Lots of interesting things happened in 1974:
An economic recession caused by OPEC oil crisis, couple with high inflation
The Watergate scandal and subsequent resignation of President Richard Nixon
The “Rumble in the Jungle” heavyweight title fight between Ali and Foreman
Heiress Patty Hearst was kidnapped
People Magazine was first published
The buried Terracotta Army was discovered in China
The world population reached 4 billion
A Universal Product Code was scanned for first time on a pack of Wrigley’s gum
John Lennon made his final public appearance with Elton John at Madison Square Garden
Leonardo DiCaprio was born and Charles Lindbergh died
Popular food items included Jello salads, Swanson TV dinners, and Hamburger Helper
Song of the Year was Barbra Streisand’s “The Way We Were” and “The Sting” won the Oscar for Best Motion Picture
The Miami Dolphins won the Super Bowl
The World Trade Center, the tallest building in the world, opened for business
An average new car cost $4,441 and the average price of a new home was $35,000
The Federal Minimum Wage was $2.00 and gold cost $184.00 per ounce
“Happy Days” began an 11-year run on ABC and Mel Brooks’ “Blazing Saddles” premiered
Actress Elizabeth Taylor divorced actor Richard Burton
Three of America’s biggest corporations were General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler.
Mary Charlene Heim married Craig Manning in Covina, California
That last one was a biggee.
Against all odds and advice, Craig and Charlie and her four young sons (Tim, Ron, Jeff, and Jon) set out on a great adventure. At the time, our family was residing in a small home in Valinda, California, Charlie was a Licensed Vocational Nurse, and Craig had just graduated from Cal State University at Los Angeles while working part-time as an X-ray Technologist.
It seems like a blur, looking back four-plus decades, but we got the kids graduated from high school, Craig enjoyed a long and fruitful career with the County of Riverside, Charlie established a successful bookkeeping and tax service business, we bought and sold several homes, and traveled the world. Our children have prospered and multiplied and we now have literally scores of grandchildren and some greatgrandchildren, as well, scattered all over America.
It’s been an adventure, to say the least… a very wonderful one.
As I’ve told friends and relatives many times, Charlie and I are a very good match not because we are so alike but, rather, because our differences compliment each other. Charlie is impulsive, while I am an analyst, thinking several moves in advance. “Opposites attract” goes the saying.
We certainly don’t agree on all things, but we do agree on the things that matter. We both agree that one should “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. We argue and yell at each other from time to time, but it’s usually over some stupid matter that resolves itself. Big decisions are made together, never just by one of us.
The thing that makes it all work is the enormous love and respect that we have for one another. We both work hard at making our home and life an enjoyable one. There’s no “Boss” in our house; we both do whatever it takes to get things done, whether it be cooking, cleaning, decorating, tending to the pets, arranging for social events with friends, etc. We call it “Team Manning”.
Charlie’s business has really allowed us to enjoy a lot of finer things. My salary, when I was working, and later, my retirement income, pays the basic expenses and Charlie’s business income pays for the “extras”, like home improvements and vacations.
The void in the home that was present when the children became adults and went out on their own has been filled, to some extent, by our dogs. They supply an energy to the house that provides warmth and amusement, and also fills our natural instinct to nurture. We were blessed to enjoy many years with our first two Boston Terriers, Booger and JayJay. Now, we lavish our attention on our three Bostons (Baby, BonBon, and Vinnie) and they return the favor in spades. It would be an empty and boring world without them.
Years ago, we shifted gears in terms of vacationing, opting for motorhome trips instead of world travel (which we had done quite a bit in our earlier years). Currently, we have a very nice motorhome in which the five of us can travel in style anywhere in America that we wish. Our routine of late has been a 3-month Summertime routing along the Oregon and California coasts to beat the heat (we live in the Nevada desert). It’s an expensive hobby but we can afford it and we deserve it so we do it. And, the dogs love it, too.
Charlie and I have both changed a lot physically since the “good ol’ days” of 1974. Things are sagging a bit, equipment might not work as well, hair is graying, and we’re not as nimble as we used to be. However, we still have that enormous love for each other that cannot be questioned. Each of us would do anything for the other. As the saying goes, “A happy wife means a happy life”.
We have many relatives and friends who help us enjoy our Great Adventure together. Luckily for me, my wife is an social extrovert (while I am an introvert), so we are blessed with relationships that bring interest and life-long friendships to our lives. I would lead a pretty boring life if it weren’t for the social butterfly who is my wife.
We now live in Mesquite, Nevada, seventy miles north of Las Vegas, one mile from Arizona, and forty miles south of Utah. It might seem to be in the middle of nowhere, but we love it here. It’s clean, the air is clear, there’s no crime or traffic congestion, and we have many friends and neighbors who have similar lives and experiences to share. The home we live in is one of the finest in our community and we are very proud of the customization that we’ve put into it.
We’ve come a long way from that crummy house in Valinda, California.
Charlie is now in her late 70’s and I will be 75 this coming December. We’ve been together for a total of 49 years (we lived together for a while before marrying) and are lucky to be as healthy as we are. We got our shots and luckily avoided Covid-19, and we pay attention to the advice given by our doctors. At the rate we’re going… “knock on wood”… we should make it to 50 years together like both of our parents’ did. That’s quite an accomplishment in today’s world.
Yesterday evening, Charlie and I celebrated our 48th anniversary with a very nice dinner at Gregory’s, an upscale steakhouse at the local Eureka Casino and Hotel.
We are very lucky people.