HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY !!!

I am so thrilled that today's weather is going to be up near 70 degrees. Spring must finally be here. I hope so, cause I got two of my dogs groomed yesterday. Pepper and Taffy look like big white rats! Actually, Taffy looks like a big rat, Pepper just looks like a normal sized white rat, with a big fluffy tail. Riff and Roy will get their turn in a couple weeks. It was also time for annual shots for Pepper and Riff, so now Pepper wants to know why he's being picked on, as he had two traumatic trips to town.

I hope you enjoy St. Patty's Day as much as I do. Green just happens to be one of my favorite colors, so it really appeals to me. Also, Mark and I just happened to get married on March 17th, so that makes it a real personally favorite holiday for us.

We didn't purposely pick this Irish holiday for our wedding date, it just kinda happened that way. We had gone down to the Florida Keys with friends the previous year and decided what a perfect scenario, to be married on the beach in the Keys. So, we informed our families, bought the appropriate beachside wedding garb, and headed down to the Keys for Spring Break 1978.

Unfortunately, it's not so simple pulling together a beach wedding in a matter of days. To make a long story short, we ended up saying our vows in the courtyard of the Marathon courthouse. Because we were a mere 10-15 minutes late, the judge who had agreed to marry us, decided to go on home early. The frantic court clerks rounded up the deputy sheriff, who was appropriately dressed in a green checked short sleeved shirt and green pants. So, it was, we tied the knot on March 17.

We were very fortunate to have Mark's brother nearby in Stuart, so he and his wife, Leslie and son, Neil, came on down. Rich was the best man. My friend, Janice, who, the previous year, had invited us down to the Keys, was my maid of honor. Our reception took place on our campsite at Long Key State Park, complete with wedding cake and champagne served off the picnic table. Our photographer was a guy in a swimsuit that was camping next to us with a group of bikers. Our honeymoon suite was the Lance van. We knew how to do a wedding on a tight budget, to say the least.

I don't think a lot of people thought our marriage would last, but thirty one years later, we are pretty well your typical "old married couple". Happy Anniversary to us!!!

I hope you are gonna enjoy what looks to be a beautifully gorgeous day here in Central Kentucky. I've got some work to do for my upcoming class reunion, but then it's gonna be outdoors and outwalking. The dogs already alerted me to seven deer in the field across the street, so I know they're anxious to go out.

Have a great day from this green eyed lassie of English and German descent. luv, Susan.........oh, and Go Big Blue!!!