Marie Chappell

This song represents 51 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart. It was a beautiful sunny day in June 1974. I believe it was a Saturday when he came over to my college dorm, asked me for a quiet place to talk, and then in all sincerity and without a ring, told me that he would provide for me, and when questioned, he said he had enough love in his heart to carry both of us through life, even if I didn’t! He proceeded to ask for my hand in marriage, and when I said “yes”, we went downtown to Dodd’s Jewelers, picked out a wedding ring that costs a whooping $150, and was absolutely beautiful to me!

Now retired, with very serious medical issues, and unable to do a lot of husbandly-type things, he still strives to remain true, as much as possible to his promises of yesteryear!

I presented this love ballad to him on Sunday. August 31st; our actual 51st wedding anniversary. With the assistance of our sweet daughter who served as our personal Uber, we were able to enjoy a very romantic dinner. Upon our arrival home, she began playing the ballad. I took his hand, and we danced the night away, as we all became overjoyed with tears, even our daughter!

We have two adult children, a goddaughter, seven grandchildren and various nieces and nephews for whom we have contributed to their upbringing!!

As our story goes, we have truly endured more than I am currently able or willing to expound upon! We became boyfriend and girlfriend at the tender ages of 15 and 16 respectively. He had just turned 20 on August 18th and I turned 19 that following October. Neither of us had a job at the time, so we crossed a picket line, worked in a light bulb factory and earned money for our wedding ceremony and a cake and lunch reception that followed!

We had a rainbow wedding! One of my older sisters, a seamstress extraordinaire, allowed me to use her wedding dress, but added satin to the bottom half since I was slightly taller. She then had me purchase four bolts of fabric in royal blue, hot pink, orange and yellow and made all the wedding party dresses and they were absolutely beautiful! My husband earned enough to pay for his, my dad’s, the best man and all his groomsmen tuxedos with matching shirts to my girls!

He continued working at that company there until the strike ended and he went back to cement finishing with his dad. I returned back to college in the fall; a married lady; fulfilling his request!

We rented a one-bedroom cottage from his uncle for $50 per month. Once graduated, I accepted my first secretarial/bookkeeping job, which allowed us a down payment of $200 on a newly built 2-bedroom condo. Eventually, we rented a larger house with a backyard for our growing children and leased out our condo! Over the years we’ve been blessed to prosper both spiritually and financially and our children have followed the same path!

This love ballad is the second of 10 that I have professionally produced within the last thirteen years. I began writing once I lost my mother; a gift from God, as He truly does give “beauty for ashes”! If selected, I am hopeful to produce my other songs. When my mother died, an older sister stole everything, leaving me nothing; not even a photograph of her, so I vowed then to give my loved ones something to remember from me once I leave this earth, thus a special song for each of them!

Lastly, I pray that my husband and I both have longevity; however, I know tomorrow is not promised, which is why I believe God has orchestrated this opportunity for such a time as this. For I am a firm believer of the following scripture: Romans 8:31: What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

Respectfully submitted,

Marie Chappel!