There
is always a reason for events to occur. We may not be privy to the Master Plan,
but we try to manage these events as they are presented. This day, we celebrate
one of these events.
Fifty-three years ago, two people met on a school yard in
Queens County, New York. At the time, the event was insignificant to the
participants hecause neither one thought anything of an ice cream cone, other
than perhaps as it related to a laundry or dry-cleaning bill. Little did either one know at the time that the ice cream cone would lead to a “Hello", which led to a walk, perhaps from the school to her
house, to a Sunday afternoon poker game with her father, to a kiss under a
lamppost, to six children, fourteen grandchildren. And countless great-grandchildren.
Little did they know. Events.
As they moved through the remaining years of the 1940's,
they knew that their destinies were intended to be shared,
as best as possible under the Master Plan. They tried hard to
manage the events leading to a day, a mere fifty years ago today, almost a
lifetime to some, more than a lifetime to others. But, of course, the Master
Plan was waiting for them to seize upon the events of that day, as they stood
at the altar of Saint Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church, in Ozone Park at
about four o'clock that Sunday afternoon. Events.
Soon they were married, but before they were married one
year, they were forced to separate, he to Georgia, she to Ozone Park, because
of a little appendage on the map of the world called Korea. But of course, she
was not alone. She carried within her a piece of him that he had given her
before he left. And five months later, when she flew to him, it was obvious
what she carried. Events.
And by Friday night, May 11, they were really no longer
two. Instead, they had become one. Keep in mind, that in reality, they became
one many more times after that first time. All because of an ice cream cone.
Events.
Their lives together, even when they were apart, were held
together by an event that took place fifty years ago. Some of the people who
were there then, or who were there to witness a part of their lives together
along the way, both friends and family, are not here now, either by
circumstance or by death. But those people are here in spirit because these two
people touched the lives of Many. Events.
Those people who have affected and have been affected by
these celebrants include, but certainly are not limited to Albert, Fortunata,
Annie and Mike, Katie, Billy and George, Anna.
Joe, Rita, Tom,
Rose, Eddie and Katty.
Loretta, Don and Florence. Marian and Josephine. Even Father Kenny. Others
include Joy. Frank, Matty and Betty. Lois and Carmine. Eileen and Joe. Sal and Louise.
Sophie and Andrew.
Richard. Rita, Gerry and Venard. Events.
But the people who are in this room this day are the
people they wanted to have be with them as they renewed their vows they took so
long ago. These witnesses have come because of the love they have shared with
these celebrants and the love they continue to share as time moves forward to
another series of destinies. Events.
So please raise your glasses, whether they contain wine,
beer, soda or water. To Nancy and Frank, I wish you Salute, Sto’lat, Schlanka,
Cent’anni. To many more years of love and happiness as you share your remaining
time together here, knowing that those who you love and those who love you wish
for you this EVENTFUL day, the promise of eternal love to be shared by each of
you.
Forever and Always.
Prologue
from my book Life Is But A Dream.
Originally Dated: October 2, 1999, Selden, New York Nancy
and Frank’s Golden Anniversary
Restated: July 24, 2020, Holbrook, New York at my book publication, Life Is But A Dream
December
6, 2023 the seventy-seventh anniversary of their meeting for the first time in John
Adams High School, Ozine Park, NY
