Ramblings from a South Central Texas Wood Butcher #22: Still Swingin' 35 Years Later

1587
6

Back in 1980, I moved from Richardson, Texas to Denton, Texas to finish my bachelor’s degree. After bouncing from Texas A&M to two junior colleges, I figured that it was time to “Get ’er Done.” Little did I imagine that I would not only finish my degree in Denton, but that I would also marry and become a Dad within 6 months of moving there. Funny how stuff works.

Before moving to Denton, I had been working at a convenience store, By-Lo, and the company happened to have one in Denton. I was able to transfer and forego job searching. There happened to be a little pizza joint next door, Chanello’s Pizza, where my future wife, Selena, worked. Ironically, I delivered for a Chanello’s when I was at Texas A&M. Fate?

Anyway, my wife would come to the By-Lo for a Coke and candy bar. Chanello’s uniform was a company baseball cap and a white button collar shirt. Selena would keep her bill pulled down and tried her best not to make eye contact with me. Yeah, that got my attention.

Long story shorter, I finally got to see her beautiful blue eyes, bumped into her out two-stepping, and we started dating. Selena and her son from her first marriage (my adopted son a few months after we married) lived with her mom and dad when she divorced her first husband. (I understand that he got mean after a few years.) Her parents had a swing on the front porch and we spent MANY an hour sitting out there.

We decided to make things permanent and were married a few months later. Hear we are, after 35 years together, still swingin’, this time on the porch swing that we built together.

Keith "Shin" Schindler

Great story Keith nothing is more important than a life partner,my wife and I celebrate or 49 anniversary in a few days,I still feel like I’m the luckiest guy alive to have her in my life.

woodworking classes, custom furniture maker

Great great story. My wife and I are at 20 years into both our second marriages.

Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.

Wow! There are no accidents. Things happen for a purpose. Thanks for sharing.

awwwww

Toxins Out, Nature In - body/mind/spirit

Nice porch swing and a great romance. Nothing better.

Mike, an American living in Norway