In our beginning
Once upon a time, back in the olden days of 1974, a girl named Norma Anne Chattin met a boy named Henry Verlander or Valanda as she wrote in her journal that day…They met in the kingdom of Lancaster County where the small royal high school accommodated 8th grade through 12th grade. Henry, a senior, played trumpet in the newly reformed marching band and Norma Anne, an 8th grader, was a majorette.
The two fell in love, and dated for over a year. Although the pairing seemed unlikely, as result of strong supervision from Norma Anne’s mother and the naiveté of the times, it worked for longer than anyone would have expected and ended as Henry’s life in college and Norma Anne’s in high school drifted amicably apart. Then Norma Anne’s family moved away and they only heard about each other through mutual friends.
Life went on
As 27 years went by, Henry married a woman he met in college and had two children as he pursued a career in the food and beverage industry. Norma Anne married and pursued a career in the staffing industry. Sadly both marriages didn’t work and they were both separated or separating in 2001 when Norma Anne got an email from Henry’s brother saying he’d like to get in touch. Jeff, Henry’s brother, had seen Norma Anne on Classmates.com.
Star Crossed or Cyber Linked? You Decide
They began an email friendship and after a few months decided to meet and visit Lancaster County and go to the Fireman’s Carnival. They had a marvelous day, full of renewed friendship and reminiscing. By October of that year they began dating again.
Since their renewed romance they have moved to West Palm Beach Florida and made a home for themselves there. Henry has recently become certified as a Microsoft Systems Engineer and Norma Anne works as a designer/writer/ instructor in the scrapbook and paper arts industry. They share their home with two Jack Russell dogs—Daisy Lou and Drexel Flatrock. Henry’s son Matt lives nearby and family and friends visit often. We love our life.
After seven years, three hurricanes, health issues, career changes, and numerous other blessings and set backs—Henry and Norma Anne have decided to marry on 08.08.08.
A Wedding with Meaning
We wanted to go back to where it all began and marry in Lancaster County, however, it just became too consuming working long distance so we will be married in Palm Beach County Florida near our home.
We have a strong desire to give back as we come back and we hope to combine those desires by having a wedding celebration that benefits the Lancaster High School Marching Band. Music is still so vital in our lives and if it hadn’t been for the first year of that (then) fledgling program—we never would have fallen in love.
On Sunday, August 3, 2008 we had our CBS 12 Dream Wedding. We won the contest because so many incredible people who knew us or knew our friends and family put in over 70.000 votes. Click the yellow title bar to link to our story and photo entry. Check the blog for more updates and watch our videos. We'll never be able to stop thanking everyone, and we are glad to do it....
