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.

The Love Fest

Un is very talented,

Intelligent too

What does it matter 

A murder or Two?

Adulation a must or

prison with others

not pc enough

to maintain

a happy God.

What choice do 

His people have?

That is why they

Love him just like

Our president.

Things That Divide Us-Pro-Choice/Life

This divisive topic pits life against death. What could be more inflammatory? I think this is the heart of the pro-life narrative. Most people would choose life if that is the choice. However, there are competing narratives that do use such stirring language. I would argue that the more nuanced narratives have less emotional appeal and are not heard the same way.

How do you pack the same punch into the argument that "they do it anyway". How can that be framed to compete with "life vs death". It seems to me that argument is a more understanding reason and deserves more thought. As long as families and society are intolerant of "unwanted pregnancies" that is exactly what will happen. The woman who has sperm and eggs uniting inside her will feel rejected and if the child is born, there is a chance it may feel the same.

A number of woman make the choice to abort the pregnancy. They are not killing a child, they are stopping a pregnancy.  So, in a sense, the narrative becomes "stopping a pregnancy or allowing it to continue".  At that point the argument becomes softer, less stark. In addition, many people feel that life begins when egg is fertilized. That, however is not the only thought on when life begins.

From an evolutionary point of view it is the purpose of human beings is to reproduce themselves. This is true for all types of life.  We are biologically capable of reproducing prolifically. Men have unlimited sperm and women unlimited eggs during their reproductive cycles.  If a sperm does not make it to an egg nothing is lost because there are so many sperm that one will surely make it eventually. If not right now, probably later.  Sometimes the egg and sperm create a zygote that does not make it. No worries it can happen later. My point is that there are numerous opportunities to create life and if that process is aborted nature/creator/God has provided for that possibility.

Does life begin with conception, or when the heart beats begin, or as many maintain, when the first breath is taken? This question has been debated for ages and there is no consensus.  Judaism Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religious and cultural groups have differing ideas about when life begins. The stance of the pro-life supporters, that life begins at conception, is a minority view. They have taken the science of life beyond the ideas of scientists, who do not all agree that the beginning is at conception.

Wherever life begins, it is access to a woman's body that is being debated. It would appear that those who abhor a "nanny" government have no compunction about controlling what a woman can or can not do with her body. The patriarchy inherent in societies around the world have believed for centuries that it is a male right to control their women.

Over time women have asserted their rights as individuals who not only control their own lives, but also their say in public debate and governance. This has been a difficult war in which the right to birth control and the final say over their pregnancy has been fought battle by battle. Pro-choice adherents believe they are the only ones who should have access to what happens to their bodies, while pro-life supporters believe the government has the right to decide what happens to a woman's body.

Male control over women has weakened and they can no longer dictate what happens to a woman. It is my belief that most women desire a rational dialogue with their partners about ending a pregnancy, but believe the final choice is theirs to make.

Certainly it is noble and idealistic to wish that all pregnancies be carried to to birth. That should be the goal not a dictum. I think many humans agree that abortion should not be used as birth control. However, the most important ingredient to living a fulfilling life is love. Every child should be loved, valued, and nourished before they are conceived. That is how we end unwanted pregnancies.