On Valentine’s Day 40 years ago, a 40-year-old soldier said, “Come take my hand and walk through this world with me.” He had spent 22 years, along with many fathers and sons, fighting for our freedom and all that is America. He had a head wound in Vietnam and his future was uncertain. He was still unsteady on his feet. When I said “Yes,” he said, “I thought I was finished but I believe the best is yet to be.”

We knew it was indeed a challenge beyond our wildest expectations to plan a second family. I had four children already and he had none. He wanted two children and we both believed that older parents made better parents — perhaps weaker though. My husband Jeff said, “We will be lucky to see them graduate from high school.”( I think I wrote a column similar to this one on our 30th anniversary.) I’m sure few people remember.

He was a war-weary, tired, and sick soldier, wounded but still patriotic. I said, “Are you sure you are up to helping raise four children after all you have been through?” I said, “They can turn your world upside down.” He said it would be a piece of cake after being First Sergeant to hundreds of young troops and growing up in a family of 16 children in a hollow in Appalachia.

Jeff said, “We could have two more children and make it a half dozen if you are willing.” I told him it could turn into more of a challenge than he was ready to accept. And me too, since I was an only child. He laughed and said, “You’ll have to go back to the mountains with me because I could not survive in the Nashville atmosphere...because I don’t understand those people.” I said, “Okay G.I., let’s go.” Sometimes he has no idea what I am talking about and vice versa!

Our baby girl is thirty-something with children ready for college. Jeff has been a great father and grandfather. Our children and grandchildren are life’s greatest pleasures. He says, “They are my life!”

When my new husband took me to Viper, Ky. 20 miles past Hazard, I thought I was going to the end of the world on highway 80 before the Daniel Boone Parkway existed...and I wondered... “What have I done?” The mountains grew higher and the roads more treacherous than ever! The mountains were extremely beautiful but I could not understand some of the mountain dialect, although I have a Tennessee southern accent. I said, “Are they speaking English?” He looked at me and laughed. He thought I was kidding.

I have enjoyed my life in Laurel County. The people told me it would grow on me and they were right. It is truly one of the prettiest places in the world.

My girls graduated from Laurel County High School and went away to college. They were in all kinds of extra-curricular activities and were in the gifted and talented program.

I graduated from Sue Bennett College and went on to Eastern Kentucky University. I have taught kindergarten, worked at the hospital, supervised daycare, been a newspaper editor/publisher and the list goes on.

Driving a Laurel County school bus with all of its challenges has brought me as much joy as any anything else in my life. Laurel County overall has a great bunch of kids. Most of them are respectful and courteous. Of course, there is a bully here and there. And occasionally, I don’t understand some of the rules. Overall, the best was yet to be... indeed.

We and our children traveled many miles together — from San Francisco to Maine, from Mexico to Canada, and all points in between. None of our children like to let grass grow under their feet. My granddaughter was born in Hawaii. We spent time in Germany, Austria, and Scotland. We have lots of fond memories to carry us into our twilight years.

I talked my husband into helping form an Optimist Club and he has been a Santa for them and the county for many optimistic years.

In spite of the heartaches, sickness and troubles, the joys of these 40 years have outweighed them all and I am glad I took the hand of that crusty old optimistic First Sgt. and walked all these miles with him. He has his faults, but they are no worse than my faults. We make a pretty good team, even when we butt heads.

Speaking of miles, in 21 years I have seen several school buses turn over 100,000 miles.

Happy Anniversary, Valentine!

Shirley Caudill of London is a former newspaper editor/publisher and longtime freelance columnist. She is a Nashville native who has lived in Kentucky 40 years. She has six children, 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren and is married to a retired Army First Sergeant. She can be reached at gunnstar4912@gmail.com