Beginning Our Life Together 4th January 1969. On a crisp winter’s day in London, Helen and I stood before God and promised to walk through life together. I remember looking at Helen and feeling so happy that this beautiful young woman had chosen me. We were young, in love and excited about beginning our life together. And, I must say, I thought I looked rather smart too. After signing the marriage register, we stepped outside for our photographs. Standing beside Helenon thechurchsteps, bouquet in hand and that beautiful smile on her face, I felt like a very lucky man. Then we climbed into the wedding car, sat side by side and smiled from ear to ear. We did not know what life had in store for us. All we knew was that we had each other, and that was enough. Our relationship developed, and by 1966, we had decided to get married. We first had our customary marriage in Ghana, after which Helen joined me in the United Kingdom, where I had returned to undertake a specialization course in navigation. In 1969, we solemnised our marriage at St Philip the Apostle Catholic Church inHerndon, London. Brigadier General Dzogbenuku, who was serving in London as Defence Attaché at the time, stood in for Helen’s father and gave her away inmarriage. When our time in the United Kingdom came to an end, we returned to Ghana aboard a Black Star Line ship, ready for thenext chapterof our life together.Our first child, Kenneth, was born after our return. I was very excited to become a father, and having a son as our firstborn made the occasion particularly special to me. Coming from a patrilineal Ewe family, where the family line is traditionally carried through the male line, it meant a great deal tome. Over the years, our family grew, and we were blessed with six children: Kenneth, Mabel, Cheryl, Daniel, Steve Jnr andHenry. We did not know what life had in store for us. All we knew was that we had each other, and that was enough “ Steve andHelen on their wedding day, 1969 The Birthday Journal 35
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