Add to favorites

Recently, the 40^th anniversary of when my husband and I began our courtship arrived.

Did I have it on the calendar and was anxiously awaiting the day?

Nope. It was not even on my radar.

So, what prompted us noticing the importance of the date? Who told us?

Hollywood told us. Yup.

Hollywood made a big deal of the 40^th anniversary of the release of the movie “E.T.”

My husband and I started seeing each other just before the movie came out.

The movie also held some other related significance.

I was a young sales manager working at a radio station in Madison, Wisconsin the year E.T. came out. I had only had the job a couple of months. Radio stations often work along with the local movie theatres on important movie debuts. E.T. was much anticipated and a big deal.

Our promotions department set up a big promotion and gave away tickets to the movie along with a raffle for winning a bicycle.

The theater was FULL. No empty seats anywhere.

I was put in charge of being the emcee for the event. I was not crazy about that idea. I did not fancy myself as a public speaker.

I was scared. Not just nervous. Scared.

I can remember it all so well I even know what I wore that day. I had on a cobalt blue stripped top under a short sunshine yellow jacket and matching slacks. It was a beautiful outfit. Very hip and happening. If it had not been on the “final sale” rack at Saks Fifth Avenue there was no way I could have afforded that outfit. I kept it for about two decades. It made its way to the back of my closet as I gained weight. After those two decades I decided I’d never be that petite again; even if I did lose a ton of weight, so I gave it to Goodwill.

I was also nervous because my husband-to-be was in the audience. He was going to see me speak. He’s a professional speaker. I am not. That added more pressure; or so I thought.

I got through it all without passing out or falling off the stage.

After E.T flew into the sky on his bike I gave away the promo bike to a child in the audience.

Everyone applauded for the kid who won the bike. That got me off the hook for being a “so-so” speaker.

Happy Ending. And the start of a wonderful 40 years.

Cheers,