This Fresno man’s best Christmas gift comes two days late each year, but he’s OK with it

I got my best Christmas gift two days late in 1950. In fact, I’ve gotten my best Christmas gift two days late every year since then.

I met Beverly June Stafford the summer of 1950. She was singing in the choir at a tent revival in Porterville. I was in the audience.

While listening to the songs and looking at the singers, my eyes were drawn to a gorgeous 16-year old lady, singing alto. She had a slender figure — rather tall, and with long, medium blond hair and the most beautiful sky-blue eyes I had ever seen.

My thoughts were, “I’d like to date this young lady.”

We had traveled from Lindsay, Oklahoma to Porterville to visit my sister and her family. While there, we decided to attend the tent revival.

The first night, my sister met a young man and he asked her to go on a date with him. Being a cautious person, our mother would only allow the date if I went along as a chaperone.

Of course, a lone chaperone would be the same as a fifth wheel, so my sister’s young man procured a date for me.

The next night, my previous date informed us she had other plans. It seemed that I would be a fifth wheel, but my sister’s suitor said, “Don’t worry. I’ll get another date for you.”

In a couple of minutes, he returned with another young lady. My heart skipped a beat. The person he’d procured for my date was the very one I had been watching in the choir. How could I be so lucky?

Introductions were made and the date started. She was as lovely up close as when singing in the choir. She was so gorgeous, and with a vibrant, caring personality. What a combination!

The four of us double-dated every night for the rest of the week — Monday through Friday. I was in dater’s heaven.

On Saturday, the four of us drove to California Hot Springs, a small community to the southeast of Porterville where hot, mineral water flows from the side of the mountain. It was a lovely place and the ride was enjoyable.

Our family had plans to return to Ada, Oklahoma on Sunday, so good-byes were said after the Hot Springs trip. Beverly and I exchanged addresses and promised to write each other.

The ride back to Oklahoma seemed to take an eternity. While traveling through the desert, my thoughts were upon the attractive young lady I was leaving behind. I wondered if I would ever see her again. I was falling in love with her, and was very sad that I had left her behind.

Back in Ada, I quickly immersed myself into the swing of college and working part time to pay for it. Even so, I could not get the beautiful young lady off my mind. I wrote her a letter and she answered it the day she received it. Then the love letters began flowing back and forth. About the fifth letter, I proposed to her. In a few days her “yes” answer came, along with a studio picture of her that accented her long, flowing blond hair. Seeing that picture, my thoughts again were, she is the most beautiful lady I have ever seen.

We set our wedding day to be at Porterville on Dec. 27. I, along with some of my family, traveled from Oklahoma to California for the wedding. My best Christmas gift was my wedding to the love of my life.

After the nuptials, we packed my brother’s car and drove back to Oklahoma so I could continue college. But my beautiful bride became homesick for California. The summer of 1951, we traveled by train back to California.

Since that time, we’ve lived in California, raised two wonderful children, helped spoil five grandchildren and doted upon 11 great-grandchildren. Each of those years, I’ve received my best Christmas gift two days late.

As of Dec. 27, 2021, we have been married 71 years — and I have received 72 best Christmas gifts two days late.