We drive
away from my aunt’s home and head for the freeway. I’m so tired, I would have been
happy to go back to our apartment for the night, but John had the bit between his
teeth. Besides all the rice and shaving cream or whatever they put on our car,
we should have had a sign, “PORTLAND OR BUST.”
It seemed to take forever to get to
Portland, but finally, John pulled off and registered us for the first time as man and wife at
some hotel just off the freeway. At the room, he opened the door, picked me up
and carried me across the threshold. He didn’t set me down until he was in
front of the phone.
“Call your aunt, right now!!!”
Thankfully, there was information back
then because I didn’t have a phone number. I got the number and asked the
operator to make the call for me. It took a number of rings before someone
answered and I asked for my aunt.
“We’re here in Portland.”
“How do I know you’re in Portland?”
she responded sleepily.
“Wait until you get the bill. I called
collect. Good night.” and I hung up.
Then it was into the bathroom to get
ready for bed. I came out in my brand new sexy nighty. John was already in bed
and almost asleep, but we did the “deed,” and I have to say it was probably not
the best time we ever had together. Still, you can’t just go to sleep on your
wedding night…right?
The next morning, we had breakfast and
headed down I-5. We had talked about where we wanted to go for our honeymoon.
We both loved the idea of Hongkong, but that was way more expensive than we
could afford. John decided on Mexico and we got the visas we needed to enter
the country.
Since John drove truck for a living,
he did the driving. I talked to him, looked out the window and read my book.
When we got to Tijuana, he found the airport and went inside. I stayed in the
car until he came back and said, “Come on, let’s go. The plane leaves in an
hour.”
Well, something else that’s changed
for the better is how you can dress these days. I was in shorts and a shirt.
You didn’t go anywhere in public like that. I had to go into the restroom, get
into my suitcase and change. Before I knew it, we were on board the plane
headed for Mexico City. I do have to say I still remember the meal we were
served on the plane…the best plane food I’ve ever had.
In Mexico City, John found a cab only
to learn the driver didn’t speak any English. I sat in the back seat almost in
tears, imagining us in some park surrounded by our luggage. Instead, our cab driver
found another one who did speak English and he translated for us. As a result
we were taken to this huge, old hotel in downtown. There was a park across the
street and the room keys were metal and huge. John really wanted to keep that
key, but it simply wasn’t possible.
The next morning while I got ready,
John went and talked to the concierge. This gentleman took us down the street
and helped us rent a convertible. He also made plane reservations to and from
Acapulco and back to Tijuana. We followed him down the street and for a short
guy, he was fast. By the time we got to the car rental place I could barely
breath. I’d forgotten how high Mexico City was.
We drove all around the city and look
at the sights. We saw the new housing that was built for people who lived there.
The Olympics were coming in a couple of years. The new housing was long rows of
concrete blocks with a door in the center and a window on either side. Each
family got to paint their blocks whatever color they’d like.
When it was time to head to the
airport, we could see and hear it, but we couldn’t find the road that would let
us in. Fortunately, we came to a stop light and John talked to the people in
the adjacent car. They explained what he needed to do to get into the airport.
I don’t remember much about that
flight. I do remember stepping out of the plane and my first experience with
really high humidity. It was like walking into a wall and I could barely
breath. No problems like those in Mexico City. John got us a cab and we were
taken to this lovely hotel. It was a series of cottages or cabanas, each with
its own entrance. And, as in Mexico City, it had twin beds. I still laugh about
that. It didn’t really matter to us because we were both a lot smaller than we
eventually became, so a twin bed for two wasn’t a problem…at least until later
in the honeymoon when we used both of them.
Are you getting the idea that John was
ever so much more adventurous in his youth. I’m sure some of our friends and
family who knew him in his later life wouldn’t have recognized him. Anyway, our
honeymoon adventure had just begun. I’ve lots more memories to share as this
week progresses. It was a wonderfully happy time and looking back at it makes
me smile a lot…just wish I’d had a digital camera back then.