July 16, 1955

It was our wedding day. Mary and I were married at 2:00 PM at the East Petersburg Church of the Brethren in East Petersburg, Pennsylvania. The Rev. Richard Hackman who is now deceased performed the ceremony. Ours was his first wedding. I think he was more nervous than I was, if that was possible. How hot was it that day? They threw confetti at us, and some of it went inside my white dinner jacket and the perspiration made the colors go through my shirt and onto the skin on my back. I looked like I was covered with war paint. The church was not air-conditioned. Few were in those days.

I think they took pictures forever, and Mary bought every picture they took. She spent most of her savings on the wedding and for the photographer. We even had 3-D pictures taken. We got a viewer with them. We haven't looked at them in years. I think we both hate to be reminded of how young we looked then.

All our relatives were there and the knot got tied real tight. It's still holding after forty-seven years. It's been a pretty good marriage. We raised two fine kids and are now spoiling our one grandson. He reached his twelfth birthday on July 18, 2002. If I had to do it all over, I would do it just like I did the first time except that I would insist on not getting married in the middle of a heat wave. You know we planned a trip to the New England states thinking it would be cooler up there. Well, it was ninety-seven degrees in New Hampshire that week.

Now you know why for my wife Mary and I, July 16, 1955 was our most important day. Have a happy anniversary, dear. If you can put up with me for a few more years, we'll celebrate our Golden Anniversary. Not everything in our lives has turned to gold, but the important things did. Eat your heart out King Midas. Sweetheart, I lift my glass to you and to our love. May we spend our remaining years together until Death Do Us Part.