Maeburl Tincher
In 1954, I was working as a waitress at Kelly’s Truck Stop near Ashland, Va.; a highly-respected establishment along U.S. Route 1.
One day, a handsome young trucker named Bill walked through the door and sat down at the counter. I took his order as we talked and laughed. His regular haul put him at the diner twice a week.
Sometimes, he would give me a quarter and ask me to play his favorite song by The Chords. The lyrics of the love song would float across the diner:
“Life would be a dream if I could take you to paradise up above,
If you would tell me I’m the only one that you love.
Life would be a dream, sweetheart,
Sh-Boom, Sh-Boom.”
Eyes bright and smiling wide, his charm and humor lightened my heart and drew my interest.
One day in December, I asked my new friend what he wanted for Christmas. He jokingly said, “You.” We both smiled and laughed, but the “joke” meant more to me then he knew.
In 1956, we became husband and wife.
Through the early years of our marriage we struggled to adjust to the demands of family life but in the face of each new adversity, we chose each other over and over again.
In 1963 – 10 years into our journey – Stonewall Jackson released a song that unwittingly retold the tale of our early courtship and love.
Bill would smile as he played the guitar and sang,
“Don’t be angry with me darling If I fail to understand, All your little whims and wishes all the time.
Just remember that I’m dumb I guess like any foolish man,
And my head stays sorta foggy cause you’re mine.
Well, I recall the first time that I flirted with you dear, When I jokingly said, come and be my bride.
Now that time has turned the pages, it’s the sweetest joke on Earth,
That I have you here forever by my side.”
Those songs both set the stage for our love and then reminded us of how it came to be.
They encouraged us to be patient and understanding with one another as we walked through life together.
But there are other songs left to sing and they tell of our future.
We were married 24 short years and Bill has been gone for twice as long. The time was short, but I have promises yet to unfold.
“Beyond the Sunset” is inscribed on our headstone at Bear Creek Baptist Church. This song reminds me that one day, there will be a glad reunion when my walk of life is through.
The love story will continue and I’ll “Stroll over Heaven with You.”
Maeburl Tincher is a native of the Jack Branch community.