ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, December 8, 1996 TAG: 9612090073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
Owen ``Jack'' Tate stumbled into a 7-Eleven at 3 a.m. a month ago for a bracing cup of joe. He plans to go back this week and pick up the future Mrs. Tate.
Behind the counter that night was Myrtle Bond, an old flame he had not seen in six years. On Saturday, they plan walk down the aisle - the one by the coffee bar - and get married at the same 7-Eleven.
Tate, 42, and Bond, 46, had known each other since childhood. They dated for a time in the 1980s but broke up and went their separate ways.
After meeting again over coffee, their whirlwind courtship quickly became whirlwind engagement, and Tate raised the possibility of a 7-Eleven ceremony.
``At first, I thought he was crazy,'' Bond said. ``Then I thought, why not? 7-Eleven is my family. The people there are my family.''
The aisle where the two will take their vows will be decorated with balloons and streamers in Christmas colors. But the store will stay open for business while the two say their vows.
``We wanted to keep the store open because we want it natural, not too complicated,'' Bond said.
The wedding will be her third and his fourth.
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB