My grandfather, Jose moved from Puerto Rico to Nebraska to attend college. Discovering his passion of Aviation was only taught in the military, he enlisted and was stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona as a jet engine mechanic. He soon became buddies with several of the guys on base. One friend was dating a young lady in town and needed a ride, so naturally he offered to take him in his ’56 Ford.

When he was dropping him off at her house, Jose was invited inside by the girl’s mother. While chatting, he noticed a picture of a beautiful girl, Tillie, who happened to be a niece of the lady.

Jose says that in Puerto Rico, when a guy likes a girl he might say something like, “That girl there is just what the doctor ordered (prescribed) for me.” Unfortunately for him, his ‘prescription’ didn’t even know he was alive…. yet.

As fate would have it, Jose attended a local dance, and it was there that they first met. He was smitten, to say the least. I mean really smitten. After the dance, he playfully followed her home in his own car.  He apparently was more concerned with keeping up with her than paying attention to the car in front of him, so he managed to get in a small fender-bender while in pursuit…. Ahh love.

Within two months of spending time together, Jose knew he wanted to marry her. He just needed to ask (seems easy enough!)… easy, except when she says, “No.”

Jose was disappointed, but did not give up. He waited a month before proposing again, to which she said, “No, I don’t want to live in Puerto Rico.”

Again he asked, and she replied, “I don’t know how to cook.”  So he said he would hire a cook (just like his family had in Puerto Rico).

Well, what seemed easy enough took a lot more time and wooing, but she finally said, “Yes!” (I’m so glad she did. I think it had something to do with his superman hair.)

They were married May 22nd, 1960. My grandmother wore a beautiful lace dress, and he a black suit. Little white swans decorated their cake and smiles adorned everyone’s face. Together they created a union of love that they cherished for over 56 years and a legacy that will last forever.

Oh, and my grandmother says she’s “still waiting” for the cook.

Their wedding day May 22nd, 1960

Over fifty years later in March 2015