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The Love Story of Josie and David
It was the summer of 1976 when Josie and David met. Josie had graduated from the College of Saint Benedict with a Nursing degree in May. She had applied to work as a nurse at Camp Friendship in Annandale, MN, a camp for those with mental disabilities. David had been working at the camp for a few years, this was his third summer as the primary cook at the camp. They got to know each other over the summer of ’76, they fell in love. Josie planned to move away from Minnesota at the end of the summer. Where was she going to move to? She wasn’t sure yet, she was ready to go somewhere else because she had lived in Minnesota for her whole life. David wanted to stay in St. Cloud, MN. He didn’t want to leave. They had the summer that they could be together. Would that be it?
The summer came to an end and Josie decided it was time to move away from Minnesota. She embarked on a road trip, by herself, across the country. She traveled to St. Louis, MO, Oklahoma City, OK, Albuquerque, NM, Phoenix, AZ, Los Angeles, CA, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, among other cities. In each city she applied at hospitals to work as a nurse. Sometimes she slept in her car, sometimes she slept in a tent at a campground, and on a few occasions she stayed at cheap motels. She interviewed at many of the hospitals. She was offered a job in Albuquerque and she accepted in September ’76. She had never lived there and had never been there before. She knew no one else there. She was still in love with David, sending him letters along her road trip route. David stayed in St. Cloud, MN. He was working a dead end job. He too was still in love with Josie.
After Josie accepted her job in Albuquerque she called up David. She told him the good news and she wanted to know if he still loved her. She asked him, “Do you love me?” He said, “Yes, I love you.” She said, “If you love me and you want to be with me, you’ll follow me. Will you move to Albuquerque with me?” What would David do? Everything he knew was in Minnesota. He’d never been to Albuquerque. Would their relationship last. It didn’t take long for David to respond. He said, “I’ll be there in a week.” He loaded up his car and moved to Albuquerque to be with Josie.
She had a job. What would he do? He found a job at the University of New Mexico as a night janitor. It was a start. Surely other good things would follow, and follow they did. By the summer of ’77 they were married.
They stayed in Albuquerque until the fall of ’83. It was then that they moved to West-Central Illinois to be closer to Josie’s father. The move happened when Josie was six and half months pregnant. Their first child was born in November. Over the next eight years two more children would come along. Thirty years after their first child was born, their first grandchild was born. The passion for traveling that Josie had continued on – David gained an appreciation for it – and that passion was inherited by their three children.
Their love story came to a pause a year and a half ago when Josie’s earthly life came to an end. They were married for 38 years and were together for 39 years. One day they will be reunited again in the heavenly kingdom. Their love lasted much longer than just the summer of ’76.
If you haven’t figured it out yet, Josie and David are my mom and dad. I’m the youngest. (And yes to be clear, my dad is still alive and well.) Their love story is my favorite – the adventurous spirit of my mom to move somewhere completely new and my dad wanting to be with my mom so bad that he would give up everything he knew.
Happy Valentine’s Day.
David and Josie on their wedding day, 1977.
David and Josie, summer of 2014.
Beautiful story, and my condolences.
Very sweet story, Johnnie. I can also tell that you loved them very much. I’m glad that you and your dad have each other.
A pause, Johnnie, but only a pause. This is a beautiful tribute.
A beautiful story, and beautiful people. Lucky enough to find each other, smart enough to hold onto each other, and blessed with a lovely family. Thanks for sharing their lives with us, and my condolences on the loss of your mom.
Thank you all.
Thank you for sharing. So sorry about your mom.
I forgot to add, she made her own wedding dress.
That is a very sweet story.
Brave and beautiful, Johnnie…Your folks, the story – and you. Empathies on your Mom’s passing! Pax vobis…
Of course she did, and she made her hat as well. She did a lovely job of it. In the late 70’s I made all the hats and floral arrangements for my daughter’s wedding. If our pocket books were slim we did thing like that. Your mother had a most beautiful smile.
What a beautiful story for Valentine’s Day. Thank you.
That’s a very touching story.
Great, great Valentine’s Day story to share. This is the beauty of life here on earth: we can find someone to share our life with, and enjoy it, and have memories, and make children to carry on the love.
Wonderful tribute Johnnie, thank- you for sharing and my condolences…
This is the kind of love St. Valentine’s Day is meant to celebrate.
If ever two were one, then surely we,
if ever man were loved by wife, then thee!
If ever wife were happy in a man,
Compare with me, ye women, if ye can!
–Anne Bradstreet
I pray for your father’s peace and comfort, and yours.
The best things happen when the biggest risks are taken, especially when love is involved.
I hadn’t figured it out until you said so. I was too caught up in comparing my experiences in St Cloud in 1976 with theirs. Our middle child was born there that year. That was the year there was a big 200th anniversary 4th of July celebration at a park on the east side of the river. Hubert Humphrey was there, in an old fashioned white summer suit. I could tell you what the weather was like in St Cloud at different times of that year.
It was disorienting to learn from your story that this was so long ago.
I’m sorry you lost your mother, but I very much enjoy hearing family stories like this. Thank you.
What a nice story. Reminds me of my parents, who were the love of each other’s lives.