The Seventh Wedding Anniversary

          Diane Mary Jenkins was set to marry Eric Raymond Marks on July 7, 1970. It was to be a church wedding at St. Anne, Queen of Sorrows. The time of the wedding was to be at 7:00PM. There was to be seven bridesmaids and seven groomsmen. Seven hundred guests were in attendance to dine on a seven course meal and wedding cake.

          Diane was flipping through the wedding album. She couldn't believe that seven years had passed. Eric walked in, holding an envelope. Handing it to his wife, she looked perplexed.

         "What is this?"

         "Open it."

          Inside were two tickets for a seven week cruise to the Seven Seas. After getting over her shock, Diane was presented with a black velvet box. Opening it, she gazed at a necklace with seven diamonds. Hugging Eric, she was overwhelmed at his generosity. They never were blessed with children, so they doted on each other.

          Eric worked for Chase Hill Electronics since 1965. Diane had a nursing license and worked at Seahill General Hospital as the head nurse in the Operating Room. They both enjoyed their chosen occupations and loved to travel. They met while attending a church function at St. Anne's. After the function, there was a reception and that was where they got to know each other better and started a courtship .

          Eric proposed while they were sailing. He had a beautiful picnic lunch prepared and while they were dining on chicken teriyaki, twice baked potatoes, tossed green salad, and wine, he popped the big question. Diane threw her arms around him and kissed his entire face. He took that to mean yes. Black Forest cake was the ending to a beautiful day.

          Since they wanted a church wedding, going through pre-marital counseling was a prerequisite. The couple who were their mentors couldn't believe how compatible Eric and Diane were. Although they both wanted children, it was not discovered that Diane was unable to conceive until months later. Accepting their fate, they chose to live their lives and enjoy each other.

          Family members wondered why they did not look into adoption. Diane did not feel she would be a good parent and she did not want to hurt a child. Eric did want to have a boy to carry on the family name, but he acquiesced to his wife's wishes. He did, however, have a secret plan for this trip. He was going to try to talk Diane into beginning the adoption process.

          The trip was going very well. Halfway through it, Eric posed the question about adoption. Diane's reaction shocked her husband..

         "You knew I did not want to adopt a child. I will not be a good parent. I do not want bring a child into a world where people do not care about children. You know my parents did not care about me. Please do not ask again."

          Seeing children on the cruise seemed to soften Diane's heart. One little boy came up to her at dinner and offered her a rose in celebration of the anniversary. This action touched her in such a way that she could not wait to arrive home and start the process and ask for a little boy. After going through all of the hoops and red tape, a red headed boy, who was three years old, was adopted by Diane and Eric eighteen months later.. They named him Justin Eric Marks.

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