A Golden Memory

Nancy and Frank McHale were married on a cold and rainy Sunday afternoon on October 2, 1949, some Seventy-Five years ago. They had both just turned twenty during that Summer; he in July, and she four days later, in August.

Back then, a man needed to have his parents’ permission to get married if he were under twenty-one, but a woman was considered mature enough to make her own decision at eighteen.

They had met in high school in December of ’46 in the school cafeteria in Queens, New York during lunch when he threw an ice cream cone at his friend. And missed. Instead, he hit her right on her skirt. She told him he would pay for that.

He did. For the rest of his life.

I told the story in a commentary called Toast To a Married Couple in December, 2023 and which was the Prologue in my first book, Life is But a Dream, available at www.Amazon.com.

Of course, it is family lore, which all of my siblings, their spouses and children knew. And their grandchildren heard it forever. Even some of their great-grandchildren heard it, or certainly, heard of it.

And we all bore witness.

They both have passed on, hopefully, to a better life than what they left behind. But, if I know Nancy and Frank, and as the eldest, I can swear this: he has taken her into his arms, tripping the lights fantastic, holding her tenderly as they sing to each other. As they always did.

And gave each other a passionate kiss when the dance was done.

Happy Golden Anniversary, Mom and Dad.