ON THE "MARRIED TO A FILIPINA" Facebook group page, someone posted a graphic asking, "How Did You Meet Your Filipina?" So, let me once again share our love story.
Forty years ago, September 2, 1977 - my Filipina bride, Dory, made me a very happy man! That is the day we were first wed. I say "First Wed" because on our 3rd Anniversary we went to Hawaii and had a second wedding. Yes, a true second wedding - a church wedding where we did it all over again - marriage license in Hawaii, wedding flowers, wedding photographer, and we were married in a church in Honolulu. Complete redo!
We tried to do the same thing on our 6th Anniversary. But, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the only Protestant church we could find had been burned down years before. My new company even got into the act. I had recently become a Regional Sales Manager for a computer graphics company based in Lafayette, Louisiana, and part of my employment terms was that I would have a one week vacation in September to get married again.
The president of the company, a retired Louisiana lawyer who, with his white hair and refined looks, could have been the poster-boy for the kind Southern judge - put in their employment offer letter to me: "And, we will allow you a one week vacation in September to legitimize your already legitimate marriage." I love it when a plan comes together!
My mom asked Dory, "Why does Bill like to get married again every three years?" And, Dory told her, "That way, no matter how many years we have been married - he only feels like he has been married three years!" Dory had it right. We had plans to become perpetual newlyweds! But, when we could not find a Protestant church in Puerto Vallarta to marry us - that sort of broke the chain. But, it did not break the spirit of being perpetual newlyweds.
In making a collage to commemorate our love story, I searched for photos which would tie in with our early romance. Where are those romantic places today?
We first met on a Wednesday evening at the Saddleback Inn Hotel in Santa Ana, California, where Dory was attending a weekly Red Carpet Real Estate sales meeting. The Saddleback Inn Hotel is no longer there.
A week later, on a Saturday evening, we had our first date. We first went to Bobby McGee's Restaurant and Night Club in Newport Beach, California. We stayed at Bobby McGee's just long enough to have a drink with my friend, Jay Kear, a successful technology venture capital consultant. That Bobby McGee's is no longer there.
Then, Dory and I went to the Newporter Inn on Jamboree Road in Newport Beach to dance. The Newporter Inn is no longer there.
While walking by the swimming pool at the Newporter Inn that evening, we had our very first kiss. The kiss is still there!
The next day, Sunday, we had our second date. We went to church at the Garden Grove Community Church (precursor to the Crystal Cathedral). I can still see that full length golden yellow dress and wide brim yellow hat she wore that day - making her look like a true Filipina Southern Belle from Alabama.
The way the Garden Grove Church was designed back then, we could sit outside on the lawn and still be a part of the congregation and worship service. Being a warm Southern California day, we lay on the lawn with many of her friends from the church during the service.
After the service, we went to a movie at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, the 1976 movie "A Star Is Born" with Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand was playing.
And then we had an early dinner at the Quiet Cannon Restaurant in Dana Point. The restaurant is still there but the name is changed.
So, the place we first met, the Saddleback Inn, is no longer there. The places we went on our first date,Bobby McGee's and the Newporter Inn, where we shared our first kiss - are no longer there. The restaurant where we had our first dinner date is still there, but is no longer the Quiet Cannon. It is now called Cannon's Seafood Restaurant.
So much has changed over the 40 years since we fell in love and married. But, the love which was spawned on those first dates is stronger than ever, 40 years later.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Forty years ago, September 2, 1977 - my Filipina bride, Dory, made me a very happy man! That is the day we were first wed. I say "First Wed" because on our 3rd Anniversary we went to Hawaii and had a second wedding. Yes, a true second wedding - a church wedding where we did it all over again - marriage license in Hawaii, wedding flowers, wedding photographer, and we were married in a church in Honolulu. Complete redo!
We tried to do the same thing on our 6th Anniversary. But, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, the only Protestant church we could find had been burned down years before. My new company even got into the act. I had recently become a Regional Sales Manager for a computer graphics company based in Lafayette, Louisiana, and part of my employment terms was that I would have a one week vacation in September to get married again.
The president of the company, a retired Louisiana lawyer who, with his white hair and refined looks, could have been the poster-boy for the kind Southern judge - put in their employment offer letter to me: "And, we will allow you a one week vacation in September to legitimize your already legitimate marriage." I love it when a plan comes together!
My mom asked Dory, "Why does Bill like to get married again every three years?" And, Dory told her, "That way, no matter how many years we have been married - he only feels like he has been married three years!" Dory had it right. We had plans to become perpetual newlyweds! But, when we could not find a Protestant church in Puerto Vallarta to marry us - that sort of broke the chain. But, it did not break the spirit of being perpetual newlyweds.
In making a collage to commemorate our love story, I searched for photos which would tie in with our early romance. Where are those romantic places today?
We first met on a Wednesday evening at the Saddleback Inn Hotel in Santa Ana, California, where Dory was attending a weekly Red Carpet Real Estate sales meeting. The Saddleback Inn Hotel is no longer there.
A week later, on a Saturday evening, we had our first date. We first went to Bobby McGee's Restaurant and Night Club in Newport Beach, California. We stayed at Bobby McGee's just long enough to have a drink with my friend, Jay Kear, a successful technology venture capital consultant. That Bobby McGee's is no longer there.
Then, Dory and I went to the Newporter Inn on Jamboree Road in Newport Beach to dance. The Newporter Inn is no longer there.
While walking by the swimming pool at the Newporter Inn that evening, we had our very first kiss. The kiss is still there!
The next day, Sunday, we had our second date. We went to church at the Garden Grove Community Church (precursor to the Crystal Cathedral). I can still see that full length golden yellow dress and wide brim yellow hat she wore that day - making her look like a true Filipina Southern Belle from Alabama.
The way the Garden Grove Church was designed back then, we could sit outside on the lawn and still be a part of the congregation and worship service. Being a warm Southern California day, we lay on the lawn with many of her friends from the church during the service.
After the service, we went to a movie at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, the 1976 movie "A Star Is Born" with Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand was playing.
And then we had an early dinner at the Quiet Cannon Restaurant in Dana Point. The restaurant is still there but the name is changed.
So, the place we first met, the Saddleback Inn, is no longer there. The places we went on our first date,Bobby McGee's and the Newporter Inn, where we shared our first kiss - are no longer there. The restaurant where we had our first dinner date is still there, but is no longer the Quiet Cannon. It is now called Cannon's Seafood Restaurant.
So much has changed over the 40 years since we fell in love and married. But, the love which was spawned on those first dates is stronger than ever, 40 years later.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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