September 19, 1953
The bride wore a tea length halter style lace gown,
borrowed from one of her co-workers at Williams Shoe Factory.
Her mother made a matching lace jacket for the dress.
The bride made her veil and headpiece and that of her maid of honor, Dolores, her only attendant.
The bride carried a bouquet of carnations and an orchid.
She removed the orchid from the bouquet to wear with her honeymoon travel outfit.
The groom wore a navy blue suit with a white, blue and grey tie.
He wore his infamous blue suede shoes to his wedding.
His older brother, Gilbert, served as his best man.
After a wedding reception at the local Knights of Columbus,
the bride and groom left for Columbus to spend their first married night at the Neil House,
on their way to their eventual destination, Niagra Falls.
This graceful, dashing couple is my parents on their wedding day almost 60 years ago,
at the beginning of their life journey, hand in hand, on the steps of the church.
December 24, 2012
This still dashing couple is my parents, some 60 years later,
still holding onto each other,
not really having changed all that much.
They wear their age and their love for each other gracefully.
I really hit the jackpot when I was born to them.
My brothers and I were surrounded by
unconditional love,
kindness,
respect,
encouragement,
support,
expectations,
determination,
creativity
and
good ole Yankee ingenuity.
We were told "no", had our mouths washed out with soap,
and suffered an occasional well-deserved spanking.
If we didn't have something nice to say about someone,
we were told not to say anything at all.
We were the apples of our parents' eyes, all of us.
We still are.
Thanks, Mom and Dad, for beginning that journey almost 60 years ago
and for staying the course, when you might have been tempted to throw in the towel.
Your life and love speaks volumes about the kind of people you are,
the very best kind.
