Annette's Stories of the South: One Night Honeymoon

Back in those days you had to have blood tests and apply for a marriage license and had a three day waiting period before you could get married. We got our blood tests at the Health Clinic in Dade City, on Monday morning; the blood had to go to Tampa to a Laboratory.

Old Dade City Courthouse
Photo by Phil Eschbach/Old Florida

We applied for our license and waited. When the three days were passed our blood test results were still not back. We learned the vehicle had been in an accident and they had to sort all of the vials out and make sure all was okay before they could send papers of the results.

By the time the results did come in it had been six days and it was now Saturday morning and the Court House would close at noon. Chuck had to be back to Key West on Monday.

And by the time the truck made it from Tampa with blood test results we had to rush to get the paper work and then get back to the Court House just 15 minutes before they closed. It was a close call to us having to wait even longer.

Locator Map for Weeki Wachee Springs

We had a one night honeymoon at Weeki Wachee Springs. We had to leave Sunday to go back to Key West. We had many honeymoons over the years because he was at sea a lot and when he came home it was like honeymoon again every time!

We did watch the Mermaid Show and had a delicious dinner. And we did get to return a few times over the years. Many years later we took our daughter Stormy, and granddaughter Chas, when Chas was a toddler. The Mermaid Show is worth seeing anytime!

I am not sure that Chas remembers this now, but she was fascinated at the time by the Mermaids!