John Blount was the emcee and in preparation did his research on love.
He checked the Unban Dictionary who best described LOVE as Nature’s way of tricking people into reproducing. Not the complete story.
John then went back to his stand-by found in country and western music—a genre that full of stories of love gained and, more often, love lost! One of the most romantic writers of C & W poetry, and one of his favorites, is Brad Paisley:
I’d like to see you, out in the moonlight
I’d like to kiss you way back in the sticks,
I’d like to walk you through a field of wild flowers
And I’d like to check you for ticks!
[songs like this describe my younger days… and I wonder why I was always in trouble! –Scribe]
Finally, John remembered a story his mom shared throughout his life. His mom said that when I was in first grade that I was in love with the pretty little girl in my class—Pamela Franklin—and the reason was that she wouldn’t cry when I pushed her face into the water while she was getting a drink at the drinking fountain.
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John stated he would be remiss if he didn’t begin this celebration of love, of partnering, of family, without first acknowledging his own love of over 42 years.
A lady who was somehow attracted to a skinny, sports zealot who was singing songs to her. Of course she did not know she was going to live in a constantly remodeled house, share all the work responsibilities of a dental practice, and spend a completely disproportionate amount of time joining with him in a little community club called Rotary.
Oh, Patti always says that we get at least double credit for those 42 years since we spend 24 hours a day together. To the lady who fills our house with candles and romance: Happy Valentine’s Day… Pasha…
Couples in Successful Partnerships
We’re were graced with three couples to share their thoughts while answering some of John’s questions about their lives together. The first couple has the most marital experience--- that’s time served, by the way—
Question:
What is special about your relationship and what "pearls of wisdom" can you share based upon your years together?
J
im and
Rosemarie (Rose) Pacette
They met at a vocational school and Rosemarie thought he was cute. Upon further drilling from John, one of the things that attracted Jim was her gorgeous 1957 blue Thunderbird and that she had a checking account.
They got married in the only Reno Wedding Chapel. One of the secrets Rosemarie kept for a long time was that she dated Jim and her boss at the same time.
Key to 50 years of marriage is that neither can leave a fight – agreements have to be made. And they also mentioned square dancing...
Donna and Michael PantzerBoth of them worked together in Wheeling, Illinois and she said they both fell in love at first sight.
Donna described him as great eye candy. However, it was almost a year before they had an actual date, Donna relays that he proposed marriage to her three hours into the date. Without any qualms, she said yes. She said she knew he was the one by the way he was tender with children.
She reported the statistic of marriages for couples who work together at 83% divorce rate. So, they don’t go to bed angry and they believe in couples counseling on a regular basis.
Bud and
Sharon DaveiroBud was not shy to describe his third marriage as the best ever. Bud said he was married twice before in a Reno Wedding Chapel. This this time he was married to Sharon in Brad and Kathy Benedetti’s backyard.
Their first date was at the beach where he supposedly lost his car keys. Then the next exciting date was at John Blount’s district conference.
His promise to Sharon was to always make her laugh and they have celebrated their 15th anniversary. Both recite that encouragement, trust and caring about each other is the key to a good marriage
One question was posed to Bud from the audience. Why didn’t you marry her in the first place? Bud replied that she would have been 5 years old when he first got married.
CLOSING FROM JOHN
Today we celebrate family, we celebrate partnerships, and we celebrate and affirm love. Love is an incredibly powerful word.
In my final analysis love is about sharing life with someone… the good times, the bad times, the sentences you complete that the other began…the ability to know what to order for the other person even if they haven’t gotten to the restaurant yet…the drive to help each other, defend each other, and be with each other. It’s comfort, it’s warmth, it’s home…
Love is patient, it’s kind, it’s gentle, it protects, trusts, hopes and always perseveres.
If love is all those things then the words of a modern philosopher, John Lennon, are true: “Love is all you need.”
I prefer the more time-tested description from the Greek dramatist, Sophocles who wrote…
"One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love."
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It was clear walking into the room, this is not the usual Sebastopol Rotary Club meeting.
l pictures of Rotary couples for this Queen of Hearts celebration. He is ably assisted by Patti Blount and Gerri Ford – with Larry Ford “supervising.” 
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President Rick introduced , Jeff Boal who started this most inveterate program, Learn To Swim. This year, we will surpass 10,000 safe, Sebastopol kids since 1984. This is big! How did it begin? Jeff said he spoke to one woman who talked about the need and Jeff put his thoughts, enthusiasm and dedication to the Sebastopol Rotary board…and away he went. 
