Dave had decided to date some other girls and Jeannine told her mother she wanted to call him on the phone but in those days it was not proper for the girl to take the lead on dating and courtship type things. She was sure that he didn’t like her anymore. Her mother told her that if he loved her he would call. Well shortly after that while attending our wedding Aunt Carma saw Dave and Jeanine kneeling across the alter while Marie and I were actually kneeling there during the sealing ceremony. It took her quite by surprise so when she got home she told Jeanine that it was OK for her to call Dave. That then took Jeannine by surprise and she had to have her mother explain why the change of heart. After her mother told her what she had seen she called Dave and from what he told me they went on a date the following Sunday during which he kissed her for the first of many times to come.

After telling me the story he told me and that is why your marriage was responsible for Jeanine and I also getting married.  He told me thank you several times after that until he had to go to be one of the pallbearers for Aunt Carma.

It is interesting to note that Dave was one of the scouters that we photographed just a few years ago when he was awarded the Silver Beaver award which my Grandfather Hansen and I had also been awarded before. He was the second or maybe third in Grandpa’s posterity to receive that award . I was the first of the grandchildren to receive it. That award has even made Dave and I closer since that time even though we have always been good friends since the day of his marriage to Jeannine.