June

JUNE

“June is bustin out all over!” Didn’t hear that song for years later. BUT! June was here and it was my time!

A few doors away from us, across the street were a place on Hillside Ave. Called “The Sokol Hall”. I may have mentioned it before, but here goes.

June, the month of weddings and it was free pickins for me! Oh sure there were weddings there all year long. The bridal parties dressed for the seasons. In autumn, fall colors, around Christmas, Christmas colors and in between every color imaginable!

I would hang out at the back fence and wait for the bride and groom to arrive, this was done after the hall was full and things were going full blast. What wonderful music and smells of food came from that place! I couldn’t wait. The women of the neighbor hood who belonged to the Sokols sometimes prepared the food. I knew them all!!

As soon as I saw the beautiful bride and the bridesmaids go in, I would go inside and check to see what Grammy and pop were doing. Lucky me if they were sitting on the front porch! “I’m going to play in the back yard and dig in my dirt,” They would say ok and that was it. Ah ha .I was off.

I’d naturally wash the face and hands before going over to the Hall. Heaven forbid I showed up “dirty” never mind my unkempt appearance from playing all day.

Across the street I went and right to the front entrance. Nothing shy about me. I would slowly work my way in through the vestibule and catch something going on. Mostly Kissing! Oh well they were grown ups and they knew what they were doing.

Sooner or later someone would say,” well come in we are going to eat.” I went along. Not that I was hungry but those women sure could cook. Not as well as my Grammy but good. I was ok until one of them recognized me when putting the food on the tables. Then I was politely ushered out of the Hall! Of course a plate of food came with me and “Can you tell time? Well come back in 1 hour and you can have cake”. The Cake, that was the best part and why I really came.

Also to see the bride. I said “Thank You “ and left. My plate of food safely in my two little hands .A voice in the background reminding me” bring back the plate please” These were not paper plates.

Well when I walked to the house I was caught.” Not again! Over at the wedding. How many times we tell you. NO”! Well how could one resist the beautiful brides, the smell of food, the music, the dancing, and the cake?”Go eat, like I never feed you?” Of course the grandparents were on to me. Wedding= the kid = across the street.

Now I had it made. Some Saturday’s there were two weddings, yes two and I hit everyone. That was jackpot day for me. I would go over and “behave” myself.

Sometimes the Bridal Party was someone from the neighborhood that actually knew me! I would get invited in for everything. A place setting was brought out for me and I would sit with people I knew. I even was able to dance. That was my.second most favorite thing.

The cutting of the beautiful cake was like magic. Yes I always got a piece to eat and 2 pieces to go home for Grammy and pop. I planned my wedding from all the ones I “attended” but they changed with every wedding!

I would wait for the bride to throw her bouquet and they were gorgeous bouquets. Florists made with orange blossoms and orchids or lilies, The prettiest ones were made of “backyard flowers” sometimes a bunch of lilacs tied with a beautiful white satin ribbon, or violets and lily of the valley in a bouquet with a crocheted holder. Of course the mother’s and grandmothers were very proud of the brides that chose “garden flowers”. But then to a kid, everything was beautiful and magical. One time a bride even gave me a flower from her bouquet.

Things went well on Saturday afternoon at a wedding. It was a very warm day and every window in the hall was open and all the fans were on and people were just plain uncomfortable. The first course I noticed was soup. I observed this from the vestibule. Then came the second course. Roast Beef. I thought to my self, this must be a very wealthy family to have Roast Beef! I was just being handed a nice sized plate of the beef when I felt the hand of doom on my shoulder. I knew it was Grammy. She found me. Like she had to look hard? I turned and smiled at her and said see what the “baba” gave me? (baba=grandmother) She smiled said very nice and started to walk out with me in tow. The woman said” Mrs. We have plenty, please stay and eat with us” Well this was going to be interesting. Grammy turned and smiled and accepted. In we went and sat down and soon she was having a grand time

When the band started playing she even got up and danced the polka! This was not my grandmother. Grammy said” Time for confession, we have to go now” Well we started to leave and that’s when the bride came over and gave me and grammy a flower from her bouquet and on the way out someone handed grammy a center piece of flowers from one of the empty tables. She smiled and thanked everyone.

On the way up the alley I waited for the word, none came. As we opened the back gate and walked in she looked at me and smiled. “No wonder you go over all the time. The people are so kind and happy.” We listened to the music as we walked through the back yard toward the house. Pop was dressed for confession and waiting for us. When he saw the two of the smile and us on our faces, he just smiled.

Pleasure comes to all, in many different ways. Everytime I see a wedding I think back to those days and remember the smile on gammy’s face. And all the good times I had after that!

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	“June is bustin out all over!” Didn’t hear that song for years later. BUT! June was here and it was my time! A few doors away from us, across the street were a place on Hillside Ave. Called “The Sokol Hall”. I may have mentioned it before, but here goes. June, the month of weddings and it was free pickins for me! Oh sure there were weddings there all year long. The bridal parties dressed for the seasons. In autumn, fall colors, around Christmas, Christmas colors and in between every color imaginable!
	I would hang out at the back fence and wait for the bride and groom to arrive, this was done after the hall was full and things were going full blast. What wonderful music and smells of food came from that place! I couldn’t wait. The women of the neighbor hood who belonged to the Sokols sometimes prepared the food. I knew them all!! As soon as I saw the beautiful bride and the bridesmaids go in, I would go inside and check to see what Grammy and pop were doing. Lucky me if they were sitting on the front porch! “I’m going to play in the back yard and dig in my dirt,” They would say ok and that was it. Ah ha .I was off.
	I’d naturally wash the face and hands before going over to the Hall. Heaven forbid I showed up “dirty” never mind my unkempt appearance from playing all day. Across the street I went and right to the front entrance. Nothing shy about me. I would slowly work my way in through the vestibule and catch something going on. Mostly Kissing! Oh well they were grown ups and they knew what they were doing. Sooner or later someone would say,” well come in we are going to eat.” I went along. Not that I was hungry but those women sure could cook. Not as well as my Grammy but good. I was ok until one of them recognized me when putting the food on the tables. Then I was politely ushered out of the Hall! Of course a plate of food came with me and “Can you tell time? Well come back in 1 hour and you can have cake”. The Cake, that was the best part and why I really came.
	Also to see the bride. I said “Thank You “ and left. My plate of food safely in my two little hands .A voice in the background reminding me” bring back the plate please” These were not paper plates.
	Well when I walked to the house I was caught.” Not again! Over at the wedding. How many times we tell you. NO”! Well how could one resist the beautiful brides, the smell of food, the music, the dancing, and the cake?”Go eat, like I never feed you?” Of course the grandparents were on to me. Wedding= the kid = across the street.
	Now I had it made. Some Saturday’s there were two weddings, yes two and I hit everyone. That was jackpot day for me. I would go over and “behave” myself.
	Sometimes the Bridal Party was someone from the neighborhood that actually knew me! I would get invited in for everything. A place setting was brought out for me and I would sit with people I knew. I even was able to dance. That was my.second most favorite thing. The cutting of the beautiful cake was like magic. Yes I always got a piece to eat and 2 pieces to go home for Grammy and pop. I planned my wedding from all the ones I “attended” but they changed with every wedding!
	I would wait for the bride to throw her bouquet and they were gorgeous bouquets. Florists made with orange blossoms and orchids or lilies, The prettiest ones were made of “backyard flowers” sometimes a bunch of lilacs tied with a beautiful white satin ribbon, or violets and lily of the valley in a bouquet with a crocheted holder. Of course the mother’s and grandmothers were very proud of the brides that chose “garden flowers”. But then to a kid, everything was beautiful and magical. One time a bride even gave me a flower from her bouquet.
	Things went well on Saturday afternoon at a wedding. It was a very warm day and every window in the hall was open and all the fans were on and people were just plain uncomfortable. The first course I noticed was soup. I observed this from the vestibule. Then came the second course. Roast Beef. I thought to my self, this must be a very wealthy family to have Roast Beef! I was just being handed a nice sized plate of the beef when I felt the hand of doom on my shoulder. I knew it was Grammy. She found me. Like she had to look hard? I turned and smiled at her and said see what the “baba” gave me? (baba=grandmother) She smiled said very nice and started to walk out with me in tow. The woman said” Mrs. We have plenty, please stay and eat with us” Well this was going to be interesting. Grammy turned and smiled and accepted. In we went and sat down and soon she was having a grand time
	When the band started playing she even got up and danced the polka! This was not my grandmother. Grammy said” Time for confession, we have to go now” Well we started to leave and that’s when the bride came over and gave me and grammy a flower from her bouquet and on the way out someone handed grammy a center piece of flowers from one of the empty tables. She smiled and thanked everyone.
	On the way up the alley I waited for the word, none came. As we opened the back gate and walked in she looked at me and smiled. “No wonder you go over all the time. The people are so kind and happy.” We listened to the music as we walked through the back yard toward the house. Pop was dressed for confession and waiting for us. When he saw the two of the smile and us on our faces, he just smiled.
	Pleasure comes to all, in many different ways. Everytime I see a wedding I think back to those days and remember the smile on gammy’s face. And all the good times I had after that!