Our First Year

Thought this was a good day to continue the teenage saga! Today is the day after my 49th anniversary! So, hopefully my perspective has matured as many years have gone by and given me the benefit of experience.
The early years of the 1960's were filled with having three children in rather quick order, being a new wife and then a mother and learning how to do all the things that come with responsibility. My Dad was initially furious about my elopement but gradually became one of my biggest supporters! Early on he suggested we purchase a family type car (which we did!) and he also encouraged Jim to apply for a job at Westinghouse Electric (Air Arm Division). Jim passed all the tests and was soon hired in a full time position as a wireman. The salary was twice what he was making when we married a month earlier. Three weeks after getting married I found out I was going to have our first child the following June. Jim's Mom rented out her apartment to us that first year for $40.00 a month. We set up a weekly budget. We were so immature yet in so many ways we did some things right! Our budget included rent, food, no utilities because Jim's Mom paid that, gasoline, car payment, entertainment and saving for our new baby. Jim's health insurance didn't cover that because he hadn't been there that long when we found out I was expecting. We bought some living room furniture on time. Mom B. bought us a new frig, my parents a new TV and my great aunt a kitchen set. We used my bedroom furniture. My mother and father must of had great pity on us. They gave us a wedding reception in September of 1960 with a beautiful cake. Friends and family came and we received lots of presents to help us get started! We do have a few pictures of this occasion. Here is one of us cutting the cake! to be continued