“Gary and Connie Shellhammer were married on October 18, 1964.”
1964
Spring was in the air and Gary Shellhammer was in the driveway as I pulled in. He was moving slowly. The years have begun to impact the way he moves these days. Yet, those years have not dimmed his smile or his ability to
love.
If anyone questions the depth of his love they simply need to think of the number 1964. That was the year he married Connie; on October 18th in Lakeview, Ohio. And, that same community celebrated Gary and Connie’s fiftieth anniversary in 2014, the way they always do, in small-town Logan County style. Where such events are most often community-wide
invitations rather than private affairs. This anniversary-open-house was no different. The people of Lakeview love Gary and Connie because of the way they’ve loved everyone in that town for just shy of the sixty-two years, since they’ve called it home.
As soon as I pulled into Gary’s driveway and exited my car Gary’s eyes lit up. I was expected and he
greeted me warmly before saying, “I’ll just be a minute. I’ll go in and get Connie.” That being said, Gary walked nattily into the house.
Gary came out of the house, holding Connie’s hand, not long afterward. His hand gently caressed hers as he guided her toward me slowly. Connie isn’t as steady on her feet as she was when she first met Gary while
attending college. That doesn’t matter to Gary. Anyone can tell that by spending a moment or two observing his gentle, attentive doting.
Gary’s compassion was on full display as he reached for the car door, opened it and then spoke softly to Connie. “Take care now. Let me help you get settled. I’m going to reach across you to get your seatbelt. There!
I’ve got you clicked in.”
Once Gary’s seatbelt was also tight and clicked we were on our way. We stopped and started several times while together. Gary’s consideration to Connie never changed. She was quiet. He attended to her.
“The steepness of this hill worries Connie,” Gary whispered in my ear, as we stood looking out over a landscape of rock, trees and rolling hills.
I didn’t hear Connie speak those words. Gary didn’t need to hear them audibly. Somehow, he could read everything her eyes were expressing. He answered her directly with a squeeze of her
hand. That squeeze said, “I hear you. I understand. I’m here with you. I’m watching over you.”
I watched this sacrosanct interaction an entire morning; until I dropped them back at their home. Gary got out of the car first. Then, he helped Connie, just as he does every time. He moves slowly; the years heavily impacting his travel. Yet, those years have
not dimmed his smile, or weakened his love. He spoke marriage vows with Connie sixty-two years ago and since then, Gary’s every movement corroborates, “I took your hand in 1964 and I’ll never let go.”
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I’m Lynn Butterfield, Real Estate & Lifestyle Expert and Television Host for American Dream TV. I’ve helped hundreds of Buyers and Sellers, as an Associate Broker with Coldwell Banker, to discover where and how they want to live
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