On this date, forty-six years ago Rosalie and I exchanged wedding vows. You just know this had to be the one of the happiest days of my life. The day Christopher was born was a pretty happy day as well. The wedding was pretty much of a blur to me but here are a few of the things that stood out.
Those of you who have seen Rosalie’s wedding photos know she was a beautiful bride and could’ve modeled her gown in Bridal Magazine. I can still visualize her walking down the aisle of St. Francis church in Lawrence, MA. Even with the thin veil covering her face, her smile shone through the veil and her eyes sparkled. She seemed to take forever to reach me at the altar.
I do remember her trying to hold back a chuckle during the Mass as we got up and down from the kneeling position. You see, my knees cracked each and every time and the sound, in my mind, was more like a firecracker going off. Needless to say, when she chuckled, I did as well.
Since a friend was shooting a Super 8 MM film of the wedding, the priest thought he was a movie star and all of his moves and motions were more emphatic than they would’ve been during a mass without any filming. Rosalie and I had a few laughs over Father Al. As an altar boy, I served many a mass with him and he never put on a show like he did for our wedding. (How many of you even know about Super 8 MM home movies?)
The wedding meal was typical Italian with Wedding Soup, salad, pasta and a main course, including side dishes, plus dessert. I don’t remember if the meal was chicken or roast beef. Your right, I was so happy at us finally being married that I don’t remember the meal except it had several courses. I do remember we couldn’t enjoy our meal because every couple of minutes people were clinking on their glasses to have us kiss.
I do remember the dance when they had Rosalie and I step out to dance and then the remainder of the wedding party joined us. I know we stayed on the dance flower for many more dances. On a sad note my best man and my ushers have passed.
I do remember Rosalie and I watching the old film that I had transferred to tape and us commenting on how few of those who attended our wedding are still with us.
We went to Rosalie’s family home to change clothes to head out for our honeymoon. What moved me the most was, as we were leaving and saying good-bye to everyone, Rosalie’s mother shocked me. Ma slapped Rosalie on her beautiful rear, a playful slap, and said to her, “Rosalie you can come visit here anytime you want, but remember, your life is with him, meaning me. I can honestly say I had the best mother-in-law in the world. She provided the guidance to Rosalie on spoiling me.
My best man drove us to the Hilton Hotel at Logan Airport to begin our honey-moon. The following day we headed to San Francisco for a week, Tokyo for a week and then to her new home in Seoul, Korea. That was the start of a wonderful marriage and relationship that lasted fort-two years, actually one day shy of forty-two years.
Thinking back to the wedding film Rosalie and I watched every once in awhile, and thinking about all those who attended the wedding and have passed, makes me wonder if they are celebrating or reliving it where they are in eternity. I hope so and I wish that they are having as great a time right now as they did at our wedding.
Ron Penczak 