Wednesday, December 6, 2023

A Toast To A Married Couple

 



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

 


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