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Kenneth & Celeste Barber
June 30, 2000
Ken and I met in Santa Barbara Cemetery. In fact, our courtship pretty much took place there throughout the 18 months until we married in June 2000.
I was recently widowed. I was filling the flower container with water when Ken strolled up to do the same for his late wife's grave. He mumbled something, I looked up and burst into tears. From this sad meeting, friendship was initiated, and over time, love.
He'd drive up every other Sunday to place his flowers graveside. I'd be there with coffee to share - including the alternate Sundays on the chance that he might appear. Minutes of graveside converation increased to hours. One day, this lovely older gentleman (24 years my senior!) invited me to lunch. And there was my delimena. I didn't want to appear greedy, so El Encanto was out. And knowing that he wouldn't permit a Dutch treat, I couldn't go cheap, thereby inulting him. And so, our first date was chowder and wine at Brophy's. Ken first kissed me at the Santa Barbara Cemetary. One year later, we rustled up 50 friends and family members, and were married by Judge Slater in the Mural Room where Past El Presidente Jim Westwick served as Best Man.
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