At the Blind Pig house we’ve never celebrated Valentine’s Day very much. There’s been the occasional candy, card, meal, or flowers over the years, but most of the time we don’t do anything nor even say Happy Valentine’s.
I stumbled on the vintage postcard above and it immediately made me think of Granny and Pap.
After courting for three months Pap asked her to marry him. She said yes and one day they went over the state line to Georgia where you could get a marriage license quickly. On the way home Pap convinced Granny to stop at a preacher’s house and get married. They had to stop at a couple of places before they found a preacher at home.
When they got back to Granny’s house she was terrified to tell her mother they were married. She begged her daddy to do it for her and he did.
Although her mother was very upset, it all worked out in the end. You can hear Granny tell the story herself here.
Here’s some posts about love I’ve written over the years.
- The Cake of Love
- A Crazy Love Story
- Kin = Love
- Apple Pies & Love
- My Favorite Love Song
- A Valentine in the Woods
- Love Jerry
On this day for love, I’m wishing you a Happy Valentine’s Day. I kin you!
Last night’s video: The Panther on Cold Mountain & Other Stories 10.
Tipper
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What a sweet memory! Thank you for sharing your family stories.
So sorry to hear about grannie. Paul’s celebration of life video of
grannies life, made me cry.Gone but never forgotten.How can I get your address.
Thank you Willa! It’s PO Box 83 Brasstown NC 28902 🙂
I vaguely remember Mammaw and Papaw celebrating Valentine’s, but I don’t think they got each other much; mainly cards and love letters and things like that. Mammaw eloped; I remember we were cleaning out her closet and I saw her dainty lace wedding dress and my Papaw’s fancy suit. They loved each other dearly until the day Papaw died in 2017, and even then we were constantly finding love letters to her; even underneath deck boards! Mammaw never wanted anyone else all the way to her death just last year. Makes me cry just thinking about it. Those two were inseparable. I can’t remember what Mammy or Pappy thought of it, or if Mammy was even alive when Mammaw eloped; Mammaw was the last of 13-odd children and Mammy died in her teens, I think.
Meanwhile my Mom insisted on getting a big bunch of roses for Valentine’s, and I remember Dad getting me some too in school. In the present day my husband and I just gave each other candy and cards this year. We usually alternate who gets who what but I couldn’t remember whose turn it was. We even got to go out and get some pizza, which was nice. Don’t let anyone tell you British men aren’t good lovers! 😉
I pray Jesus remembers you guys. There’s no better comforter in this world than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. My Mammaw went downhill not too long from when Granny did and I’ve been reading and thinking of y’all.
Hi Tipper. I love all of Granny’s stories. TY for sharing the link. She and Pap were such a cute couple.
Hi Tipper,
My parents dated for about a year and decided to get married July 4th, their work holiday. My dad’s blood test got broken in the mail and they would have to wait until another one was completed. They had decided to get married on July 4th so they ended up going to York, SC to the Probate Judge and get their marriage license and have him marry them. Several other folks in the community had done the same thing so the community accepted it. Charles and I dated from October to January and got married January 25th once again at York, SC by the Probate Judge thirty years later. Our son Walter and his wife Jessica decided to do the same thing. They got absolutely beautiful wedding clothes and went to the Probate Judge in Travis County Courthouse in Austin, Texas. They did not allow any of the family to be there but videoed the complete service for us. They even had a photographer take pictures of them arriving at the courthouse and getting married. The courtroom and the judge looked very official but very special. They did this because they wanted to continue a very special tradition our family has. I think it is wonderful. My dad always teased us that since we got married by a judge we couldn’t get a divorce. I don’t know, no one has tried it yet. Valentine’s Day is usually going out to dinner or getting each other something we wanted or needed. This year Charles took me to my favorite fast food in Hillsville, for a BLT, Coke, and black Cherry ice cream. I got him a button up sweater on sale that he liked. I was lucky and it came on Valentine’s Day. Monday we are going to his favorite restaurant “Golden Corral” in Mt. Airy, NC. (cheaper during the week and during the day) He has ordered me something that was on sale and he won’t tell what it is. Once again, we don’t splurge on such things we just get things we like to do together or need. That’s the Mountain Way. Kathy Patterson
❤️
So many great stories Love & prayers for you all !
My parents have a similar story to your parents. They met in April and got married in June. They went to Ringold, GA and got their blood test and license. They got married in a church there in Ringold the same day. Mom said she remembers as they were in the process of completing the paperwork and blood tests thinking she hoped that Daddy was old enough to get married. She hadn’t even asked him how old he was. Obviously he was old enough ☺️. When they got home in Tennessee, they told their parents. Daddy’s parents didn’t believe them. They had been married for 42 years when Daddy passed away in 2019.
Was getting a blood test mandatory in those days? If so, what was it for? I’ve personally never heard of such a thing.
Reading all the comments this afternoon, I might very well be the oldest acorn here, and my Sweetie and I are still very much in love after 65 years and counting. I was 27 and she was19 when we married in 1960. I had one distinct advantage when beginning our courtship over that magical summer of 1959: I had already met her mother and somehow had left a favorable impression…yet, my intended turned me down when I first asked her out. She told her mother, “He’s not my type.” I think she did like my two-toned green 1955 Buick Special.
Love the vintage card and the story. We kin you and Matt, too. ♥️ from SC
We always enjoyed Valentine’s Day at our house. We did homemade Valentine cards with colored paper, lacey doilies, and glitter, and everybody got one! We’d make sweets sometimes or we’d wait until the day after Valentine’s and get a Russell Stover box when it went on sale. I still find some of the homemade cards tucked away from time to time.
Morning everyone. My mom and dad dated 2 months when he told her they were getting married. She said she didn’t cook, clean and doesn’t like kids. 4 months later they were married. They were married 57 years when he passed. My dad always brought home chocolates for us. He would say he is teaching my brother how to treat his future wife and showing my sister and me how we should be treated. It really was my dads way of saying he loved us. I think I was the only one who understood this. My husband always brought home chocolates, and I usually baked something. One of my grown sons lives with me and brought me a little chocolate heart a few days ago. He is the impatient one. Knowing my older son who lives in California, he is spoiling his wife. The last 20 years it was our cats birthday. He lived to February 15th last year. I think we enjoyed “Mick’s” birthday the most. Me, I don’t need hearts and flowers. But a cat who was a loving companion for 20 yrs., gave unconditional love? I miss that. Anna from Arkansas.
My parents love story and wedding story has been told so many times over the years. The preacher told it at the deer camp and it was told at many parties. My Daddy came down to visit friends in Houston from Oklahoma. He had just been discharged from the army. While sitting on the front porch, he saw my Mamma get off the bus coming home from work. His buddy introduced them. Fast forward to the wedding. It was a small affair at the preachers house. They stood in front of the fireplace, and right in the middle of the vows my Daddy said my Momma just crumpled and her hat went one way and her shoes went the other. They took her to lay down on the preachers bed. Everyone crowded into the bedroom and finished their vows. Dad took Mom home to her Mother’s house. He was upset that he lost his $15 for their honeymoon suite! They were married 68 years when he died at 93 and Momma lives with me now and is 95. I love their story. My Daddy was not a Christian also, but he soon became a devoted man of God because of Momma. Their story still continues in their children, grandchildren and great grands.
My mother had a similar story to Granny’s. HER mother didn’t want her youngest daughter married to some flyboy (my dad was air force) and had the minister lock the church door before the scheduled time for the wedding. My dad started phoning various church preachers and finally found one who agreed to an immediate wedding. My grandmother’s plans were nipped in the bud and my parents ended up “till death do us part” for over 60 years.
I’m a hopeless romantic, and I absolutely loved Granny’s love story and also your and Matt’s love story. I got such a good belly laugh at the “sweet revenge” you got on Matt by putting his truck on sale. And I loved hearing Granny tell about how they got out and hunted for a preacher to marry them. Her story brought back memories of my own Mom and Dad about how they met and got married. They, like Granny and Pap, hunted for a preacher to marry them. They got a sweet country preacher out of the cane patch to marry them, then Mama was scared to death to go home and tell her mom and dad. She waited about two weeks before telling them. I wrote a mini-book in their memory about it in 2016 called “Roadsters and Roosters: A Depression Era Love Story.” Anyway, thanks so much for sharing your & Matt and Granny’s sweet stories. I thoroughly enjoyed both. What a wonderful start to Valentine’s Day!
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
Hope you all Brasstown folks have a pleasant day—maybe do something nice for yourselves. And everyone else also in the midst of sadness or otherwise. Mrs. Wilson will be missed but fondly remembered by many. Loved hearing her love story today. I often hear the term courting growing up but not so much these days in my area. On another note, I liked hearing about the gravel! We had to add gravel at my parent’s farm some time back and it’s made a big difference.
Happy Valentine’s Day Pressley’s! The holiday isn’t celebrated in our family either. I buy everything a candy bar. That’s about it. My husband’s birthday is the 16 so that’s when we celebrate.
Blessings
Gina I hope he has a wonderful day 🙂
Happy Valentine’s Day!! In the years I have given my loved ones cards, candy, and money. The most unusual gift I have ever gotten until today wad when I was a teenager and a girlfriend gave me a box of pecan pies. She knew of my love for pecan pie so she bought me a case containing six pies. Really sweet. Today Diane gave me two coverings for my raised beds. We need them because of the small herd of deer I feed on my property. I have a three legged doe along with many other does and fawns and a big buck. Another sweet gift because my herd lives my potato plants, roses, and anything else that’s green.
The best gift if all though was in 1998 when as her husband of over fifty years along with her two sons and daughters and their spouses held Irene Gosselin she went home to the Lord on Valentine’s Day. So this day has memories that are very painful and wonderful at the same time.
Oh by the way Diane also gave me a box of turtles which I love. I finished my pecan pie two days ago.
Again Happy Valentine’s Day!!!
God bless you.
We also don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day. I have a sister who got married on Valentine’s Day and it was sooo cold that day! She wanted some outdoor photos in the snow and it was miserable in our dresses to stand outside in that weather. This weekend we are having record breaking warm temps here. It’s about 50 degrees warmer today than on their wedding day!
We had our Valentine’s day yesterday with a lunch followed by cake with ice cream. Mostly though our days are about just being together or close by (me in the garden). I think we are each placing more and more value in the time rather than activities; not so important what we do as just being together. Like others have posted, Valentine’s was not much noted in either of our families growing up. A main reason was there was not room for much ‘extras’. I will pass along a story I heard at church shared by a longtime married couple. He said they first met when she told him at school, “If you will vote for me (for some position) I’ll give you some sugar.” So he did and she gave him a paper packet of sugar!
Well, she kept her word! I liked that
Like Jerry, Mark can talk me in to just about anything. I enjoyed hearing their love story!
🙂
My Mother and Daddy slipped off and got married and my Mother asked her sister to please tell her Mother. My parents were married 69 years and they were a team like Tipper and Matt. Oh how I miss them. My husband always brought me flowers and a beautiful card. We were married over 51 years and I sure do miss him. Happy Valentine’s Day to ya all! I kin ya!
We don’t really celebrate Valentine’s Day….. I think we should celebrate the people we love everyday by the everyday things we do for each other. I have lost both parents, a sister and two brother in laws, and the memories that mean the most to me are not the gifts, but the moments we shared. The meals eaten around a Sunday dinner table and the long talks that kept us at that table long after the meal had been eaten.. So cherish your loved ones and make simple memories that will last a lifetime and beyond. Happy Valentine Day to all.
Happy Valentines Day! On February 22 we will be married 51 years! God is good!
Richard that is wonderful! Congratulations!
Happy Valentine’s to day to each & every acorn!
My husband & I always celebrated Valentine’s Day. I would buy him a card & he would make one for me out of anything he could find to use. It might be the back of a paper plate, or a paper towel or piece of notebook paper. I loved them all. I miss those little things he did for me.
Happy Valentines day. My husband and I will be married 40 years this year. He is a wonderful man and a great dad. Love hi. so much!
I remember Daddy telling me that if I would wait until the day *after* Valentine’s for him to buy me a heart-shaped box of candy, I could have a box of candy twice the size because the price would be marked down to half!
I waited!!!
Happy Valentine’s Day to all❣️
How old were Granny and Pap when they got married? My Mom’s sister brought my Daddy home and told her they were going on a double date with her (my aunt) and her boyfriend. My Mom was furious with her, but then she peeked into the living room to get a look at him and decided it would be okay. Dad proposed 2 weeks later and Mom said no. They continued to date and when Dad proposed 6 months later, she said yes. They were married 43 years, until Daddy died.
Sharon, Pap was about to be 27 and Granny was 24 🙂 Love your parents’ story!
My dad always got my mom a box of Russell Stover chocolates, and a card. My dad would also buy me a little heart-shaped box of chocolates. He never expected anything in return.
The man I married is like my dad, except I can’t eat chocolate now. So he buys a bouquet of flowers and card that says something meaningful. Like my dad, he doesn’t want anything in return. I’m blessed to have had two wonderful men in my life.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Janice, my wife’s name, for many years I did the same thing with at least giving my wife a card and often times a box of candy, I always bought my children and then my grandchildren a card and a small heart shaped box of candy. Now that they are grown I no longer give them candy but continue giving them a card each year.
Today, Valentines Day is My Husband and My 58th Wedding Anniversary. I am so Blessed to have him in my life and love Him so much. He is always kind and thoughful, my life has been wonderful with him. He is a wonderful Father and Grandfather. He is called Papaw by our adult Grandchildren. Happy Valentines Day Tipper and Matt!
Jill, 58 years is wonderful! Congratulations 🙂
Thank you Tipper.
Jill, Congratulations on your 58th Wedding Anniversary. Mine will be June 22.
Happy anniversary, Jill! What a wonderful milestone! ❤️ I, too, have a sister who got married on Valentine’s Day! Today it is about 50 degrees warmer than the day they got married). 🙂
Jill- Happy Anniversary to you and your husband!
Happy Sweethearts Day! No celebration or mention thereof at my place! Have a good day yall! I too kin ya!!!
Happy Valentine’s Day! It’s not a big celebration at our house either. So when Hubby walked in the front door with flowers yesterday, it was a sweet surprise. My parents never celebrated Valentine’s day, but we just wanted to spoil Mama a little and make her feel special. She is 84 and lives alone. My sister sent her a soft throw to cuddle up with on chilly evenings and chocolates; and I made her a valentine and mailed it. She likes getting mail. I am hoping she will get a couple more Valentines in her mail today. I also took her a couple things in a gift bag…a new notebook and pen and some cookies and a squeezable heart for her arthritic hands. She enjoyed these little surprises. I very much enjoy making little treat bags for all the grandchildren. I usually shop for little things when the holiday is over and there are clearance sales. I have a drawer where I keep things for next year. It makes me as happy as it does them. Have a wonderful rest of your day. Love and blessings to you all!
Happy Valentine’s Day, I’ll be sharing the video, on my channel, I’ve read what was written to my subscribers and pointed them in the direction of the video at my community post, God bless you very much, Happy Valentine’s Day
My maternal grandparents eloped. Grandmother left home with the excuse she was spending the weekend with her cousin which was a half truth as her cousin lived in a distant town 25 miles away, and that is where she and grandfather were married. The following day she sent a telegraph to her parents that she was married and then waited over a week to go back to her parents’ home to get her belongings. She said things had “cooled down” enough by then. They were married on February 14, 1924.
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!
On this day 1981 my first child was born it was very glorious day for us here in va a little bundle of joy
Thanks Tipper
Mike
Happy Valentine’s Day! I think love is a beautiful thing.
I love that story and that vintage card. It sounds like my mother in law. She was so upset I was taking her boy. We have a great relationship now, but first I had to prove my worth, I reckon. In my husband’s Appalachian families if you’re known as “she’s a hard worker’ than you’re worth your salt.
We’ve never really celebrated this day much either. Momma usually made a heart shaped cake, or some times get us a little box of candy, if anything. I did the same for our kids growing up. It’s probably good for the love business, but we don’t need a special day to say we love each other. We do that every day! Our love language is cooking and baking for one another.
Tipper, we kin you too!
my 2 sons can atest to those words.
then I’ll tell mum lol
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you lady members! My wife and I never made a big deal out of Valentine’s Day, birthdays or anniversaries. Many times at least one of us would be working. Two things I do remember, when I was dating her, (she weighed about 95lbs with rocks in her pockets) I bought her a 3lb box of Valentine candy and the last Valentine Day I would spend on earth with her, I had bought her a card that cost $12. She kept telling me “I can’t believe you paid $12 for a card to give me” and me teasing her and saying “if you don’t think you are worth it, I will take it back and see about getting a refund.” Now I would gladly pay many times more than that for a card if it would bring her back to me. I will be going and spending time at her grave later on today.