Wedding

Whats Inside...

Guide

Reiser/Collins Exchange Vows on Family Farm

Sweeney/Curtin New Years Eve Wedding
Bodleys: 73 Years of Marriage
Hudson/Welsh Family Farm Wedding
Bodley/Keppler Include Water Ceremony
Words to Love By

A special supplement of The Standard Newspaper, Waukon, IA

Feb. 2015

Guide

Page 2

February 18, 2015

Theres no place like home: Samantha Reiser

and Ryan Collins exchange vows on farm where bride grew up
by Lissa Blake
When Samantha Reiser and
Ryan Collins were looking for
a place to get married, they
wanted a setting where their
guests could relax and enjoy
the day.
The
Reiser
family
homestead,
located
near
Churchtown, seemed the ideal
place.
Samantha, daughter of Mark
and Nancy Reiser, is a 2005
Waukon High School graduate.
Ryan, son of Mike and Teri
Collins, graduated from Kee
High School in Lansing in 2005.
Samantha said she didnt
want anything real traditional,
so they decided to ask her
parents about the possibility of
hosting the big day.
We never thought Dad
would go for it, but he did, she
said.
The challenge was keeping
the barn cleaned out, she

said, adding the June 21 date

ensured the event would
happen before Mark had too
much hay baled and put up.
SAY YES
Samantha and Ryan had
been dating for about two
and a half years before their
engagement. They had looked
at a few rings together, but
hadnt settled on anything
denite.
He told me he would never
give it to me on a holiday,
because he wanted the event
itself to be special, she said.
Although Samantha knew
a proposal would eventually
come, she wasnt sure when.
Then one day he called me
at work saying he had cows out
and he couldnt get a hold of
anybody to help him. He asked
if I could come to the shop at
his parents farm (near Harpers
Ferry).
When Samantha walked in

the door of the shop, she was

surprised to see all ve of her
nieces holding a sign that said,
Say yes to Ryan, Aunt Sam.
There he was, and he
got down on one knee and
proposed in his Carhartts, she
said.
GETTING READY
The couple enlisted the help
of many family members to
prepare for the big event.
The barn was the biggest
job. We power washed it and
Dad whitewashed down below,
Sam said.
Her mother, Nancy, and
the couples aunts made the
food and cut up the fruit. Tony
Diersen smoked the pork, and
an aunt, Phyllis Walsh, made
the cake. Family friends Dawn
Zeimet and Heather Neuhring
also helped with the food and
Reiser/Collins
Continued on page 14

Studio M Photography

Newlyweds Samantha and Ryan Collins sit atop the round hay
bale personalized by Ryans mother, Teri Collins, with owers in
the shape of the letter C. The decorative bale was placed at the
driveway entrance to the farm of Samanthas parents, Mark and
Nancy Reiser, where the wedding ceremony was held.

66

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Congratulations

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Guide

February 18, 2015

Page 3

New year, new life: Gina Sweeney and Jeremy Curtin

begin new life together with New Years Eve wedding ceremony
by Lissa Blake
Waukons Jeremy Curtin
and Gina Sweeney have been
celebrating New Years Eve
together for several years. But
New Years Eve 2014 was extra
special for them, as they picked
that day to tie the knot.
We thought it would be
really neat to ring in the New
Year with friends and family,
said Gina.
Jeremy, a 1999 graduate of
Waukon High School, and Gina,
a 2003 graduate of Waukon
High School, had been dating
for about three years. He is the
son of Ron and Gail Curtin, and
she is the daughter of James
and Margo Sweeney.
The couple met through
Jeremys sisters, who Gina
had been friends with in high
school.
POPPING THE QUESTION
September 19 of last year,

Gina said Jeremy planned a

date at his family farm.
It was a typical date night,
where we might go on a ranger
ride, have a couple of drinks
and have a picnic, she said.
But this picnic ended in a
proposal!
Jeremy
had
already
discussed his plans with Ginas
father and had picked out a ring
he hoped she would love.
He was so calm and
collected. I couldnt believe he
was able to keep it a secret,
she said.
MAKING A PLAN
Following the picnic, the
couple started hatching a plan
for the big day.
We started out planning to
have a small, intimate wedding.
Were both from large families,
said Gina.
Gina said they were leery
of trying to plan a wedding
big enough to accommodate

both of their large, extended

families in such a short amount
of time, but her mother, Margo,
convinced her they could do it.
We talked about only having
our immediate family, but my
Mom said she was worried
we would regret not having
everyone there to celebrate
with us, and I knew she was
right, said Gina.
So with just over three
months to plan, they started the
ball rolling.
A SPECIAL REQUEST
In planning the ceremony,
the couple knew just what
they wanted. Both Gina and
Jeremy attended St. Patrick
School and their families were
lifelong members of St. Patrick
Church in Waukon. They called
Monsignor Ed Lechtenberg and
asked to meet with him so they
Sweeney/Curtin
Continued on page 8

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Guide

Page 4

February 18, 2015

Sharing the same interests has been key

to Ted and Betty Bodleys 73 years of wedded bliss
by Kelli Boylen, freelance writer
Ted and Betty Bodley were
married during the war.
Not the Gulf War, Vietnam or
Korea, but World War II. They
have been married longer than
most people have been alive.
Last October they celebrated
their 73rd wedding anniversary.
Betty recalls when they met.
They were both in high school
in neighboring towns in Jasper
County, Iowa. Ted went to
school with my cousin. He
got her a date with one of his
friends, so he told her that she
had to get him a date. When we
met up they called me over to
the car. Ted said he would give
my cousin a poke if he thought
I was ok.
They went to a dance hall
in Des Moines that night, but
Ted has never been a dancer;
he always said he couldnt see
why anyone would want to walk
to music.

Their next date was to the

Fourth of July celebration in
Newton. The year was 1939.
They went out occasionally that
first summer, but Betty says
back then you didnt go steady;
it was more fun to go out with
different boys.
The next summer Ted went
to live and work at his uncles
place in Montana. He would
send me these postcards, she
recalls, and he would write
I love you under the stamp. I
never knew to believe him or
not.
Although Ted wasnt a
dancer, Betty remembers there
being dances at school. They
would charge a dime to get in.
She was regularly seeing
two different boys. After
graduating from high school,
her grandfather told her that
she would have to choose.
I wasnt sure if I was in love
or not, but he liked a lot of the
same things, she says. She

also really appreciated the fact

that he had excellent manners,
was very polite and he was a
gentleman.
At 91, Betty is still spunky.
When asked what he liked
about her, Ted gets a little smile
on his face and said, She dont
take no guff.
They were married October
26, 1941, when she was 18
and he was 21. The two of
them traveled to Missouri to get
married. It was war time and
Betty knew her grandparents
who raised her would not give
them a big wedding. Missouri
didnt require waiting periods
and blood tests like Iowa, so
they traveled south to exchange
vows.
It was just easier, she says.
The first four years of their
marriage they lived with Teds
Bodleys
Continued on page 5

Betty and Ted Bodley of Waukon celebrated 73 years of

marriage in October of 2014. The couple was married
October 26, 1941, traveling to Missouri to do so while
World War II was underway. They credit sharing the same
interests for their many years of wedded bliss. Betty says Ted
has always been very polite and a gentleman, and Ted says
he likes the fact that Betty dont take no guff.

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Guide

February 18, 2015

Bodleys
Continued from page 4
parents. Their first two children,
Becky, born in 1942, and Craig,
born in 1944, were born during
this time. They had two more
children in the following years:
Cheryl, born in 1946, and Allen,
born in 1949.
When her grandfather lost
his tenant, they moved to that
house and farmed the land.
When they lived at this property,
they didnt have running water
or electricity, so that took some
getting used to. That land was
later sold and they rented a
farm near Booneville and later
moved to Maynard.
They bought a farm north of
Postville in the late 1960s and
they moved to rural Waukon in
the 1990s.
Betty remembers one time
when they were first married
Ted literally had to give her a
lift. The driveway would get
very muddy in the spring. They
were going out to the movie
and she wanted to go back in
the house to grab her boots,
but Ted said she didnt need
them. They got stuck coming
back home and he had to give

Betty, who was wearing high

heels, a piggyback ride all the
way back to the house. They
had used their war ration cards
to get two candy bars and a
glass coffee pot and didnt want
to leave them in the car, so they
were carried back to the house
as well.
Ted and Betty always farmed,
and they finally sold the last of
their Angus beef cows about
five years ago when Ted was
89.
When their children were
young they enjoyed going on
picnics, often inviting friends
over, and they would have
dances right there at home.
They used to play games a
lot as a family, even lawn games
like horseshoes and croquet.
They also loved horseback
riding, which is a family interest
that has now been passed on
down the generations.
Their
children
and
grandchildren showed beef at
their county fairs, which was
an activity the entire family has
enjoyed. Grandma Betty was
known for her excellent tail

dressing on show day.

We had a lot of the same
interests, says Betty, besides
him not liking to dance anyway.
We enjoyed our time together
as a family more than anything.
Ted and Betty say they are
used to one another. Last
October, just two days after the
wedding of their granddaughter,
Vicki, Betty fell and broke bones
in both of her feet. Ted was also
ill at the time, so they both went
into the nursing home for about
six weeks, which is where they
celebrated their 73rd wedding
anniversary with a cake and a
family visit. At first they were in
different rooms at the nursing
home, but they wanted to be
together so it was worked out.
They returned home the day
before Thanksgiving.
We have a good family and
our faith. We are awfully proud
of our kids. They have always
worked and are kind, thoughtful
people, Betty says.
In addition to their children,
the
Bodleys
have
nine
grandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren.

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Guide

Page 6

February 18, 2015

Organic family farm provides

sense of heritage for the Welsh-Hudson wedding
work with someone who was a
cousin of Claytons. The cousin
introduced them and their
relationship began.
In October 2010, shortly after
they began dating, Clayton
brought Brooke to the family
farm, Welsh Organic Farm
near Lansing run by his brother
and his parents, Gary and Kim
Welsh. Brooke says that is the
weekend she began falling in
love with the farm and all the
people connected with it, most
particularly Clayton.
Eventually, Clayton wanted
to move back to the farm to work
with his brother and parents.
That was a crossroads in their
relationship because he wanted
Brooke to come with him.
Brooke decided that moving
to the Lansing area was what
she envisioned for her future
with Clayton. She nished her
degree in Communication at the
University of Iowa but after she

by Susan Cantine-Maxson
Picture an idyllic fall day
lled with love and you have
the wedding of Clayton Welsh
and Brooke Hudson. Married
October 11, 2014, four years
after they rst met, the young
couple epitomizes a young love
blossoming within the warm
embrace of family and nature.
THE INTRODUCTION
Clayton, a native of the
Lansing area, had gone
to Florida for motorcycle
mechanics school following
his graduation from Kee High
School, and then worked in
Cedar Rapids for two years.
Meanwhile,
Brooke
had
graduated from City High in
Iowa City and gone on to the
University of Iowa. As a student,
she also worked a part-time
job at Mondos, an Iowa City
restaurant. She happened to

moved, she also completed her

education certication classes
at Upper Iowa University and
got a job as an elementary
teacher in Elkader. They lived in
Churchtown, which was close
to the two family farms where
Clayton was working every day.

Clayton
Welsh and
Brooke
Hudson
were
married
October 11,
2014 on
the Welsh
Family
Organic
Farm.

THE ATTRACTION
During the interview for the
story, Brooke describes the
traits that drew her to Clayton,
which include his strong work
ethic and his determination.
She says, He is a person who
has a strong sense of family
loyalty. Although Clayton only
has one brother, his father has
eight siblings. Brooke admires
the closeness of their large
family.
Claytons description of
why he fell in love with Brooke
Welsh-Hudson
Continued on page 7

Photography by Brittany

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Guide

February 18, 2015

Welsh-Hudson
Continued from page 6
includes her personality and
sense of humor, and her desire
to work together to create
their own strong family bond.
When asked to elaborate,
Clayton says that he fell in love
with Brooke because of her
dazzling eyes.
At that point, Brooke adds
the trait of smooth talker to
her description of Clayton.
They laugh warmly, meeting
each others gaze, and the
interviewer knows that the bond
between these two will only
strengthen as time passes.
THE PROPOSAL
Clayton had decided that
New Years Eve 2013 would
be a romantic time to pop the
question. They had intended
to go to La Crosse, WI to
celebrate but snowy roads kept
them in Lansing. They had a
great supper at Grand Central
Station but were done by 9 p.m.
Since it was New Years
Eve, they felt like they should
be out celebrating but decided
to head home to Churchtown.

When they got home, they

discovered their furnace had
quit, so they drove around for
a while looking for parts to x
the furnace. They got what they
needed and Clayton worked
on the furnace to get it started
again. He nished and it was
close to midnight.
Brooke was ready to at
least say Happy New Year at
midnight, but Clayton said he
had to go outside again. Brooke
said she was a little perturbed
that he wasnt going to be with
her at midnight, but at 11:59 he
came back in the house, bent
down on one knee and asked
her to marry him at the stroke
of midnight. They would start
2014 as an engaged couple.
The next day was the
Welsh family Christmas, so
they were blessed with many
congratulations and best wishes
for the next phase of their lives
together. Clayton had picked
out the ring at Elliott Jewelers in
Waukon in November and had
been waiting for that special
moment. His last trip outside

that New Years Eve had been

to the pick-up truck where the
ring was hidden.
THE PLAN
October was a signicant
month for the couple because
thats when they had met,
so they set the date of the
wedding as October 11, the
closest weekend to the fourth
anniversary of their meeting.
October was also the month
when Brooke rst met Claytons
family and came to the family
farm. They felt that the farm
was the best place to hold the
wedding ceremony because it
held such a signicant place in
their relationship.
Brooke said, My dad is
a pastor at a United Church
of Christ in Centerville and I
wanted him to marry us. We
didnt want to be in a church
where my dad couldnt perform
the service. The farm is
sentimental to us; it is a part of
Welsh-Hudson
Continued on page 10

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Page 7

The wedding of Clayton and Brooke Welsh took place on the

home farm of Claytons family, with a large tent (bottom photo
below) providing protection for the ceremony against any
unpredictable weather.
Providing a further
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who have passed
away (photo at right)
but were surely
watching over the
couple on their special
day.

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Guide

Page 8

Sweeney/Curtin
Continued from page 3
could ask him if he would marry
them.
He knows both of our
families really well. So we
called and asked if we could
visit and then went to his home
in Lansing to ask him, she
said. We were thrilled when he
said yes. We couldnt imagine
our day without him.
They also met with Deacon
Mike Ward, because there
were a few things they wanted
to change about the ceremony.
For one, the couple wanted
to be Eucharistic ministers,
serving Communion to their
guests.
Deacon Ward explained
a wedding is the only mass
where the clergy is not the
minister, the bride and groom
are the minister, said Gina.
That helped us focus a lot on
our ceremony.
THE BIG DAY
With her wedding planned
for evening, Gina said she had

the rare opportunity to relax

and sleep in on her wedding
day. At 5:30 p.m., around 300 of
the couples closest friends and
family gathered at the church
to hear Gina and Jeremy
exchange traditional vows.
It was so amazing to be
standing there and saying the
same vows as our parents and
grandparents had in that same
place before us, she said.
In addition, Gina asked the
St. Patrick Choir, of which she
is a member, to sing for her big
day.
It was just beautiful, she
remarked.
THE WEDDING PARTY
Both Gina and Jeremy come
from such large families, and
they wanted their families to be
part of their day. Most of their
wedding party was made up
of family members, including
all of their siblings, nieces and
nephew.
Matrons of Honor were

from classic to a little off beat

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Wedding Officiant
563.419.2115

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Ginas sisters, Nicole Pladsen

and Jennifer Fahey, and
the Best Man was Jeremys
brother, Chad.
Bridesmaids were Ginas
sister-in-law, Regan Sweeney;
Jeremys sisters, Thea and
Jordan Curtin; and Jeremys
sister-in-law, Jaime Curtin.
Groomsmen were Ginas
brother, Justin; her brothersin-law, Jeremy Fahey and Ted
Pladsen; Jeremys friend, Sam
Mount; and Jeremys cousin,
Brad Curtin.
Junior bridesmaids were
Ginas nieces Madilyn, Olivia
and Sophia Fahey, and the
junior groomsman was her
nephew, Andrew Pladsen.
For ower girls, the couple
had Ginas nieces, Isabella
and Lillian Pladsen and Stella
Sweeney, and Jeremys nieces,
Teron and Lail Curtin.
Personal attendants were
Sweeney/Curtin
Continued on page 9

February 18, 2015

Demasque Photography

Although there didnt appear to be snow on the ground, as one

might expect on New Years Eve, there was certainly love in the
air December 31, 2014. Gina Sweeney and Jeremy Curtin chose
to make a time of year typically used for new beginnings - New
Years Eve - even more meaningful by making the ultimate new
beginning; the start of their new life together as husband and
wife with their New Years Eve wedding.

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Hours: Tuesday- Saturday at 4pm; Sunday-Seasonal

Guide

February 18, 2015

Sweeney/Curtin
Continued from page 8
Ginas cousins, Raechelle
Leidahl, Amanda Lubahn, Jodi
Sweeney, Amy Leidahl and Ann
Deering. Altar servers were
Ginas cousin, Faith Dillman,
and Jeremys cousin, Ashton
Farley. Ushers were Jeremys
friends, Brian Schulte, Doug
Berns, Dustin Rounds and
Todd Wilkins.
Lector was Ginas aunt, Joan
Manning, and organist was
Mary Regan. The couple asked
their mothers, Margo Sweeney
and Gail Curtin, to take up the
offertory gifts.
Our ceremony was really our
main focus. Afterwards, Jeremy
said he wasnt sure what to
expect, but the ceremony was
his favorite part of the day. It
was mine, too, said Gina.
THE FUN CONTINUES
Following the ceremony in
Waukon, the festivities moved
to Oneota Country Club in
Decorah, where Ginas parents
are members.
We had everyone greeted
with a glass of champagne. We

Page 9

wanted them all to feel special,

said Gina.
Following a sit-down dinner,
the couple organized a special
dance. Instead of doing a
bouquet toss, the couple did
an anniversary dance and
invited all the married couples
to the dance oor. The bouquet
went to the couple married
the longest, Ginas great aunt
and uncle, Andy and Darlene
Anderson, who have been
married 60 years.
THE PERFECT DAY
Gina said she has no regrets
allowing such a short time to
plan her wedding.
A proposal meant we were
ready to be married and our
engagement was merely the
planning process. I would
recommend it to everyone
who wants less time to stress
and more time to enjoy being
married! she said. It was all
so romantic. It was the best day
of my life, so far. I hope every
girl gets to feel like I did on my
wedding day.

Demasque Photography

The New Years Eve wedding of Gina Sweeney and Jeremy Curtin provided extra special meaning
to ringing in the New Year with family and friends. The wedding party pictured above from the
December 31, 2014 event held at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon featured an abundance of
family members from the large families that both Gina and Jeremy come from, along with a number
of good friends. Family members included sisters, brothers, in-laws, cousins, nieces and a nephew
who all played a role in making New Years Eve 2014 that much more special for the newlyweds.

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Guide

Page 10

Welsh-Hudson
Continued from page 7
our love story, so it seemed like
the most logical choice for the
wedding.
Clayton added, Yes, the
farm was where we fell in love,
so we both wanted to have the
wedding there. We rented a
huge tent from Chad Ness in
Waukon, so we had seating
for 200 under the tent. We
werent sure what the weather
would be like in October, so we
thought a tent would be a good
back-up security measure.
Since I come from such a large
family and we have a lot of
friends, the reception included
200 more people. We had
the reception at TJ Hunters
Banquet Hall (in Lansing). We
rented most of the decorations
from B.D. Productions outside
of Waukon.
It was so much fun

decorating for the wedding

and the reception. Everyone in
the family pitched in. We were
able to get into the Banquet
Hall several days ahead of
the ceremony so we could
decorate and not feel rushed,
Brooke replied. The whole
event was very much a family
affair. Claytons sister-in-law,
who owns a salon, Studio K,
in Lansing, did all our hair.
My mom had designed all
the invitations, which we had
printed at JaDeccS in Waukon.
All the owers were from the
Red Geranium and my mom
arranged the bouquets; the
orchids,
hydrangeas
and
carnations were tied to the fence
posts, we carried them and they
were also the centerpieces. My
whole family helped decorate
the area with owers. Id read

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Phone 563-538-3943
201 Main St., Lansing, IA

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This beautiful open loft space
is beautifully decorated and
immaculate. Lots of open space
for entertaining and socializing
with guests and family. Great
for weddings, family reunions,
birthday celebrations, weekend
getaways.

that orchids mean good luck

in this new place, so I felt that
was especially appropriate.
My dad and uncle, who are
both pastors, performed the
ceremony. My sister was maid
of honor and my childhood best
friend was Matron of Honor. All
of Claytons groomsmen were
relatives except for one out-oftown friend.
Clayton continued, My uncle
took charge of the car parking
on the farm. He organized the
parking for 110 cars. We had
other relatives bringing people
from the parking area to the
wedding tent with gators and
golf carts. It was beautiful
weather and a great day for
a ride. One of the best parts
was my three-year-old nephew
and his little sister. He had
an electric gator which he
rode down the hill and up the
aisle into the tent. He had a
sign on the back saying Here
comes the bride. His mom had
crocheted a pillow which had
Welsh-Hudson
Continued on page 11

February 18, 2015

Photography by Brittany

Clayton and Brooke Welsh felt getting married on the Welsh

home farm was very tting since thats where their relationship
continued to grow and deepen over the years. This photo by a
John Deere tractor seemed only right since the family farm has
and continues to play a huge role in their life together.

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Call to book your event or

order your cake!

563-538-9214

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Mon, Wed, Thur & Fri 6am-2pm,

Closed Tues, Sat & Sun 7am-1pm

Guide

February 18, 2015

Welsh-Hudson
Continued from page 10
the rings attached. His little
sister, the ower girl, sat on the
oor in between Brooke and I
during the ceremony, looking
up at us through a lot of the
service.
In preparation for the big day,
almost all the available bed and
breakfast places in the Lansing
area were reserved for out-oftown guests. Guests stayed
at McGarittys, the Blue Heron
Inn, Lansing Lofts, above
Miltys, Murphys Cove, and the
Riverview Inn. The Rossville
Store provided the rehearsal
dinner the night before the
wedding.
FIRST LOOK
Something old, something
new, something borrowed,
something blue is the ageold wedding tradition. Brooke
fullled that saying by carrying
her
great
grandmothers
sapphire blue ring tied to her
bouquet; by having the wedding
at the farm that has been in
the Welsh family for three
generations; and by wearing

a pearl necklace that Clayton

had given her right before the
ceremony.
Also before the ceremony,
they had their rst look at one
another. They wanted to have
a private moment before all
the festivities started so they
took that moment to exchange
letters with one another which
included their personal vows
dedicating themselves to each
other. After that quiet alone
time, picture taking began.
The bridal dress was ivory
silk with caf lace overtones
topped by a birdcage veil. The
bridesmaids wore wine-colored
dresses and the groomsmen
wore grey tuxes with wine
ties, rented from Teslows in
Waukon.
Choosing
the
perfect
wedding dress can be quite
an ordeal, but Brooke said,
This was the rst dress I tried
on. I tried on seven more but I
came back to this one. It was
perfect. The accent color for
the ensemble was pale yellow.
The bridal party ventured

Page 11

to the top of Mt. Hosmer

and to many places around
Lansing, such as by the Black
Hawk Bridge and by the Red
Geranium, to have some unique
outdoor pictures taken before
the ceremony. Photography by
Brittany from Decorah captured
each of those blissful moments
in time.
THE CEREMONY
As everyone assembled
for the wedding, Clayton
seated all the grandparents.
The bridesmaids and bride
walked out of the farm house.
Brookes uncle, who is also
a pastor, began the service
so that Brookes father could
accompany the rest of the
family as Brooke and Clayton
met at the front of the tent.
Brooke stated, We wanted
both families to give us to each
other, not just the father giving
away his daughter. Since my
parents are divorced, we had
Welsh-Hudson
Continued on page 12

Photography by Brittany

Clayton Welsh and Brooke Hudson take a moment prior to

their wedding to share some quiet time together, with Clayton
taking the opportunity to give Brooke a new string of pearls
that completed the traditional wedding adage Something old,
something new, something borrowed, something blue. The
couple also used that quiet time to exchange letters with one
another that included personal vows to each other.

Guide

Page 12

February 18, 2015

Welsh-Hudson
Continued from page 11
three sets of parents who
joined in a prayer circle while
my uncle led us in prayer to
bless the ceremony and the
wedding. Then my dad took
over and performed the rest of
the wedding service.
The DJ from Music Mix of La
Crosse, WI played instrumental
selections. Soloists included
Brookes cousin, who is a
professional singer, and her
step-mom. When God Made
You by New Song was the
couples unity cross song. The
music as the bride came down
the aisle was Never Stop by
Safety Sue. Brooke remarked,
We didnt want the traditional
Wedding March song; we
wanted lyrics that were like the
vows we were going to say. It
was a musical way to affirm our
love.
THE CELEBRATION
After the service, the bridal
party hopped on to a wagon
hooked to the tractor and took

a six-mile ride into town to hit

Sweeneys on the River and
other local hot spots as part of
the celebration. The bridal party
then joined the rest of the 400
guests at TJ Hunters Banquet
Hall in Lansing.
Clayton said, My dad and
mom provided the organic
chicken breast and pork loins
from our own farm for the
banquet. We sell our organic
meat through Organic Prairie
and Organic Valley in La Farge,
WI, so they supplied everything
we needed. Jason at TJ
Hunters then fixed the rest of
the catered meal. Our farm is
all about using organic meat
and eggs. We believe strongly
that it is better for people than
products with a lot of pesticides,
chemicals or GMOs.
Brooke added, Seeing the
passion that Claytons family
has for organic food has made

The wedding party for the October 11, 2014 wedding of Clayton Welsh and Brooke Hudson
included a combination of family members and friends. The groups pictured above and below
enjoyed making their way around the Lansing area to take some memorable photos that made
the day even more special. Photography by Brittany

Welsh-Hudson
Continued on page 13

DISC JOCKEY & MUSIC SERVICE

Brad & Becky Decker
Waukon, IA
ced

rien
Expe

Affo

rdab

le

Entertainment Specialists

800-764-MIXX (6499)
www.musicmixoflacrosse.com

s
on
ti
a
l
u
t
a
r
Cong
Clayton

& Brooke
Welsh
Wishing you all
the happiness as you
start this beautiful
journey together.

Waukon, IA 800-932-7028
www.elliottjewelers.com

Photo by Brittany Todd,

Photography by Brittany

Open Mon. Nights Until 8;

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(563)
419-8194
bdproductions101@yahoo.com

Guide

February 18, 2015

Welsh-Hudson
Continued from page 12
me a believer as well. We knew
we had to have only organic
meat at the banquet.
Brooke continued, We had
so much fun at the reception.
Nutmegs of Lansing created
special cupcakes for the
reception guests. They also
created a brunch for us the next
morning. We had a Candy Bar,
a photo booth where guests
could leave video messages
for us, and our own Instagram
Hashtag #BCWelsh so that
guests could go to that hashtag
and see the pictures from the
wedding and reception.
Clayton noted, Meanwhile,
our bridal party had toilet
papered our entire house and
put our mailbox on top of our
car.
AFTER THE BIG EVENT
Since Brooke is a teacher
and October is a busy time for
farmers like Clayton and his
family, work beckoned right
away Monday morning. They
postponed a honeymoon until
Christmas vacation when they

Page 13

Brooke Hudson-Clayton Welsh Wedding

October 11, 2014
went to the Rivera Maya in
Mexico.
Brooke currently teaches
in Waukon and is working on
nishing a masters degree
in special education at Upper
Iowa. Claytons dreams of
being a part of the Welsh Family
Organic Farm have come true.
Helping his dad and brother
manage 80,000 chickens a
year, 600 hogs, 100 beef cows
and over 10,000 laying hens
means chores are a constant
draw.
INTO THE FUTURE
Four months into their
marriage, they still have
that newlywed glow. Their
easy way of nishing each
others sentences, of laughing
together, of taking turns telling
their courtship and wedding
story are all indications that the
natural setting of this wedding
on the family farm was a
foundation built on family love
and caring which will sustain
this couple in years to come.

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Thanks
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Guide

Page 14

Reiser/Collins
Continued from page 2
serving.
Our motto was Many hands
make light work, said Nancy.
PERSONAL TOUCHES
Some of the personal
touches the couple added to
their day included a wagon
wheel and Mason jar light
xture fabricated by Ryan,
Mason jar bouquets and a grain
bin-turned-photo booth.
We tried to keep things
simple, said Samantha.
Ryans
mom,
Teri,
personalized a round bale with
owers formed into the letter
C and had it placed at the
entrance to the farm.
One of the couples favorite
parts of the ceremony was their
use of a unity cross, which
signied the wedding covenant.
She said they were thankful
that many prayers brought
great weather for the big day.
Ryans dad hung rosary
beads on his clothesline to
help keep the rain away, said

Samantha.
Because it was forecast to
be a hot one, Samantha came
up with the idea of printing her
programs on hand fans guests
used to cool themselves off
during the day. Guests were
offered bottled water as they
entered the ceremony.
It was really warm, but
we were lucky there were no
bugs, she said.
THE WEDDING PARTY
At 3 p.m. Saturday, June 21,
Pastor Ken Kimball united the
couple in marriage. They were
surrounded by friends and
family, who sat on church pews
and wood planks positioned
on bales in the Reiser familys
historic barn.
Matron of Honor was
Samanthas sister, Nikky Irvin,
and bridesmaids were her
sisters, Jessie Kurth and Rachel
Reiser; Ryans sister, Michaela
Collins; and Samanthas niece,
Aubree Cota.

Sycamore
Floral
www.sycamorefloral.com

116 Rossville Rd., Waukon

(563) 568-3676
Reg. Store Hours: Monday - Friday 8am - 5pm;
Saturday 9am - 2pm

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We offer service for
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Samantha &
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DJ service!

February 18, 2015

Best
Man
was
Sean
Collins, Ryans brother, and
Groomsmen were friends Tom
Gavin, Dustin Darling and
Shayne Gavin.
Mini-Maids were Samanthas nieces, Azlynn Cota
and Mia and Makenna Kurth.
Flower girl was her other niece,
Maren Kurth, and ushers were
Samanthas
brothers-in-law,
Joe Irvin and Adam Kurth.
Lector was Mary Kernan and
vocalists were Vicki Pladsen
and Nic Bedell. Personal
attendants were Brooke White
and Carlyn Wacker, and hosts
and hostesses were Jim and
Kathy McGettigan and Dean
and Deneen Reiser.
A GOOD TIME
Samantha said although
the preparations were a lot of
work, she thinks everyone had
a good time.
Reiser/Collins
Continued on page 15

Studio M Photography

Samantha Reiser and Ryan Collins exchanged wedding vows

June 21, 2014 in the comfort and relaxation of the family farm
where Samantha grew up near Churchtown. The family-based
feel to the entire wedding day, from planning to completion, is
even further evident in the above photo taken with the couple
relaxing and enjoying a moment in front of a classic pick-up truck
owned by Samanthas uncle, Lyle Larson.

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Kitchen
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Outdoor Seating
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Waukon Golf and Country Club

308 1st Ave. SE, Waukon, IA 563-568-9939

JR Brink Waukon, IA 563-568-1999

www.waukongolfcc.com

Guide

February 18, 2015

Page 15

Reiser/Collins
Continued from page 14
I think having it at the farm
created a relaxed atmosphere
for people. Some brought
campers or horse trailers and
camped across the road. We
hauled people from their cars
with gators, she said.
I think the dance could have
gone on all night, and later on
they made some sandwiches
and brought the cookies out,
said Nancy. A lot of people
stayed over and came over the
next morning to have breakfast
with us and help clean up.
We never could have done
it all without the help of family
and friends, added Ryan.
Samantha said shes glad
they made the decision to tie
the knot in the comfort of the
place where she grew up.
I have three sisters. I bet if
you asked my family, if, of all of
them, I would be the one who
would want to get married in
the barn, they would have said
no way But I was marrying a
farmer and I wanted him to be
comfortable, too, she said.

Studio M Photography

e
l
i
Sm

Samantha and Ryan Collins wedding included a number of

personalized touches that made the day much more meaningful
for all those involved. The wedding party is pictured above inside
the Reiser family barn where the ceremony was held, with guests
being seated on church pews and wood planks placed on bales.
Other personalized additions to the day included a light xture (top
photo at left) created by Ryan out of a wagon wheel and Mason jars
used to brighten up the inside of the barn, Mason jar bouquet center
pieces (photo at far left), a unity cross ceremony and their wedding
programs printed on hand fans (photo at immediate left) to help
keep wedding guests cool on the hot June day.

Appearance is important... before and after your special day.

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Paul & Kim Kockler

July 26, 2014

Kim is the daughter of Kay &
Pat Gavin. Kay is a Reg. Dental
Assistant at our Waukon location.

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18 1st Ave. NW, Waukon, IA
563-568-4528
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Travis & Ashley Polodna

Sept. 20, 2014
Ashley is a
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Joe & Allison Kaisersatt

Oct. 11, 2014
Allison is the daughter of
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Tim & Andrea Miller

Nov. 1, 2014
Andrea is a
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Philip & Rachel Mergen

Dec. 31, 2014
Rachel is the daughter of
Jane Orr, Hygienist at our
Prairie du Chien location.

Family Dentistry
Associates of Monona

101 Franklin St., Monona, IA 563-539-4651

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Guide

Page 16

February 18, 2015

From the start of their relationship to their October wedding,

Vicki Bodley and Kenny Klepper have done it their own way
by Kelli Boylen, freelance writer
The plan was perfect: An
early October weekend, a
small cabin nestled into the
woods, the autumn trees in all
their glory. It was even a fun
date, 10-4 (October 4), easy
to remember and perfect for
a couple that communicates
by two-way radio when they
partake in one of their favorite
pastimes. A large reception
would follow at their rural
home, with a large tent set up
in the yard.
The problem was no one
told Mother Nature to keep the
thermostat turned up.

On the day Kenny Klepper

and Vicki Bodley of Castalia
were married, temperatures
topped out at about 50
degrees. The bare-shouldered
bridesmaids dresses werent
nearly warm enough and the
bride herself borrowed a shawl
part way through the ceremony.
Thirty mile an hour winds made
it difcult to set up the tent the
day before the wedding.
But all of that didnt stop the
bride and groom from having
huge smiles on their faces
throughout the day, and even
shedding a few tears of joy.
Vicki enjoys singing and she
has placed in local karaoke

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contests. Ken once teased her

about her singing to him on her
wedding day, but she told him
it wouldnt work out because it
would make him cry. He didnt
know it, but she came up with
a plan.
He knew that she was
going to walk to the altar
to the Christina Perri song
A Thousand Years. In the
week before the ceremony,
she recorded herself singing
the song. At the rehearsal, the
Christina Perri version was
played. It was about a minute
into the song at the actual
ceremony that Ken realized the
song was being sung by Vicki
to him. Not only did he tear up,
but he also got goosebumps on
his arms that had nothing to do
with the coldness.
It was a second marriage
for both of them, and they took
care to make the ceremony
what they wanted. Vickis
favorite color is purple and she
searched far and wide until she
found the perfect deep purple
dress to wear for her wedding.
Vickis family has long owned
a small cabin tucked in the
woods
between
Postville
Bodley/Klepper
Continued on page 17

Vicki Bodley and Kenny Klepper were married October 4, 2014

at the cabin owned by Vickis family located between Postville
and Frankville. The two knew each other for more than 20 years
before nally ending up as man and wife, putting their own
personal touches on everything from Kennys proposal to their
10-4 wedding date.

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Guide

February 18, 2015

Bodley/Kleeper
Continued from page 16
and Frankville. She says she
always wanted an outdoor
ceremony at that location. So,
thats where their wedding took
place.
Her bridesmaids were her
nieces, Shelby and Riley
Bodley. Kens daughter, Celsey,
his son, Kyle, and his future
daughter-in-law, Jamie, stood
up for Ken. Kens mom, Ardis,
shared a poem she had written
about building a marriage upon
a strong foundation. Vickis
mom, JoAnne, read a blessing.
Kennys sister, Karla, along with
her husband, Eric Johnson,
and their children, Abby and
Kassie, provided the music.
WATER CEREMONY
Patti Campbell, a friend
of the couple, is an officiant
and was more than happy to
marry them. She customized
the ceremony just for them,
including a unique water
ceremony. There were several
different beautiful containers of
water involved in the ceremony.

The first container was clear,

representing Kenny, clear
and pure of heart. Another
container was red, representing
Kennys children, Kyle and
Celsey, and his blood flowing
in their veins. A container of
blue water represented Vicki,
bold and beautiful.
Patti conducted the ceremony
with carefully chosen words as
the water was blended. You
can stand on your own and
be whole, without the need of
anything else. When the waters
are blended together they
represent an entirely new and
extraordinary love relationship.
Each molecule of water brings
to the mixture a lasting beauty
that forever enriches the
combination Just as these
molecules of water can never
be separated and poured again
into the individual vases, so will
the love and bond between the
two of you and now your children
make you inseparable.
Once the waters were
blended, the now purple liquid

was sealed into a beautiful

crystal vase for the couple to
keep in their home.
The wedding ceremony itself
was just attended by family,
but they invited many friends
and coworkers to the reception
at their home following the
ceremony.
A BIT OF HISTORY ON
WHICH TO BUILD A FUTURE
Vicki and Kenny first met
when she was 17 years old. At
that time, Kenny was married
and working with Vickis dad.
Fast forward 23 years Kenny is now single and still
living near Postville, and Vicki is
single and living in Minneapolis,
MN. Their paths had crossed
from time to time, but they
hadnt seen one another since
she moved away in 2005.
Christmas Eve, 2010, Vicki
attended
church
services
Bodley/Klepper
Continued on page 19

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Guide

Page 18

February 18, 2015

Words to love by: Area individuals offer their

experiences and advice on lasting, loving relationships
by B.J. Tomlinson
With
February
being
the Month of Love and
featuring the day of the year
most focused on love and
relationships, Valentines Day,
area individuals were asked to
share their experiences and/or
advice with newlyweds, those
thinking about starting a new life
together, or anyone interested
in making a relationship work.
Whether that advice be very
research-based, or evolved
from normal everyday life,
the common bond is that it all
comes from the heart, as such
a topic should.
CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES
Sometimes solutions can be
found just by thinking differently.
Our marriage of four years
was going well. I dont recall

ever having any type of

disagreement, definitely no
arguments. Why would we?
The relationship was still young.
Then one day I went to brush
my teeth. When I squeezed the
toothpaste tube, the paste was
hard and chunky. I didnt give
it a thought, cleaned the end
out and continued to brush.
After a few days I realized the
same thing was happening
every day.
It became a little irritating
because every time I went
to brush I had to squeeze
the hardened portion of the
toothpaste out first. Then
I realized my wife wasnt
putting the cap back on after
she brushed, causing the first
quarter-inch of paste to harden
inside the tube. I thought, OK
she forgot, Ill remind her and
were done.

Not! It wasnt quite that

simple. The same situation
continued. Over a couple of
weeks I addressed it two or
three more times, but she still
would not replace the cap. At
this point I was quite upset.
My logic was the cap needed
to be on to prevent the end from
drying out and keep it sanitary.
Her logic was that it was a
waste of time and effort to
keep screwing and unscrewing
the cap every time and that
it wasnt unsanitary. Another
week went by and I find myself

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going into the bathroom after

she brushed just to check, then
yelling out the bathroom door,
Will you put the cap back on
the toothpaste! Its very simple,
cant you just do it!?
After my outburst, she
got angry as well. She burst
into the bathroom yelling at me
saying she wont be ordered
around and that yelling was
unacceptable. Needless to say,
we were not very cuddly that
night.
The next day, still frustrated,
I went to town to get some
groceries. As I proceeded down
Aisle 6, I saw the solution.
It almost slapped me in the
face, and it stuck out like a
sore thumb. I thought, Oh my
goodness, its so simple!
I finished shopping and as
I proceeded through checkout I had a huge smile on my

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My husband and I came
from different backgrounds, as
most married couples do. His
family was interested in sports
and watched football, baseball
and basketball. My family did
not, so I had no knowledge of
the rules of any of the games
or why anyone would want to
watch.
My husband was determined
to watch sports all weekend and
continued this practice, even
if I suggested an alternative
activity. So, I made the decision
to figure out what the attraction
was.
After I asked, my husband
patiently began teaching me
the rules and strategies of the
games. After this tutoring, I
came to understand and have
joined him on the couch.
Weve been married over 30
years now. I watch games and
he comes shopping with me.
LOVE ISNT 50-50
While we both liked being

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Guide

February 18, 2015

Bodley/Kleeper
Continued from page 17
with her family, and she saw
Ken sitting about two pews in
front of her. She remembered
his big brown eyes and his
kindness, and she decided she
needed to make it a point to talk
to him afterwards.
I had to chase him around
the church to talk to him, she
laughs. He was talking and he
knows everyone.
They had a brief visit. The
next morning, Christmas day,
Kenny tried to contact one of
Vickis family members to see
if she was seeing anyone, but
it was someone she didnt have
regular contact with. That night,
she sent him an e-mail, not
knowing that he rarely checks
for messages.
About two weeks later he
worked up the nerve to call
Vickis mom to get her number.
January 12, he called her for
the first time, actually dialing
twice before hitting send on his
cell phone because he was so
nervous. She was thrilled to
hear from him.
Just a few days later he
made a trip to Minneapolis
to see her, driving all the way
back in the morning to go to
work. They talked on the phone
pretty much every day until they
moved in together six months
later.
He is the kindest man I have
ever met, Vicki says.
Ken says, I love her
personality and bubbly attitude.
She is fun to be around.
SURPRISING PROPOSAL
Every year, Vicki and her
family take a trip to the Big
Horn Mountains to ride horses.
Ken rarely takes a day off work
and hadnt taken a vacation in
years, but this year he decided
to go. Unbeknownst to Vicki,
he had bought an engagement
ring. He wrapped it up, put it in
a chewing tobacco can and hid
it in his toolbox.
As they were getting ready
to go, Vicki, who has wanted
to get married for quite a while,
jokingly asked Ken, Did you
pack my ring?
Vicki almost unpacked the
ring though when she went
to take the toolbox out of the
truck, telling Ken he shouldnt
take his along because her dad
was bringing one. He told her to
put it back.
About sunset July 27, in the
Big Horn Mountains, Ken, Vicki
and her niece, Riley, went to

look for firewood and Riley took

her camera. Riley, 17, had no
idea what Kenny had planned.
While they were walking, Riley
joked, This would be a good
place for engagement photos.
Ken agreed. To the shock
of Vicki and Riley, he dropped
to his knee and pulled out his
chewing tobacco can. I asked
her three times before she
answered. She was speechless
and that never happens, he
says.
I actually thought he was
joking at first, Vicki recalls.
I didnt see the ring because
he had it all wrapped up. I just
couldnt believe it.
They were in a relatively
remote area at an elevation of
9,000 feet. It was several hours
before they could get to an area
with cell phone reception so
they could call friends to share
the news.
MORE THAN JUST A DATE
They had been together for
three and a half years from their
initial pursuit of one another
until the proposal on the family
trip, so a long engagement
wasnt necessarily in the cards
for them. Vicki always wanted
a fall wedding and Kens son
is getting married in 2015, so
they decided to not waste any
time and chose October 4 as a
wedding date.
Kenny and Vicki both enjoy
shooting sports, especially
coyote hunting, and part of that

Page 19

Family has always played a significant role in the relationship between Vicki Bodley and Kenny
Klepper, so having family involved in their October 4, 2014 wedding was an obvious choice.
Standing up for Kenny during the ceremony were (from left in above photo) his son, Kyle, his future
daughter-in-law, Jamie, and his daughter, Celsey. Additionally, Vickis bridesmaids included her
nieces, Shelby Bodley and Riley Bodley. Kennys mother also shared a poem and Vickis mother
read a blessing during the ceremony, and Kennys sister, Karla, her husband, Eric, and their
children, Abby and Kassie, provided the music for the event.
hunting strategy and safety
is using a two-way radio to
communicate with one another.
They use 10-4 as part of their
radio chatter, so it is rather
unlikely either of them will forget
their wedding anniversary.
A PERFECT FIT
Vicki is vivacious

outgoing, Kenny is more

reserve and quiet. They
balance each other well. He
often shakes his head at her
antics. This makes her laugh

even more and she says, He

shakes his head because he
cant believe how lucky he is to
have me.
Ken just smiles back.

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Guide

Page 20

Words
Continued from page 18
on the river, I wanted to sh
and my wife wanted to read. I
wanted to be in the shade and
she wanted to be in the sun. So
we bought a pontoon that had
a top we could put up so that I
could be in the shade and she
could sit up front in the sun.

years ago, and I would love

to go through those 48 years
again. Remember, you will
not have each other forever
on this earth. Someone will
be left behind, so take the
time to make your memories
good ones.

Then, over time, she decided

to sh but would not bait her
hook or take the sh off. So, I
did that for her and then she
would catch more sh than I
would!
She also hated to clean sh,
so I did that and she brought
me cocktails and fried the best
sh I have ever tasted - along
with all the rest that went with it.
We discovered that during our
time on the river we had time
to talk things through and had a
good time in the bargain.
The lesson we both learned
was that couples need to spend
time together to work things
out. A good relationship is both
people giving 100%, not 50%
each.
My wife passed away three

IGNORANCE ISNT BLISS

Smart people learn from
their mistakes. Really sharp
people learn from the mistakes
of others. - Brandon Mull,
Fablehaven
I was raised in the 1950s,
when life was much simpler.
Women stayed home and the
man worked. People didnt air
their dirty laundry in public as
they do now.
The accepted child rearing
theory at that time was
that children should not see their
parents ght because it would
create feelings of insecurity in
their little minds. So, I did not
ever see my parents ght or
how they resolved conicts. I
also didnt see them express
affection toward each other

either - no kissing, no cuddling,

but I have no idea what the
theory was behind that.
But the result was, when I got
married I had no idea that my
husband and I were supposed
to reveal our thoughts and
feelings and then discuss
them to resolve issues.
Evidently, my husband didnt
know either, because we really
didnt ever talk about anything
serious. We didnt have any
ghts, though. As it turns out,
that is not a good thing. The
marriage only survived 10
years.
Because of that failure,
however, I did learn that I was
ignorant of the skills needed to
make a relationship work. I set

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about educating myself. Over a

period of years I probably read
every self-help book in sight on
the subject, attended seminars,
took a self-esteem class and
eventually even signed up for a
Social Psychology class.
I learned communication
skills like active listening, being
assertive and expressing my
own wants and needs. I also
learned that both people in a
relationship need to be aware
of the skills required.
I learned about relationship
myths. For example, opposites
do not really attract; distance
does not make the heart
grow fonder; love and lust
are two different things; there
is more than one person in the
world who could be a suitable
mate.

I learned that love is a verb,

not a feeling. I learned that
there are different forms of
love - unrequited, romantic,
familial, agape, unconditional
- and that a relationship is like
a three-legged stool. Each of
the legs represent the three
necessary ingredients of a
successful union. The rst
is commitment, the second
is chemistry and the third
is companionship. If one of
them is missing, your stool will
wobble and eventually fall over.
Love never dies a natural
death. It dies because we
dont know how to replenish its
source. It dies of blindness and
errors and betrayals. It dies of
illness and wounds; it dies of
weariness, of witherings, of
tarnishings. - Anas Nin

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