Walking With My Sunshine

Happy Birthday, Sunshine On January 22nd, 1959, my sunshine girl turned sixteen and we celebrated her special birthday with gifts and a cake with sixteen candles. In fact our favorite song was “Sixteen Candles” and it was number one on the Hit Parade. A copy of that 45rpm record was my gift, along with a 21-inch black-and-white Sylvania low-boy television, a pretty blue dress and perfume. It was a very happy birthday for her and one we have always remembered. We were much happier in our new apartment and Joyce didn’t have to spend each day alone. She could now watch television when she wanted and it was only a short walk to her mother’s house. For dinner on most Friday nights, we went to Stan’s Drive-in and had hamburgers, cokes and fries. Later in the evening we saw a double feature movie at the Gage, Southgate or Whittier Drive-in Theater and enjoyed more of our favorite treats. We never drank, smoked or used drugs but always had a great time. Life for us was never boring. She was my sunshine girl and she meant the world to me. I loved buying her gifts and always brought something home for her each time I was away. My favorites were capris, pedal pushers and tops, but sometimes she got a dress or maybe one of her favorite candy bars. When we first met, she weighed ninety-four pounds and looked good in anything she wore. She never gained an ounce and was light as a feather. With one arm I could lift her over my head and if she took a deep breath, I could reach around her waist with both hands. She was my answer to prayer and a dream come true. Blue was my favorite color and sometimes I think she may have gotten tired of all the blue dresses I bought her the first year we were married. Never once did she complain and she never took one back. I did change my favorite colors as the years went by and eventually quit buying blue dresses for her. She was five foot four and a beautiful girl with pretty blue eyes and long, dark curly hair. She didn’t use make-up, other than a light shade of pink lipstick and her smile showed off her perfect teeth and blemish-free face. There was no need for more to make her beautiful and she was my special teenage sunshine girl. In my heart I knew God had brought us together and we have always shared that feeling.