In a heartwarming turn of events, a 1966 wedding record has found its way back to its rightful owners after being accidentally donated to an Austin thrift store. The story begins over 58 years ago when Dr. Phil Schmidt and Donna Packer tied the knot in Los Altos Hill, California in 1966. The couple, who were college students at the time, eventually settled in Austin, where Phil worked as a professor at the University of Texas for over four decades.
Fast forward to March 2022, the Schmidts made the decision to move from their longtime home in Allandale to a retirement community in Denver to be closer to family. During the process of downsizing, they held an estate sale to clear out items that wouldn’t fit in their new apartment, including a large record collection. Unfortunately, their wedding vinyl got mixed up in a jazz album sleeve and was left behind.
Fortunately, the lost record was discovered by Katie Ornelas during a thrift haul a few months ago. Instead of finding smooth jazz tunes, Katie and her family were surprised to hear the vows, prayers, and cheers from “Phil’s and Donna’s Wedding” when they played the record. Moved by the sentimental value of the recording, Katie set out to reunite the vinyl with its owners.
Through a series of connections, the story reached the ears of the Schmidts’ daughter’s best friend, who recognized the details and helped connect the dots. Phil and Donna were overjoyed to learn that their wedding record had been found after all these years. Donna expressed her gratitude, mentioning that they had just celebrated their 58th anniversary and receiving the recording back was a precious gift in time for their 59th next year.
This heartwarming tale serves as a reminder of the sentimental value that certain items hold and the power of connection that can span decades. It’s a story of chance, kindness, and the beauty of reuniting with a piece of one’s history. The Schmidts’ wedding vinyl may have taken a long and unexpected journey, but it has finally found its way back home, bringing joy and nostalgia along with it.
