Our 47th Wedding Anniversary Gift

Look what  Paul and I have given to each other to mark our FORTY-SEVENTH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!  A nice red and white Burley Tosa tandem bicycle!  We look forward to many more years  “twogether” on a bicycle-built-for-two.  You have seen and heard of the list of traditional anniversary gifts? The list of gifts to which mark the wedding anniversaries?  As the 1^st anniversary you give something Paper, on your second anniversary Cotton, then Leather, Silk and for the 5^th year anniversary, Wood.  The list goes on, 15th anniversary is Crystal, 16^th Porcelain, and of course you know the 25^th is Silver.  Well, we are right between the 45^th year of Sapphire and the Gold, 50^th.  We think the 47^th is the gift of Tandem Bicycle!   

Today is a special day.  Paul and I celebrate each other today on our Forty-Seventh Wedding Anniversary. We look out the window and see all the snow and it reminds us of December 27^th, 1965, in Wahpeton, North Dakota.  There had been a fierce blizzard the day before. Paul and his family had a horrendous time traveling across state from Bismarck to Wahpeton slipping and sliding and into ditches across I-94, trying to arrive in time for rehearsal.  The highway was closed, but somehow they all made it. The next day, our wedding day, the sun shone bright, and the temperature was 32 degrees below zero and the wind chill made it feel like minus 60 degrees.  We North Dakotans are used to winters like that, and it usually doesn't stop us for long. *Just be sure to plug the head bolt heater to the car engine overnight, and the car will start.  It may have been cold outside, but our love for each other warmed us and we had a wonderful day!

As I looked out the window of my kitchen yesterday, it was snowing heavily, and I counted a  flock of 38+ wild turkeys wandering through our yard. They must have felt it was safe to roam, now that Thanksgiving and Christmas Day had passed.  Seeing those turkeys reminded me of something of our wedding day.  My dad was a poultry hatchery owner and he also raised several thousand turkeys every year.  A favorite way of preparing and serving turkey was Smoked Turkey.  I remember when planning the reception foods, he requested his favorite to be included: smoked turkey.  I wonder if that is still popular back home there in Wahpeton, like it was then? 

Back to the tandem: I am just praying we can launch this bike in a couple of weeks when we get to Venice, Florida. Paul is still recovering from November 1st shoulder surgery. So hopefully he will have enough strength to handle this contraption with his Stoker weighing heavy on the back of the bike! He has never Captained a tandem, though I have ridden many miles on about five different tandems. So that experience as a Stoker should help him ease into the learning curve of riding this contraption.

We will also keep in mind when riding this bicycle the memory of a dear person, Carol Kucko, who once rode this tandem with husband, Michael.  Carol passed away this year following a tragic accident at her home. She and Michael shared this tandem for a few years.  I will think of her, as well as the Folks On Spokes Bike Club members who miss her and cherish the memory of her friendship. We thank Michael who was willing to pass the tandem on to us.  And when we shall ride with him on a bike ride, may we all remember fondly the dear heart of Carol.