Friday, April 26, 2024
With Valentine’s Day approaching, many are thinking of love and romance. Celebrated on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day traditions include gifts such as chocolates or roses and maybe a night out on the town. Two Granbury couples are reflecting on their special relationships as the festival of love nears. The Buskes married five years ago at a venue in Austin. The Althouses, both 83, were married Sunday during church.
ON THE SEA PROPOSAL
On a chartered yacht in the Aegean Sea, Dr. Jeff Buske put his marriage proposal plan into action. “I knew I wanted to propose,” Jeff said. “But I was trying to figure out when.” Jeff, dentist at Granbury Dental Center, had been seeing Kammie Soileau, dental hygienist, and he was ready to make the relationship more permanent. The two were invited on an extended vacation to Greece with Dr. Bruce Baird, dentist at Granbury Dental Center, and his wife, Cynthia. The trip would be a perfect place to pop the question. Jeff ran his plan by Bruce, who agreed it would be an awesome place to propose. Kammie didn’t have a clue about the pending proposal. “We were on this yacht with the Bairds and two other couples. It was a beautiful and amazing trip,” Kammie said. The couples were going to Santorini on the third day of the trip. The volcanic island of Santorini is known for its beauty with sandy beaches colored by volcanic ash. Kammie explained, “It’s one of those places where you see all the beautiful white buildings rising up on the mountains.” A cocktail party was planned that evening, before the couples would take a small boat to the island for dinner. Jeff said he was getting frustrated because he couldn’t get the music to play on his phone. He had downloaded the song, “Marry Me,” by Train. It was supposed to be playing when he made the proposal. Kammie said she had no idea what was about to unfold. But she did notice Jeff acting a little weird. “He kept bugging the crew about some music and the radio and his phone. I didn’t really know what was going on,” Kammie stated. Jeff said he called Kammie over to one side of the boat. “We were looking out at the water, and I was making comments about the beautiful full moon and the times we had spent together,” Jeff said. Jeff had his arm around Kammie, and his hand began to shake as he was getting nervous. “I thought something was wrong with him. I asked if he was getting sick!” Kammie said. “Then he pulled out the ring and dropped down on one knee and asked me to marry him,” she added. Lots of laughing and crying ensued when she said yes. “That was only the third day of the trip,” Jeff said. “It could have been a really long trip home if she said no,” he jokingly remarked. The Buskes live in Harbor Lakes and have three children between them. Dillon Soileau is 14, Abbie Soileau is 11 and Maddox Buske is 8. The two celebrate their fifth anniversary next month.
NEVER TOO OLD FOR LOVE
Carol Boyd and Jerry Althouse tied the knot as part of the church service Sunday at First Presbyterian Church. “Well you’re stuck with us now,” a grandson said to groom as the bride’s large, extended family gathered at the reception in the church fellowship hall. Carol and Jerry knew each other from church before they entered a relationship. “I was friends with his wife and he was friends with my husband,” Carol said. Both helped care for each other’s spouses when they were in hospice. “My wife passed about two years ago,” Jerry said. The two were drawn together and first had a dinner date in April. “After I walked her to the door, she said, ‘I want you to know that I have no intention of getting married again,’” Jerry said. Never say never. Their dating life was much like others. Others much younger than 83 years old. “One time we went to pick up a motorcycle that he bought,” Carol said. On an adventurous outing, Carol said the two went on a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, following a champagne breakfast. “I had been telling people that I’m going to marry a younger woman,” Jerry said with a twinkle in his eye. “She was 82 then and I was 83. Now we’re both 83.” As they spent time together, Carol said Jerry kept making references to “when we get married.” “I said, you mean IF we get married,” Carol said. Finally, Jerry questioned, “Why do you always say, ‘IF we get married?” Carol replied, “Because you haven’t asked me yet.” The proposal came as Carol was about to leave for a trip. “Jerry came over with flowers and a ring and got down on his knee to propose,” Carol said. Always a jokester, Jerry told those attending the wedding reception that Carol had come up with three additional commandments. He drew a laugh when he said the 11th commandment is “You shall not hug all the women you talk to when we are passing the peace at church.” Jerry drew more chuckles when he revealed the 12th commandment required him to learn the names of her entire family. And the 13th commandant? “Thou shall not talk too long at the reception,” Carol said with a big grin. dschneider@hcnews. com | 817-573-7066, ext. 255
