Inquisitive Quest

Thursday October 18th 1962, was observed with the arrival of a celebrated milestone,  Gary Willson and Kermece (Kaye) Rice  having calendared this date when announcing their engagement on September 10th.  Gary having been introduced to his bride eight months prior to the day on February eighteenth during her attendance of a birthday party at the Horseshoe club where the band, The Untouchables, were performing. The wedding ceremony taking place in the judges chambers at the Oklahoma County Court House at 11:00 a.m.  The couple and the wedding entourage well represented, Kaye’s mother Helen Street and grandmother Sarah Jones in attendance, along with band members  Glenn Froman, his wife June and daughter Kim.  Jerry Willis serving as Best Man and Deana Bray as Maid of Honor and close friend Billy.

 

Never having attended or been party to a wedding, Gary remained confident but unsure of the addendum and proceedings, hoping the eminent ceremony would remain indelibly inscribed, not fleeting like so many celebrated memories. In the Judge’s Chambers, the rush of reality setting in, a tidal wave of meaningful consciousness,  sensing the presence of mind and surroundings, but for a brief moment, a pause.  Gary beholding the captivation of his bride standing beside him, Kaye emanating an inner essence of serenity, fulfilling the warm glow of completeness.

Once again the quickening,  the judge’s oratory, Do you take, and I now pronounce you husband and wife,  the visual happening whisking to conclusion, it was over,  the ceremony becoming a precept of history.   The congratulations, the pats on the back, the hugs, then traversing from the courthouse a whirling vision of recollection,  already the past, and yet a future to be realized. The nuptial cascade all journeying to Northwest 32nd and May Avenue,  the established eatery edifice for the wedding entourage.  On entering the stewards of service acknowledging the event, providing recognition and extending congratulatory applause from all the representatives of Kips Big Boy Hamburgers. The  exclamatory endowed event coming to a conclusion.

Gary’s nuptial commemoration night short lived,  the band having recently booked a Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at a relatively new night spot marked with the unseemly name of The Bongo Congo Club.  The new premise was an addition to an old establishment, The Lakeview Club, operated by a Jacques Lacotte, a renegade Cajun from the bayou,  better known as the Crazy Frenchman, his advertising colloquialism “chicken today, feathers tomorrow”.  The couple having previously settling-in with Deana and her daughter in her three bedroom home, awaiting an opportunity to present itself, enabling that first big step in a marriage, a home of their own.

The couples first Christmas together  approaching, Gary discovering that his bride’s past home-life was somewhat void of Christmas and the pageantry.  Her childhood mentor and mainstay at home was her Grandmother Sarah who was a faithful Jehovah Witness, the Witnesses forgoing Christmas.  Gary assumptive that Helen, Kaye’s mother, was not an active member but recognized the churches importance and was supportive of Sarah’s affiliation.  The Christmas spirit did abound at the house on SW 53rd, the four adults and Deana’s young daughter enjoying a traditional Christmas morning, with the opening of the wrapped gifts.  Gary couldn’t help but notice the exhilaration flowing from his lovely wife.

Gary perceived this day would come, he had provost another commitment to Kaye about trading for a smaller suitable car and it was time for closure,  the day of reckoning having arrived.  To Gary his swept fin 57  Desoto wasn’t transportation,  it was affirmation of accomplishment, a publication of success,  a symbol of stature.   With Kaye seated at his side,  the intrepid Desoto traversed north on May Avenue towards an assimilating Ford Mercury dealership and a farewell to the Desoto.  What lessened the trauma of relinquishing the automotive icon, was detecting a slight malady emitting from the engine, and a visit to Ron Brotherton’s garage.

Ron diagnosing a center main bearing was the culprit, and after micro-metering, finding the crankshaft was slightly out-of-round, the cost of repair for turning the crankshaft and replacing the bearing would be costly.  He suggested replacing the bottom half of the main, which would temporally alleviate the sound of the problem and trade the car.   The musicians propensity for a transaction was somewhat debilitating,  but he had commissioned a prospective to fulfill his promise.   A final despondent adieu to the credulous Desoto,  finding the couple sporting a new 1963 Mercury Comet,  a fitting adjustment for the petite lady, whose promise was honored, and the new automotive accommodation readied for her daily journey to work.  But what really was to vex Gary, was continually seeing the DeSoto,  on the road,  in and about Oklahoma City.

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