Valentine ’ s Day and a 1984 general delivery letter , posted on the off chance it would reach its intended recipient , loom large in the story of Burleson husband and wife Johnny and Sandra Green .
An earlier chance meeting and shared acquaintances also played a role in the couple ’ s meeting and subsequent journey into love and marriage .
“ I don ’ t know what you think about getting letters from people you don ’ t know very well , but I thought that it wouldn ’ t hurt to write and see ,” Johnny Green wrote to then-Sandra Hodges in a Feb . 6 , 1984 , letter .
The couple first met in 1983 during a singles retreat at Pettijohn Springs Christian Camp in Madill , Oklahoma .
“ I was 23 at the time and lived in Lexington , Oklahoma , but taught fifth grade in a small town — Paoli , Okla .,” Sandra Green said . “ I was dating another guy at the time and we thought about getting married , but it didn ’ t work out and we broke up .”
Around that same time , Sandra Green said she befriended and “ hung out ” with Susie Harrison . The two also prayed for guidance concerning the challenges in their lives , she said .
“ I wanted to get married and have a family ,” she said . “ So I prayed to God to help me figure out the situation with this other guy , or to have the courage to move on . Susie ’ s prayer was to help her
Courtesy photo Johnny and Sandra Green cut the wedding cake at their June 2 , 1984 , wedding .
Courtesy photo Johnny , third from left , and Sandra , second from right , at the singles retreat they met at in 1983 at Pettijohn Springs .
decide whether to go to seminary or not .”
Both , seeking a change of pace , went to Pettijohn Springs in May that same year , a retreat filled with , “ people from 18 to old ladies ,” as Sandra Green describes it .
“ Eight of us went ,” she said . “ I remember it was rainy , yucky and wet the whole time . But , we all liked sports so we were out in the rain playing volleyball and softball .”
Johnny Green , 22 , an Oklahoma State University graduate from Okemah , Oklahoma , was also attending the retreat .
Both being interested in sports , Johnny and Sandra met naturally enough , though it wasn ’ t love at first sight and neither harbored the slightest inkling they would soon be husband and wife .
“ At that point I was kind of interested in another guy there , and he liked another one of the girls at the camp ,” Sandra Green said .
Sandra ’ s last name caught Johnny ’ s attention though and he told her he knew a Tom and Betha Hodges back home .
“ Well , they ’ re my aunt and uncle ,” Sandra Green said .
The two briefly discussed the happy coincidence , small world , etcetera , but that was as far as the conversation went .
“ After [ the retreat ] we didn ’ t see each other for nine months ,” Sandra Green said . “ But he did mention me to Aunt Betha next time he saw her and she bragged on me , how I can cook and sew and all .”
Johnny Green , working as an engineer for the USDA at the time , moved from Duncan to Davis , Oklahoma , about seven months after he first met Sandra Hodges .
“ Duncan had a big singles group at his church ,” Sandra Green said . “ When work moved him to Davis , there was one other single person there , so he was unhappy .”
Sandra Green said she was drifting , too , about that time .
“ It was around January of 1984 , the girl I mentioned earlier and I were praying about our problems , what to do and all ,” Sandra Green said . “ My mom and the ladies at my church were praying for me .”
About that same time , Johnny Green remembered meeting Sandra and decided to contact her . He knew she lived in Lexington , but didn ’ t know her address or phone number .
“ If that happened now everyone would have all the cellphones , Twitter and Facebook stuff ,” Johnny Green said . “ But we didn ’ t have all that in 1984 .”
Sandra ’ s Aunt Betha proved no help . Sandra ’ s version was that she ignored or brushed off Johnny ’ s requests for Sandra ’ s address .
“ No , see it was , my mother was kind of weird ,” Johnny Green said . “ I don ’ t think [ Aunt Betha ] was sure Sandra would want her for a mother-in-law .”
Community Life 7