A True and Pure Love
"In November of 1965 I met my lifelong partner and it was fate meant to be. Two good friends of mine, Raymond and Tommy, kept asking me to go to this club where we were members. It was a teen dance they had every weekend. I kept putting them off, not wanting to go. I ended up going and they rode with me in my 1956 Chevy Bel-Air. While in the lobby of the club, a young girl came up to me and asked if I was a member and could I sign her and their friends in. Being a member, I signed for them so they could attend the dance.
Following them in and walking down the steps, I noticed one girl limping along, an ace bandage on her one leg. She turned around quick and told me to go in front of them. It was obvious she was angry and embarrassed, thinking I was looking at her leg as she limped down the steps. I went ahead of them and never saw them again during the dance.
After the dance, me and my buddies went to a pizza place in Hillcrest Heights to get something to eat. Inside the pizza place, I noticed a group of girls. I recognized them as the same group I had signed in at the dance. I also noticed the young girl with the hurt leg. One of my friends had begun a conversation with another girl. I again took notice of the young girl with the hurt leg. In my eyes, as she quietly stood there, my thoughts were of how pretty she looked.
Auburn-colored hair and the biggest brown eyes I had ever seen, and she was also very quiet. While everyone was standing there talking, and myself being quiet, I kept noticing her brown eyes. It was as though I couldn’t stop looking into her eyes and they were drawing me closer to her. Somehow at that moment in time I knew that we would become soulmates.
She suddenly said that she had to go home. Being a well-mannered gentleman at the time, I asked her if it would be ok if I took her home. She said her house was only a short walk from where we were. I told her again I could walk her home if it was ok with her. Her one girlfriend spoke up and said don’t bother, that she would walk her home. Ruth spoke up and said that it would be ok if I walked her home. I have been forever grateful for that night. As mentioned earlier, that was November of 1965 and we were married September 7, 1968.
This past September we have been married for 57 years. Every year since our marriage I have always made sure to get Ruth a dozen roses on our anniversary: 11 red and 1 white, the red roses meaning true love and the white rose meaning pure love. We have had a wonderful life together in these 57 years which have gone by quickly. Good and tough times, always together and supporting each other. We have three children, nine grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and another great granddaughter due in January 2026.
The only bad thing about a wonderful marriage is someday one or the other will leave. Knowing this, what gives you peace of mind is that true love will last through the ages. We will find each other again, meeting in another place and time."
Richard & Ruth Bussell
Married Sept. 7, 1968
