A Chance Encounter Creates a Lifetime of Bliss

His Story

     There I was hitchhiking home after a day in town.  It was a chilly day in February and snow was drifting from the sky obscuring the mountains where I lived.  Hitchhiking can be a lonely business and sometimes there are long periods of time between rides.  Since I was going to the mountains, not only did I anticipate it would take a long time, I was sure it would entail several rides and freezing interludes.

     I was staring at the cars stopped at the light and saw a beat up old Chevy waiting for the signal to change to green.  I could make out a pretty girl at the wheel and that sent my mind into fantasyland.  Every hitchhiker has dreams of something exciting happening during the trip.  Little did I realize that my dreams were about to come true in a way I didn’t imagine happening. 

     The old Chevy pulled away when the light turned green and I stuck my thumb out.  I was amazed when the car actually pulled over and stopped.  I ran up to the passenger’s side of the car opened the door and saw a truly lovely young woman who asked me if I wanted a ride.  I certainly did.  I jumped in the car, shut the door and we took off.  She asked where I was going and I told her that I lived on the other side of the mountains.  I offered her a cup of hot chocolate if she would drive me all the way home.  I was stunned when she agreed.

    As we headed out of town on Route 66, I looked at her and noticed that her legs looked pretty good pushing the brake and clutch.  As we talked I heard her say that she was a teacher.  I thought that was wonderful, as I was unemployed and had no idea what I wanted to be.  After four years in the Marine Corps, I wasn’t even certain I could hold down a job!  She then told me she loved to cook!  As a young man living on my own that was probably the most appealing thing she could have said.  My mind was reeling with my incredible luck and I thought this is the girl I want to marry.

     As luck would have it, the snowfall quickened it’s pace causing the mountain road to become slick and difficult to traverse.  I asked her if she wanted me to drive and she said yes.  After changing places I began driving and thinking about this young woman and hoping that her feeling about me were about the same as mine about her.  Soon, I approached the turn off to the road that would lead to my house.  I didn’t want the ride to end and luckily, I lost control of the car and it skidded into a snow bank as we were turning into my driveway.  We were stuck!  We quickly ran to the house and we both realized she wouldn’t be able to leave that evening.  I didn’t have any chocolate but what a wonderful night we had talking and learning about each other. 

    Within six weeks we were married and together we have raised three children, pursued careers as educators and had the opportunity to travel around the world working as teachers in overseas schools.   I often think about how lucky I have been and believe firmly in love at first sight.

Her Story

    I moved to Albuquerque after graduating as a result of hundreds of applications and resulting correspondence. I had no job and my car broke down the first day in town. Fortunately a couple noticed my KS license plates and stopped to help. As fate would have it Mary Francis had relatives in a little farming community outside of Topeka where I had done my student teaching. She was four months pregnant, had 2 preschool age boys, her husband worked in Los Alamos, and she just learned she had cancer of the uterus. I had no job, a small u-haul of personal effects, and my cat and dog. They offered me a place to live while I looked for work in exchange for helping Mary Francis around the house and with the kids. After about 6 months, I had a job, Brian was transferred back to Albuquerque, the baby arrived, and Mary Francis's mother moved in with them. 

    One day on the way home from work, I saw a hitchhiker who looked cold. While sitting at the red light I debated as to whether I should pick him up or not when it started to snow, I picked him up. I was only going to take him to the last major intersection where I turned off, but he asked if I would drive him out Tijeras. We were having an interesting conversation so I agreed. The snow was getting bad by the time we got there and there was very little other traffic so I offered to drive him on home. Well, my car ended up getting stuck. Rick borrowed a neighbor's truck to get me to work the next day. He still had my car so I had to see him again. I moved in two days latter; we were married 6 weeks later and have been happy with that decision ever since.