Common interests, and a touch of royalty
Valentine’s Day 1964, John arrived with a red velvet box of chocolates and took me out for my first Chinese dinner. Home on leave from the Navy he politely shook my hand, said he had a nice time and our 57-year love affair began.
May 1963, he persuaded me to go to the Los Lunas prom with his dateless friend James. I was a sophomore and his sister my best friend. I had a crush on John but as a popular senior he hardly knew I existed. Prom day I was sick with a fever but went anyway. John’s date with a beehive hairdo and tiara looked fabulous. Later at dinner as I sat alone, John asked “where is your tiara?” I replied “I don’t have one” as James finally returned.
September 1963, John attended UNM, invited me to a dance and later enlisted in the Navy. Christmas a letter arrived and our communication started. Returning for my 1964 junior prom we became engaged. He was on an aircraft carrier and I became an airline stewardess for Texas International. To marry John, I had to leave the airlines as you couldn’t fly and be married!
Married in Las Vegas, Nevada, on June 4, 1966. Son John arrived in 1968, and Christina in 1972. In 24 years of Navy service we moved 16 times. With John gone 10 months a year for seven years, letters and cassettes sustained us during those long months. As a Navy wife you handled the kids and everyday life because you were on your own and far from home. In 1971 we enjoyed Chinese dinners in Hong Kong; in 1974, I became Ms. Adak Alaska (John urged me to enter) and won a crown instead of that tiara!
John graduated from George Washington University; retired as lieutenant commander, after 9/11 became District Director for U.S. Department of Homeland Security. I was wife, mom, professional model, Realtor, interior designer, etiquette consultant and author.
Who knew that young man from Los Lunas was related to Queen Elizabeth II, George Washington, Winston Churchill, kings of Scotland, signers of Magna Carta, Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence? Forty years into our marriage we learned of his legendary ancestors and it changed our lives. With property in Scotland we enjoy traveling, writing and lecturing about history. For a long and happy marriage you support each other, are loyal, trustworthy, and develop common interests to go along with the love.
In 2008 Queen Elizabeth II granted John his personal Scottish Coat of Arms and the title of John Glynn of Glynstewart and she recently promoted him to Commander in the Order of St. John, an order of Chivalry.
In 2020, we moved back to continue our wonderful life together!