MUSHY'S MOOCHINGS: “If You Don’t Go Dance with Judy, I’ll Kick Your Ass!”

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

“If You Don’t Go Dance with Judy, I’ll Kick Your Ass!”

So, do you remember David Arp, the guy in the “fight club” (Chapter 56) back in my high school days? He is essentially responsible for Judy and I being together today.

After Corey’s mom and I split, I ended up in a “heat related” relationship with a girl I had spotted one day as she entered the cafeteria at work. I was thirty-two and she was twenty, maybe! Right from the beginning it was an instant sexual attraction thing, and probably remained so right to the end.

Long story short, Linda and I married, both our second marriage with her first at age sixteen! It was an informal thing in her parent’s home, and a ceremony that Papa John refused to validate by standing in the same room. His Catholic beliefs frowned on the proceedings, and as it turned out I should have stood beside him.

Most women run men off for staying out late carousing with their male friends drinking, but there are occasions when men are forced to do the same. I never did figure out if she was bisexual or what, but she ran with a group that included a couple of “bull dykes”!

I did figure out too late that she was bulimic and addicted to cocaine. So, after just a few weeks together, she left and went back home, saying she was still in love with her first husband! Later she came back for a couple of months to try and reconcile, but after an “all-nighter” with “the girls” I told her to get out – it was over!

There is a whole book to this tale, but I will not include it here. This is only here to prepare the way for the love of my life – Judy Poland.

Judy is the girl I have written about several times, the one with the “Betty Davis” eyes, and the girl I was so infatuated with in high school.

She and I talked at school, out behind the “Carol Ann” burger stand, and we even “buddied” around as part of a group of “friends” that went to dances, or just rode the streets and circling the drive-ins!

Judy was attached to Freeman Moody, whom she married after graduating, and who became Tracy’s father. Since Freeman was a couple of years older and “graduated” he was bigger than life to me and I never dared to ask Judy out on a real date. However, secretly I wanted her to be mine, but that did not happen for seventeen years!

A couple of months after Linda left, but before ink was applied to the divorce papers, Judy and I began talking at night on the phone. We had met again at work.

I began working on an instructional communications video at the Y-12 TV production facility, which was in the same building as the photography department where Judy worked. We struck up an old acquaintance, and I learned that Freeman had died over ten years earlier from a form of cancer.

She and I began to talk on the phone at work and at home at night. Sometimes those conversations went long into the night, but it was like two friends sharing their past lives. I told her detailed stories of my life and loves that later came back to haunt me, but little did we know we were falling in love.

Finally, we showed up separately at the fifteenth year reunion of the Class of ’64!

I was deep into a bottle of Jack (not knowing better then about George Dickel), coat off, vest unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, tie askew, hair sweaty from cuttin’ a rug with several classmates, when David came up to me and said. You do know Judy Moody is here don’t ya?”

Whur she at,” I said trying not to slur my words?

David pointed across the room. Of course, I had already spotted her, but had not yet the courage to approach her. That is when David gave me the emotional shove I needed and said, “If you don’t go dance with Judy, I’ll kick your ass!”

Frankly, as much as I wanted to either kick someone’s ass or have mine kicked over the recent events in my life, I decided to stroll over and ask her to dance. I do not remember if we actually danced or just sat and talked, but her girlfriends moved away and gave us some room.

Later that “morning” we were still talking, sitting in her living room, and watching the sunrise through her sliding glass doors. That became a habit that grew on us both.

It was good to be with her, regardless of what we were doing. One of our favorite things to do was to just drive the back roads, seeing where they went, and sharing a couple of beers, laughing and enjoying the company of the other.

The best thing about Judy, that topped all others, was that she praised me and lifted me up, she pushed me to be me, and wanted me to continue to do the things in life I liked to do. She even tried to share hunting with me, but could not take the early and cold hours it required, but she always seemed to enjoy the fact that I was enjoying life.

Together life is good and we have shared a lot since we married in 1980. We have laughed a lot, cried little, had few disagreements and no altercations, and have seen a lot of the world together. God willing, we will share much more.

25 comments:

none said...

Awesome story! I'm glad you guys finally got together :)

Right Truth said...

What a great story Mushy. It's ALMOST as good as the story about how hubby and I met. I'll tell you one day, or let him tell you.

It's a miracle to find your soul mate, and sometimes we make mistakes along the way. That makes us appreciate it when we finally do find THE right one. Congrats! Thanks for sharing.

Debbie Hamilton
Right Truth

BRUNO said...

Love to see a positive "spin" on a relationship, for once! I often wonder why some people even bother to commit themselves, with the way they talk about their spouses. And most of those type of couples really DON'T take the time to find common ground, and ENJOY each others company!

Me and mine will be celebrating a mere 20 years together next week, and even though not every day starts with a fistful of roses, neither of us has yet to regret having "tied that knot"!

Long story behind mine, as well. But in the end, it all "came out in the wash" just fine! We don't live a wealthy-life, but we'll both fight dog-dirty mean for what we have...!

Jeni said...

Congrats on finally finding your "soul mate" -or maybe I should say "relocating" her since you'd actually found her way back when and then 15-16 years later, reconnected. Great story.

david mcmahon said...

Great post, Mushy. God bless you and Judy.

GUYK said...

Great Love Story! I do pity men who have never known the love and friendship of a good woman.

Buck said...

Great story, and great supporting pics, as well!

Speaking of the pics... forgive me this... but has anyone ever told ya you look a bit like that W.J. Clinton guy? I'm speaking of the last pic in the series, the one of you and Judy holding the Coors cans... ;-)

Sandi McBride said...

You know Mushy, some things are just meant to be. Maybe it worked out simply because the time wasn't right the first time around...
Sandi

Chuck said...

Having a good woman in your life is a great thing. Sounds like you've certainly been blessed!

Suldog said...

Sometimes it takes guys like us a couple tries to get it right :-)

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

Oh Mushy, such a love story - who says romance is dead? Here's to you and Judy (clink).

*Goddess* said...

Judy looks really pretty in that first picture by herself...she reminds me of Carol Brady:)

You guys make a sweet couple. I always like reading about how people got together. Great post!

FHB said...

Man, that's one of the best post's you've done. It really wraps up the story of everything with a sweet bow. You're a lucky man, to have lived enough to be able to recognise the best thing when it comes by and be smart enought to grab it. I envy that a lot. I'm not sure where my life is going, but I hope to God I can make the right decisions when the time comes. I have a lot to learn, and I'm afraid I have a lot of mistakes to make before I get to the place you're at. I still have trouble seeing the forrest for the trees some times, or knowing what's right from what's wrong. You and Judy are a great example of what's possible if you do the right thing. Love you both.

FHB said...

And yea, when did Judy date Bill Clinton? Damn. I'm just sayin'...

FHB said...

And Jesus, there was a LOT of hot women in that graduating class! Damn. Nice gene pool.

Cookie..... said...

Great read Mushy. I just love a happy endin....and it sounds like, as every man must...you had to walk yur own walk to get to where ya are today...and that's a GOOD place. My best to the Mrs... ;-)

Scott from Oregon said...

"Together life is good and we have shared a lot since we married in 1980. We have laughed a lot, cried little, had few disagreements and no altercations, and have seen a lot of the world together."

Lucky bastard...

MYM said...

awwww...you are mushy! ;) That photo of Judy is beautiful! She does have Bette Davis eyes! What a wonderful love story...you're both very fortunate...but I'm sure you know that! It's always good to hear the positive stories...I'm so jaded!

indicaspecies said...

Reached here from Authorblog.

A very good post. Wishes for the very best to you and Judy. :)

PRH said...

(in those photos)You still look like Bill Clinton with one of his many lady friends in tow.....

;)

Anonymous said...

excellent story Mushy...and your right on about the Bette Davis eyes... your a bit of a softy but I won't tell...:))))

Lin said...

I'm still thinking about how neat a guy David was to threaten you with a butt-kicking if you didn't go over and dance with her.
What a great story - with a happy ending, no less!

Unknown said...

Awww...that's so sweet, and I'm so glad that you were able to find your true love, after all:) I wish Ted would sometimes let down some fo his guard and say something like that to me (don't get me wrong, he's nice to me, but he's somewhat reserved in what he'll say out loud...or in writing).

Les Becker said...

I'm glad to finally read this story. She must be one wonderful "dragon", Mushy.

Loki said...

Great post Mushy! I "retweeted" it for you, hope you don't mind.

Getting ready to drive back North from Daytona Beach. Unfortunately, the shuttle launch was scrubbed.

It's a good thing I get 45 mpg!