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SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | NOVEMBER 2019 9 by Sharon Cates, Resident Prompted by Dick Roppe's article in the October View, I thought I would write about my reconnection with my husband Ralph. I'm sure there are other SDV residents who have similar stories to tell and encourage them to submit their recollections. Ralph and I were high school sweethearts although we attended different San Diego county high schools. We met at a church youth group in San Diego. I thought him very good looking (in today's language "hot"), but I'd been spending my free time with another boy so there was some loyalty there. The church held teen gatherings, beach parties, picnics or dances once a week. Music in the late 50s wasn't all Rock and Roll, romantic ballads were very appealing to dance to and when Ralph and I did, sparks flew. It wasn't long before we dropped our current steadies and became exclusive. His 1957 senior prom was my sophomore highlight. Ralph's family didn't have a telephone. He walked four blocks to a phone booth several times a week to call me. We double-dated with whomever had a car until he purchased his own. His choice, a customized 1950 Ford convertible with a worn cloth top. When it rained the top collected water and sagged. We would have to push to disperse the water. Eventually he replaced the top. A favorite hangout was Oscar's restaurant on El Cajon Blvd in San Diego. Car hops would take orders and deliver food. Often, Ralph borrowed change from friends to have enough money for our burgers and cherry cokes. He had an after-school job running bamboo poles through a sander for a rattan furniture company. At a nickel a 20ft pole, he wasn't flush with cash. As I was preparing to start my senior year, we broke up. Ralph had been in the adult world for two years and we were seeing less and less of each other. Fast forward 44 years. I was talking with an old friend whose daughter used to date Ralph's son and was still in touch with him. She'd heard Ralph was divorced and working in Las Vegas as an engineer on a water treatment plant. I was widowed and gave her the okay to pass on my email. The following night, he wrote the longest email that I have ever received. Our first date was spent at a restaurant sharing photos of grandchildren. We were married in December 2002. Four months later he retired. When we returned from our honeymoon, Ralph began research for his second novel which was published in 2008. His ability to stay focused on writing for long periods of time is remarkable. I joked that he should cut a piece from the bottom of his home office door for a food tray. I could write more on what it's like being married to an author who is currently writing his fourth book, but I've reached my word limit. It's possible that I started writing for The View in subconscious reprisal. A Romantic Reconnection

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