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The Pinecone
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February 2016
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T H E P OW E R O F A T T R A C T I O N
Fred & Betty
During WWII, Fred’s military service was with the US Army
Combat Engineers, building bridges and roads in North Africa,
Italy, Luzon, and the Philippine
Islands. Upon discharge, Fred
joined the Holiday Inn Corpora-
tion as Hospitality Manager.
In 1951, Betty was a teller at the
National Bank of Commerce.
One day, Fred, a handsome
young man, fresh out of
Southwestern College with a
BA Degree in Philosophy, came
into the bank to talk business
with a senior staff member, who
happened to be the young lady’s
boss. When Fred left the bank,
he took with him Betty’s name
and phone number (given to him
by the banker). He wanted to get to know this pretty young lady,
and, serendipitously, she wanted to get to know him as well.
At some level, they were attracted to each other. Asubtle unformed
“sensing” was put into play, beginning the ritual “dance” called
courtship. Betty was drawn to Fred because he was handsome,
confident, and ambitious, eager to ‘make his mark’ in the business
community. Fred was drawn to Betty because she was pretty,
friendly, vivacious, kind, and funny. Their courtship included
movies at the Warner Theater on Main Street, and dinners at, for
example, Fortune’s Jungle Gardens. The attraction morphed into
love – a desire to be together for all time. They married in 1952,
and recently celebrated their 63rd anniversary with a family of 2
sons and 2 grandchildren. What makes a union between 2 people
last a life time? What is this thing called love?
To love and be loved are foundations on which we “connect”
with another. One’s mind and one’s heart (emotions) work in
sync shaping this thing called love. Metaphorically, we say that
we “give our heart” to another; we say that love makes the heart
sing. Love is a commitment to another, a promise to be there in
good times and sorrows. When a spouse or partner passes away,
memories of those years remain. These memories are a steadying
presence as one comes to grips with a wrenching loss. Each day,
love your loved one fully.
To all lovers – we are blessed.
- Jacqueline Besteman, Resident
Blake
“ I was a humdrum per son
leadi ng a l i fe apar t ,
when love f lew i n through
my wi ndow wide and
qu ickened my humdrum hear t . . . ”
“What I s Th i s Th i ng Cal led Love”
– Cole Por ter 1929
Betty and Fred on their wedding day - 1952