The Cohrs Family
Contact
  • Home
  • Writings
    • Trinity-St. John Lutheran School
    • Bible Study on Luther Movie
    • BLOG >
      • 2008 >
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2009 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2010 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2011 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2012 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2013 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2014 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
    • Sermons >
      • Celebration of Life - Chuckie Miller-Taylor
      • “What is your name?”
      • Reformation Day – Oct. 31, 2010
      • Reformation Day – Nov. 3, 2013
      • Here’s Your Sign
      • Arrrr – Where be your treasure, Mate?
      • God Calms Your Storms
      • Invocation
      • Why?
      • LHM and You
      • Beautiful Feet
      • Chapel - LHM
    • Publications >
      • Concordia University - Forester
      • Issues in Christian Education
      • LHM - Project Connect
      • Lutheran Centger for Religious Liberty
      • Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod School Ministry
      • Lutheran Education Association >
        • Shaping the Future - Fall 2015
        • Shaping the Future - Spring 2018
        • Shaping the Future - Winter 2020
        • Shaping the Future - Winter 2021
        • Shaping the Future - Spring 2022
        • Monograph
        • Shaping the Future Plus - 2017
      • The Lutheran Layman
      • The Lutheran Layman - Oct. 2013
      • Lutheran Laymen's League - "By Kids...For Kids" >
        • Lesson 1 - Thai Culture
        • Lesson 2 - Thai History
        • Lesson 3 - Thai Religions
        • Lesson 4 - Lutheran Mission Work
        • Bibliography
      • Lutheran Laymen's League - Bible Studies >
        • The Spirit of Power
        • The Power of the Breath of Life
        • The Power of Eternal Life
        • The Power to Pray
        • The Power to Encourage
        • The Power to Give
      • Michigan District - LCMS
      • Michigan In Touch >
        • Avoiding Staff Infection
        • Teams
        • Calm Waters
    • Devotional Thoughts >
      • Sauerkraut Seeds
      • Who is Fit to Lead in the Church?
      • To Encourage Workers
      • Happy Easter, Bunny
      • I Love to Tell the Story
      • I Am Not Ashamed
      • Foolish Sheep
      • Why?
      • What does it Matter?
      • “I Have Something For You”
      • Opening Day
      • Super Bowl XXXIX
      • Don't Worry
      • My Father’s Hands
      • “The Less Traveled Road”
      • Mother's Day
      • Partings
      • Stress
      • Surprise!
    • Daily Devotion - Lutheran Hour Ministries
    • Special Devotions >
      • Water
      • Office Personnel Devotion
      • 1966
      • Words of Eternal Life
      • Body of Christ
      • Pre-Convention Anxiety
    • Christ the King Lutheran School >
      • Faculty Devotion – Why Do You Teach?
      • Advent – the time of waiting
      • Advent – the time of preparation
      • Advent – Time for Preparation
      • Advent - Traditions
      • Ash Wednesday
      • Can Anything Good Come From …
      • Come to the Banquet
      • Do You Love Me?
      • Follow Me
      • Follow Me to My Father’s House
      • Give God His Due
      • Greetings from Paradise
      • He Healed Many
      • His Heart Could Have Stopped
      • How Can This Be?
      • It Rained
      • Memorial Day
      • My 1951 Ford
      • Reject Jesus?
      • Snow
      • Stop Doubting and Believe
      • Sugar Cookies
      • The Beatitudes
      • The Computer
      • The Greatest Commandment
      • The Honeymoon is Over
      • The Muckraker
      • The Power of a Word
      • The Rainbow
      • The Shepherds Returned
      • The Sunshine
      • The Witness
      • Valentine’s Day
      • What Do You Fear?
      • What Is Your Favorite Food?
      • Who is Jesus?
      • Who is the Boss!
      • Why a Lutheran School?
      • You Will Be Free
      • Your Sins are Forgiven
    • Our Savior Lutheran School >
      • All Saint's Day
      • Anxiety
      • Can I Afford a Lutheran School?
      • Change
      • Election Day
      • Give God His Due
      • Grandpa
      • Heart
      • Hope
      • I can’t believe it!
      • I'm Busy
      • I ‘m Going Out to Fish
      • It is almost Spring
      • Let the Children Come to Me
      • Light of the World
      • Living Water
      • Lutheran Schools – Just for Lutherans?
      • March Madness
      • My 1951 Ford
      • ​My People
      • New Beginnings
      • Our House
      • Report Card Time
      • Thanks-Living
      • The Christmas Gift
      • The Cold Front
      • The Dream
      • The First Day of School
      • The Flag and the Castle
      • The Power Went Out
      • ​This is a Test
      • Tiny Town
      • To Soar Like Eagles
      • We are at War
      • What Do You Want for Christmas?
      • Why Not?
    • PMT Devotions >
      • 2001 >
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2002 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2003 >
        • Issues in Christian Education
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
      • 2004 >
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
    • Zion Lutheran Church
    • Opa's Stories >
      • Bunny and Rich - Our First Date
      • Carol and Rich - Our First Date
      • The Squirrel in the Toilet
      • Bunny's Easter Lamb Cake
      • Christmas Traditions
      • The Christmas Angel
      • Childhood Homes
      • The Fall - The Dream - The Gift
      • My Father's Jobs
      • My Name
      • Goldfinger
      • Downtown
      • Rock Around the Clock
      • Sauerkraut Seeds
  • Family History
    • Ancestry DNA
    • Family Homes of Rich Cohrs >
      • Family Homes of Bunny Cohrs
    • Family Trees
    • Cohrs - O - Gram
    • Christmas Letter
    • Marjorie Colburn Tree
    • Bunny's Homecoming
    • Carol - A Gift From God
  • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes >
      • Chicken Tenders - No Breading
      • French Fries
    • Appetizers >
      • Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts
      • Aunt Chuckie's Meatballs
      • Sweet and Sour Meatballs
    • Cooking For Phonics
    • The Cookie Jar >
      • Prairie Preschool - Bunny Cohrs, Teacher
      • Grades 1 & 2 - Rosanna Stellhorn, Teacher
      • Grades 3 & 4 - Danny Magelitz, Teacher
      • Grades 5 & 6 - Deitt Schneider, Teacher
      • Grades 7 & 8- Richard Cohrs, Teacher and Principal
    • Bunny's Recipe Scrapbook
    • Family Favorites >
      • Ann's Stuffed Pepper Soup
      • Apple Crisp
      • Aunt Cindy's Bailey's Recipe
      • Aunt Judy's Italian Beef
      • Aunt Melinda's Spaghetti Sauce
      • Bacon and Egg Muffin
      • Banana Bread
      • Becky's Crock Pot Fajitas
      • Boston Cream Pie (Rich's Birthday Cake)
      • Carol's Crock Pot Baked Beans
      • Cherry Delight
      • Chex Mix
      • Chicken Piccata Pasta (from Leigh Frirth)
      • Chuckie's Vegetable Medley
      • Lo Cal Chicken Parmesan
      • Mom Conrad's Hamburger Casserole
      • Dad Williams Standing Rib Roast
      • Double Berry German Puff Pancake
      • French Onion Burger
      • Marinated Cucumber, Onion, and Tomato Salad
      • Mary Hahn German Chocolate Cream Pie
      • Green Bean Casserole >
        • Hash Brown Shepherd's Pie
      • Hobo Dinner Foil Meal
      • Ken Klaus Pretzels
      • Lasagna
      • Old Fashioned Meat Loaf
      • One Pan Sausage and Veggies
      • Penne and Smoked Sausage Casserole
      • Rich's Beef Stroganoff
      • Rich’s Roasted French Onion Potatoes
      • Sage Turkey Stuffing
      • Sausage, Peppers and Onions
      • Sheel Pan ltalian Susoge Pepper Bake
      • Shepherd's Pie
      • Sloppy Joes
      • Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas
      • Stuffed Green Peppers
      • Teriyaki Chicken
      • Texas Sheet Cake (Carol's Aunt Eileen)
      • Tuna Boats - Tuna Salad with Cornichons
      • X-Tra Special Cheesecake
    • Christmas Cookies >
      • BonBon Cookies
      • Chocolate Cookie Mice
      • Cranberry Nut Cookies
      • Grandma Cohrs Sugar Cookies
      • Holly Cookies
      • Kolachies
      • Old Fashioned Oatmeal Cookies
      • Oatmeal Cookies
      • Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
      • Peppermint Pinwheels
      • Pfeffernussen
      • Russian Tea Cakes / Snow Balls
      • Snickerdoodles
      • Spritz Cookies
      • Sugar Cookies
  • Family Photos
    • Albert Cohrs
    • Anna Weidler
    • Lyman Collburn
    • Hazel Kingsland
    • Richard Frederick Cohrs >
      • PFC Cohrs
      • Kids Was Kids
    • Marjorie Colburn
    • Richard Paul Cohrs >
      • Randall Jay Cohrs
      • Daniel Lyman Cohrs
      • Three Brothers
      • Minister of the Gospel - Commissioned
      • Rich's 70th Birthday Party
    • Harry and Ruth Conrad
    • Edilberto and Marilynn Angulo >
      • Lynn's Memories
    • Arlene (Bunny) Conrad >
      • Siblings
      • Minister of the Gospel - Commissioned
    • Glen and Donna Williams >
      • The Family Scrapbook >
        • Animated Family Scrapbook
      • In His Own Words
      • The Smile of My Life
      • Obituary
    • Carol Williams (Bacon) >
      • Sisters
    • Wedding - Bunny and Rich
    • Wedding - Carol and Rich
  • Vacation Photos
    • European Vacation >
      • Florstadt and Surrounding Area
      • Trier, Luxemburg, Belgium, Netherlands
      • Worms, Neuschwanstein, Dachau
      • France
      • Rothenburg
    • Bunny and Rich's Hawaii Vacation - Scrapbook - 2002
    • Alaska - Rich 2002
    • Bunny and Rich - Florida - 2004
    • Carol's European Vacation
    • Israel - 2004 >
      • November 3, 2004: Chicago - Europe
      • November 4, 2004: Europe - Israel - Tel Aviv
      • November 5, 2004: Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Herodium
      • November 6, 2004: Jerusalem - Mt of Olives - Gethsemane
      • November 7, 2004: Jerusalem - Masada
      • November 8, 2004: Jerusalem - The Old City
      • November 9, 2004: Tiberias - Jericho / Bet Shean
      • November 10, 2004: Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum
      • November 11, 2004: Cana / Nazareth / Caesarea / Megiddo
    • Carol and Rich Hawaii Vacation
    • Joshua Tree National Park - 2008
    • Raven Cliff Salls, SC - 2009
    • Brattonsville, SC - 2009
    • Niagara Falls - 2009
    • Marco Island/Everglades - 2010
    • Key West - January 2011
    • Alaska Trip - August, 2011 >
      • Day 1
      • Day 2
      • Day 3
      • Day 4
      • Day 5
      • Day 6
      • Day 7
      • Day 8
      • Day 9
      • Day 10
      • Day 11
    • Israel - 2012 >
      • Jerusalem
      • Jerusalem
      • Mount of Olives
      • Ain Karem - Nazareth - Bet Shemesh
      • Bethlehem
      • Bet Guvrin-Maresha - Beit She'an - Caesarea Maritima
      • Caesarea Philippi - Camel Rides - Cana
      • Dead Sea - Golan Heights - Jacob's Well
      • Jericho - Jordan River - Korazim
      • Masada - Mt. Carmel - Qumran
      • Sea of Galilee - Mount of Beatitudes - Tabgha - Capernaum
      • Tel Dan - Valley of Elah
      • Special Pictures - Sheep and Goats
    • Germany Trip - September 2014 >
      • Day 1: Munich and Oberammergau
      • Day 2: Innsbruck and Neuschwanstein
      • Day 3: Eagle's Nest and Ettal Monastery
      • Day 4: Dachau and Oberammergau
      • Day 5: Augsburg
      • Day 6: Erfurt
      • Day 7 - 10: Erfurt Hospital
      • Day 11 - 12: Berlin and Flight Home
    • California Trip - January, 2015
    • Aruba - 2017
    • Great American Eclipse
    • Washington DC
    • Las Vegas - 2018
    • New York, New York - 2018
    • Pensacola Beach
    • July 4, 2019
    • Kentucy - August 2019
    • New Englamd - 2021
    • Niagara Falls State Park - September 2022
    • Washington DC
    • Charleston SC - October 2022
    • Pittsburgh - February 2024 >
      • Carnegie Science Center Miniature Railroad & Village®
      • Duquesne Incline
      • Pennsylvania Trolley Museum
      • Western Pennsylvania Model Pailroad Museum
    • Great American Eclipse 2024
    • Aruba - 2024
    • New Yory - 2025
  • Special Photos & Videos
    • On the Radio - Sirius XM 60's Gold >
      • On the Radio - Lutheran Hour - Action In Ministry
      • On the Radio - Lutheran Hour - Action In Ministry
    • Videos >
      • 75th Birthday Video
      • Train Set
      • TV Time
      • Home Videos
    • Jiminy Cricket
    • Dead Tree
    • Engraved Paver
    • Coca-Cola
    • Heidelberg Painting
    • Katrina
    • Wall of Crosses
    • Christmas 2003
    • Olympic Torch Relay Run - St. Louis, MO - 2004
    • Blood Moon
    • Super Blood Wolf Moon
  • Bucket List
    • Transportation >
      • Trains >
        • Alaska Railroad
        • Amtrak
        • Big Boy
        • El Train - Chicago
        • Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway
        • National Museum of Transportation
        • Roaring Camp Steam Locomotive
        • Royal Gorge Railroad
      • Planes >
        • Airports
        • B-25J
        • Memphis Belle
        • PT-13 Stearman
        • Space Shuttle Enterprise
        • Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum - Kalamazoo, MI
        • Combat Air Museum
        • Dover DE, Beach and Aircraft Museum
        • Final SWA Flight - FNT
        • Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum
        • Cape Canaveral / Kennedy Space Center - Florida
        • NASA Johnson Space Center
        • National Naval Aviation Museum - Pensacola Beach, Florida
        • Pima Air & Space Museum
        • Smartt Field - St. Charles County Regional Airfield
        • Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
        • Southwest Airlines - Special Aircraft
        • Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center
        • USAF C-40C
        • USS Yorktown - aircraft
        • Wings Over the Rockies Air and Space Museum
      • Automobiles >
        • Convertible
        • Shelby Cobra
        • Car Show
        • The Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
      • Ships >
        • Queen Mary
        • Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship
        • Tall Ship - Bay City, Michigan
        • USS Yorktown
        • USS Laffy
    • PGA Championship
    • American Pickers
    • Aruba Vacation
    • An Inauguration
    • Become a Lord and a Lady
    • Graceland
    • The Henry Ford
    • Visiting all 50 States
    • Writing and Publishing a Book
  • Cohrs Fund
  • LEA Award - 2022
  • S.M.R.L.H.
  • Books
    • Three Score and Ten
    • Calm Waters
    • The Stones Shout His Praise
    • Welcome to the Family
squirrel
Carol and Rich - Our Fist Date

Carol and Rich – Our First Date
It was late Summer and I had been meeting monthly with the area principals. They welcomed me back to Michigan and were eager to share their comfort, wisdom and knowledge with me.  
 
I found myself asking questions about dating from a fellow principal, Cindy Brown. It had been awhile (a really long awhile) since I had planned a “first date” and I wanted her opinion about the whole “first date” thing.
 
But I am ahead of myself.
 
In 1987, I moved to Sebewaing, Michigan to be principal /teacher of Immanuel Lutheran School. Shortly after I moved into the district, I was asked to write for the Michigan District – LCMS Stewardship Committee. I had authored a few devotions and children’s sermons on Stewardship when I was asked to fill-in an unexpired term on the Stewardship Committee.
 
This meant that I would drive to Ann Arbor, MI, once every other month for the day-long meetings.
 
I found that I had a knack for these meetings, even getting elected a few times later by the District Convention. I was driving to Ann Arbor once a month for about eight years.
 
Sitting around the table at those meetings was the Assistant to the Stewardship Committee, Carol Bacon. Carol was a typical assistant, allowing her boss to receive all of the compliments of the committee’s accomplishments, knowing that she did all of the background work that made her boss look good. She also had a nice smile and lots of knowledge.
 
We had become platonic friends, enjoying our committee time together.
 
When I moved to St. Louis to work for Lutheran Hour Ministries I would keep in touch with Carol, letting her know when a LHM function would happen in her District.
 
After Bunny died, I moved once again into the principal world as I took a Call back to Immanuel, Sebewaing. I went through a time of separation, grief and isolation. I looked to my fellow principals for comfort and advice.
 
One day Carol asked if I would help her transfer a VHS tape to DVD. I had nothing else to do so I drove to Ann Arbor to help with what would have normally been a routine task.
 
I entered Carol’s office and something clicked in my brain – “I think I would like to know more about Carol.”
 
When my brain clicked, it took on a mind of its own (pun intended). As I tried to connect wires between devices, my eyes saw, but my brain didn’t register what I was seeing. The connections had to be redone, and redone and redone.
 
After most of the day was gone, I managed to copy one VHS tape. On the way home I was thinking, “I should ask her on a date.”
 
My opportunity came almost immediately, for while I was in the office Bruce Braun, the Education Superintendent, asked if I would be part of his advisory committee. That would mean a trip to Ann Arbor once a month – on a Friday.
 
I called Carol and asked her if she would like to have dinner with me the next time I was in the office. She said she would like that and now I had to plan for a “first date.”
 
I happened to teach computer skills so I asked my class to research the most expensive restaurant in Ann Arbor. The Gandy Dancer made the top of the list.
 
Next came the entertainment, the class found some “Off – Broadway” live theatre.
 
The class researched the colors of roses and found that yellow roses tell someone the joy they bring you and the friendship you share.
 
Their part done I made reservations at the Gandy Dancer for a out-of-the-way table for two. Next, I ordered a dozen yellow roses for the table with a card that read “From your friend…” I talked the reservations clerk at the theatre to get me two aisle seats, three rows back from the stage.
 
I then went to the store and bought an outfit: suit, shoes, tie, socks and underwear. Then I had the car detailed. (I was bound and determined that if was to be the last date it would be memorable.)
 
I was feeling pretty good about the arrangements at the Thursday principal’s meeting when I told Cindy Brown that I had made a date with Carol Bacon. I told her the arrangements to see if she would be appropriately impressed. Her response to the whole thing was, “Did you tell Carol it was a date?”
 
“Well, I asked her to go with me to dinner, isn’t that a date?” I didn’t see the issue here.
 
She persisted, “Did you use the words ‘This is a date’?”
 
“No, is that important?” I started to get nervous.
 
She then proceeded to give me an education about the difference between a friend, which I was, asking for company at dinner and a date, which I was but she didn’t know, asking for company at dinner… and a show.
 
She continued on about how that would mean a difference in mental attitude, dress, preparations, etc. but I didn’t hear much of it since it was getting close to 5:00 PM and the only phone number I had for Carol was her work number – her office closed at 5:00 PM.
 
I left the meeting early, pulled out my cell phone – no reception.
 
I drove (very fast) to the only place I knew that still had a pay phone – I needed to make a 25 minute drive in 15.
 
Pulling next to the phone (it was a gas station and you could call from your car),I put the quarters into it, dialed her office number and got her voice mail.
 
Always quick witted I stammered into the phone, “Uh, this is Rich …… um ….. I ….. IT’S A DATE.” (Yes I yelled that last part and hung up.)
 
She got the message, acted nervous the whole time I was at the meeting and looked beautiful.
 
I opened her car door and off we went for our date.
 
I wanted to surprise her with the Gandy Dancer (I did let her know to dress up) but proceeded to get lost. The surprise lost some its appeal as she had to direct me to the restaurant.
 
We get to the table and she kind looks at the roses and smiles – not a big “WOW!” smile, but a “That’s Nice” one. (I found out later that she is really not fond of yellow roses.)
 
The waitress asked for our drink order and Carol responds, “I don’t drink.” (I thanked God that I hadn’t ordered the expensive bottle of champagne I was going to surprise her with.)
 
Appetizers were ruled out, (“I don’t really like appetizers.”) so we moved quickly to the main course.  Now the Gandy Dancer is most known for its seafood, being part of the Landry restaurant system. Better fish, crabs, lobster is not to be found in Ann Arbor.  I was trying to suggest the lobster when Carol announced, “I really don’t eat fish or sea food.” (Her choice was easy, since there was Prime Rib.)
 
The meal concluded and I proceeded to get lost on the way to the theater – again ruining the surprise.
 
Carol directed me to a Parking Garage near the theatre and I held the door open as she exited the car. I started to fall, since we were on a slope, and she caught me.
 
It was then that we held hands and she confessed that she missed the touch of another person.  That was “The Moment” that made the date worthwhile.
 
The show was fine; don’t remember too much from it.
 
We headed back to her car, parked at the District Office.
 
We sat in the car, talking, long enough for the windows to fog over – at least 10 minutes.
 
Just then the patrol lights of a campus security vehicle danced across my wind shield. I laughed, got out of the car and confronted a security patrol officer young enough to be my youngest son. Since I was laughing and he thought that was disrespectful I had to stand there until Carol got out and told him who she was and where she worked.
 
He apologized – to her – and drove off.
 
I thank God that we had more dates – no fish – no alcohol – no yellow roses.
 
The following December we were engaged and the following March we were married.
 
Thus began our journey.
 
 
 
 


Proudly powered by Weebly