True Love
Good night for a walk. Yes, it is Jack, the air is so crisp, and the night sky is always beautiful in Northern Michigan. I am so glad that we bought the lake house, we will have so many memories here with the kids and grandkids.
Jack, did you ever think that we would be able to afford two homes?
No, Beth but we have worked so hard to raise the kids, budgeted always, and had this dream that one day we could spend weekends two hours away from home in our own place looking out at the lake.
Jack, do you remember?
The Year 1962
Jack and Elizabeth's parents lived on the same quiet street in Northwest Detroit. Both families moved into there homes in 1947, right after the WWII had ended. The homes were all brick with three bedrooms, and with small lots. There was a neighborhood school about nine houses from both Jack and Elizabeth's house. Jack had four siblings all boys with Jack being the youngest, and Elizabeth had three sisters and she was the youngest. Both households were very different, one was very rowdy, and the other was rowdy but in a girlish way.
Jack's mom Charlotte and dad Tom were High school sweethearts married right after the war and had their first child in 1947, his name was Tom soon followed Dan, Luke, Paul and Jack the last one in 1957. Elizabeth's parents Will and Grace were also High School sweethearts and married right after WWII and had there first child also in 1947, Katie, then came Patty, Debbie, Julie and Elizabeth in 1957. Both dads were civil servants, Tom was a Police Officer for DPD and Will was a fireman for DFD. Currently all fire and police officers were to live in the city of Detroit.
On the block that they lived on there were 52 kids with in one block, so it was always easy to find someone to hang out with. On Mondays the moms would get together and iron clothes, during the school year the kids would know which house to go to for lunch.
So, with Elizabeth and Jack being the youngest of the two families, they were always together as their mom and dads were best friends. Elizabeth became quite the tomboy and her sisters were always teasing her about her skinned knees, torn clothes and always having her hair in braids. Elizabeth didn't care because she was with her best friend Jack. As the kids were getting ready to start Kindergarten Jack told his mom that he would always protect Elizabeth because he was going to marry her. Charlotte laughed but he had such a serious look when he told her. She immediately called Grace and told her what Jack said, Grace just laughed and said isn't he just the cutest.
There first day of school, both Charlotte and Grace walked Jack and Elizabeth to school, Jack was holding Elizabeth's hand as they walked in front of their mom's. Grace and Charlotte had tears in their eyes as the last of their kids were starting school. Very bittersweet, happy to have the house to themselves but lonely and quiet. Jack and Elizabeth did not have the same teacher, but their moms told them to look out for each other. Elizabeth had tears in her eyes as her classroom was first, but Jack hugged her and said you will always be safe. I will just be next door. He was such a little man for his age. He was always so protective of her. As school progressed Elizabeth made new friends, but Jack was always her buddy and best friend. In November, Elizabeth came down with the chickenpox and was covered from head to toe, Jack had already had the chickenpox so everyday after school he would come over and sit with her. He would bring her cinnamon toast and hot chocolate prepared by Grace, and would stay for dinner and wait until she went to bed. His mom could not get him to come home until he tucked her into bed. Grace just loved that little boy, and would always have a special treat for him when he came over.
Soon Kindergarten was over, and the kids were so excited to have summer break. Every year both families rented cottages on Houghton Lake, for two weeks. It was fantastic. Jack and Elizabeth were always in the water playing, fishing and going on the boat. Jack's dad had a speed boat and William had a row boat. The older kids were friends, but Jack and Elizabeth had a bond. Many nights the two would be sound to sleep on the hammock with their hands held together. Both moms would cover them and let them sleep until it was time to go in. They only thing Elizabeth feared was spiders she would just scream when she saw one, if she was with Jack she would just point, and he would know and take care of it. His older siblings would tease Jack about Elizabeth all the time.
As Elementary School progressed Jack and Elizabeth stayed super close but developed more friends and with more friends they started to hang out with other people. Jack played baseball and football, and Elizabeth played girls basketball. Both went through the awkward stage but when Junior High began they were beginning to mature into their looks and personality. Both Jack and Elizabeth were chased, and admire by the opposite sex. Often the boys would try to walk her home, but Jack was always there to walk her no matter what. The girls would pressure Elizabeth to come to her house, so they could walk with Jack, and always bug her to hang out with him. She would roll her eyes when they would do this. The same went for Jack often the boys would come over to see him but would eventually want to hang out with Elizabeth. Grace and Charlotte were beginning to wonder if it was healthy for the kids to be this close. So, they both decided to have a conversation with their kids.
Charlotte asked Jack if he would consider hanging out with the boys rather than Elizabeth in his free time, no mom I love her, she is my soul mate. Grace asked Elizabeth if maybe she would like to hang with other girls and take a break from Jack. Elizabeth said, why would I do that mom, he's my soul mate and I love him. Both Grace and Charlotte decided that they would continue to encourage them to see and hang with other people. Eventually with Jack playing football and baseball Jack made the first break, he was so busy with practice and hanging with the boys that Elizabeth began to develop girl friends and hanging with them. They families still went up north together but both Elizabeth and Jack could bring a friend. That summer was way different as the boys fished, boated and hung out with the other families on the lake, Elizabeth and her friend swam, laid out in the sun, listened to music and hung out with other families on the lake.
That year there was a dance on the North Shore of Houghton Lake and all the kids were going. Elizabeth and her good friend Rosie got dressed up in shorts and halter tops and wore a little makeup. They just looked too cute for soon to be Freshman. Both were beautiful girls and the boys certainly knew it. Jack on the other hand was so handsome and so was his best friend Lee, they both dressed in shorts and tee shirts. When Elizabeth and Rosie came out of the cottage, Jack nearly fell over, he had never I mean never realized how beautiful Elizabeth was until now. Elizabeth nearly fainted when she looked at Jack he was gorgeous. Grace took all four to the dance, and Charlotte would pick them up at 10:00. The kids walked into the dance and were immediately asked to dance by someone else. They all said yes, but both Jack and Elizabeth could not take their eyes off each other. They were both jealous. As soon as the first dance was over he walked over to Elizabeth and asked what she was doing? The next he knew another boy grabbed her and off onto the dance floor she went again, Jack was fuming. All he could think about was that was his girl Elizabeth and he did not like it one bit that she was dancing with someone else. So, he waited for the dance to end, grabbed her arm and said YOU ARE TAKING A WALK WITH ME NOW! Elizabeth was shocked at his tone, to be honest he was too, his feelings for her were coming out so differently, he kind of understood but wasn't interested in that now. They walked down by the water, the sky was beautiful, stars out in full force, he turned her around and just kissed her. They both withdrew from that kiss, their first kiss ever, and they were shocked that it happened but were happy that it did. WOW! Jack took Elizabeth's face and told her that he loved her, and she did the same they were only fourteen.
The summer at Houghton Lake ended with Jack and Elizabeth closer than ever, but on a way different level they were boyfriend and girlfriend. They were going to be Freshman. Jack at Detroit Catholic Central and Elizabeth at Mercy High School. This would be the first time that they did not go to the same school. YIKES
Freshman Year Fall of 1971
To be continued: