Tuesday, May 03, 2011

 

FIRST OF TOP THREE EVENTS

OUR WEDDING DAY
JUNE 23, 1951

“Well, where is she? It’s ten o’clock.” That was the priest’s question to my brother, Jack, who was my Best Man, and me, at the altar of St.Mary’s Church in New Britain. that rainy morning . We had been figititing, shifting from one foot to the other already, and the priest’s impatience was unsettling. How were we supposed to know where the bride was? We couldn’t reassure the pastor. We were nervous enough. I would have been even more nervous if I had realized I was about to have bestowed upon me the most important gift of all, my wife.

The gruff old Irish priest’s watch must have been off, because right about then, Rosemary, my bride-to-be, appeared at the entrance , escorted by her father.

“She’s beautiful,” I whispered to Jack as she approached the altar.

Then I asked my brother if had remembered to bring the ring. He said he had, and the ceremony began. Who could have imagined the union which began that morning would still be intact almost 60 years later? I am fond of saying that in 60 years, we had only one fight. I think it started on the altar and has been going on ever since. Must be good for a marriage.

As we exited the church, man and wife, every body in attendance had gathered, on the stairs taking pictures, having fun, congratulating us. In looking at some of those old pictures today, it is sad to note the absences---our parents, siblings and friends who are now departed.

The weather cleared up during the morning. I took that to be a favorable omen.

We had our wedding reception at a place called the Wonder Bar on the Berlin Turnpike.. The Wonder Bar was a popular night club, not a smelly bar room, as its name might infer. A nice place with a dance band, and excellent food service.

A sad note was injected into the festive day. While we were at the Wonder Bar, word came that my father’s mother, my grandmother, had died in New Rochelle. My father and my sister’s husband, Fred Henrikson, had to leave the banquet
Immediately to go there.

We went to Asbury Park, New Jersey for our honeymoon, then returned to our apartment in Meriden where Rosemary had a teaching job----------and might I add, we lived happily the rest of our lives! (so far)

Comments:
A special day in your life, very nice Dad. You've made it through a lot together over the past 60 years.
 
I remember telling my teacher Barbara Palmer that my parents went to "Raspberry Park" for their honeymoon. She laughed very hard and I knew I said something dumb enough to make Margaret Noe proud. I wonder if my hearing was bad even then(I was 14).Wonder if my groom said "she's beautiful" when I walked down the aisle- Ha Ha
Very beautiful story, and yes your wife was beautiful. Love, Peggy
 
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