To Our Wedding Day
To keep the anonymity of those persons who played a major role in our lives, I have used fictitious names, or just "blanked" them.
We talked of eloping, but, since I wasn't 21 yet we decided to get engaged on your birthday, 8 December 1946 and elope on mine 21 March 1947.
And then there was "". You took me to meet another family member and
his wife. They asked us to stay for supper and a game of cards.
Later as she and I did the dishes she told me."It was common
knowledge that you and her sister "....." were going to get married".
She mentioned how you and "....." had been on leave and spent time
together in Halifax and another time at their place eating watermelon.
Both of you had eaten so much watermelon, "....." couldn't even
look at it anymore. This was the first I had heard of it.
It was an enjoyable evening. What had been said didn't bother me.
We were in love and following our destiny.
Every time we saw them, she would remind me of this impending union. Then one night after she mentioned the watermelon incident to all those present and
all laughed.Even me. When you took me home, you told me all about it.
As I had known there was nothing to it, not that it mattered, I was
secure in our love.
Sundays,most of the city was closed, not even a place to eat.But,there was
always a corner grocery store. We walked from one end of the city to
the other and back. We would stop at a small store, you would buy us
each a double header icecream cone and we'd walk and talk. When it was
gone,we would walk on to the next small store and have another.
Ice cream was a real favorite with us.
It was on one of these walks you took a picture of the 'McDonald
Hotel' across from the southside of the river. It turned out beautiful,
and is still in your album. You used to like taking pictures back then,
and took some very nice ones.
Remember the old cafes'. The Jukeboxes. That little Cafe'(triangle
shaped) which was tucked away in the corner between two larger buildings
with the 'Nickle Odeon', you put a nickle in and we could watch the
orchestra playing and the dancers as they danced around the room.
The time we went into Johnstons' Restaurant on Whyte Ave.? It was
full so, we both went to the washrooms, which we always did, but
usually after we had chosen a booth. We decided whoever came out first
would get a booth and order a banana split for each of us. It was a
very busy night.
As it turned out you were first and had found a booth at the back,
and ordered two banana splits. When I came out, I didn't see you and
there was an empty booth directly ahead of me,so I sat in and ordered
two banana splits.
Here we were sitting waiting for each other with two banana splits.
A waitress, just coming on shift, who knew us and knew we were
always together, spotted us each with two banana splits. She put two
and two together and came over to let me know you were at the back
waiting.
She took the banana splits to your table, as I followed.
You were a little upset with me and I felt I had been a little dumb
in not checking a little farther back in the booths for you, but I was
shy, in that way and didn't want to draw attention to myself.
Never the less we had two splits apiece to eat. I'm not sure now,
but I don't think we ate them both.
The day you cut your thumb to the bone at the knuckle, and went to Dr.Shandro to have it tended to. He stitched it up and told you to take
the rest of the day off.
You showed up at the store to get me after work.I was so exited and happy, ... ....., the head meat cutter in 182 couldn't help, but tease
me.
He said."You are in love now, just wait until you are married,then
you will really know what 'Love' is." We went for something to eat,then
to a suspense movie. At one point, I jumped and grabbed your hand
according to what you told myself and others, I almost twisted your
thumb off at the knuckle where it had been cut.It must have hurt some.
With your birthday coming up, we started to look at engagement rings, because you really wanted me to have one.
I had told you, I didn't want one, a plain gold band was all I wanted,
but we looked anyway. We window shopped whenever we walked past a jewelry store.
You wanted to buy the one in Birks' Jewellry store. I'll never forget
it. It was $3500 plus a 25% luxury tax, so very beautiful,and also the
price of a house at that time, and I felt it would be like wearing a
house on my finger. It would be nice to look at but not to wear.
I didn't wear much jewelry, nor make-up.
Since you were determined I should have a diamond you asked me. "What
would you like in a ring?" I said. "If you find one with hearts on the
sides I'd love it." There never was one like that in all the ones we
had looked at, but you were not to be dissuaded, and you did some
looking on your own, during your lunch hour, I guess, since we worked
the same hours as all jewellry stores.
That year, special Christmas candy, or any kind of bought candy, for
that matter, since it wasn't too long after the war, was hard to find.
You had your nephew "....." and I had two younger brothers "....." and ".....". We thought it would be fun to stop in at all the small confectionary stores we could find along Jasper Ave., and buy a little
bit in each one.
We did all our shopping after work when stores were closed, except
for these small corner stores.
They had limits on the quantity we could buy anyway so it took several stops, buying a half pound here and a little more there, we soon had enough for our purpose.
We got two nice jars and were able to fill one for your
"D...." and one for my two brothers. Then we saw a pair of skis
which would be just the right size for your "......" They looked so cute
and were so tiny, you thought "....." would like them,so you bought them
for him.
We shopped together and had such a wonderful time.
The boys were tickled with their jars of candy.Their parents thought
it was too much, but the boys put it out for all to enjoy, so no one
would get sick on it.
Your "....." sure liked his skis. "....." had a hard time getting
him to take them off and come into the house. He wanted to wear them in
the house too.
My family must have been talking, because my mother had brought
it to my attention that relatives were looking forward to a wedding,
and since I was the first grandchild on both sides,they expected me to
have one.
It seemed to me I was always trying to please her. I really wanted
to follow through with our plans, but, we talked it over and decided
we could wait and get married in June.I felt it was a long time to wait,
but, you said. "We'll have the rest of our lives together,we can give
them this pleasure."
Then came New Years Eve and we, along with some family members and
friends went to a New Years' Eve Special show and Frolic at the Capital Threatre.
It was nearing midnight, the show over and the M.C. calls out over
his 'mike' "At the stroke of midnight, we will all stand, and taking our
neighbors' hand sing 'Auld Lang Zyne'" You already had me in your arms
to kiss, and you called out 'Silly Boy' and gave me such a long
beautiful, loving kiss.
A night I will never forget.
Then there was that day in February, I had already told mother we had
decided on a June wedding and had ordered my wedding gown. It was a beautiful sunny day, we had taken a short trip with your sister and
family, and they brought us to my home.
Mother was expecting us for supper. I got out of the car and walked
into the house thinking you were behind me. Mother met me at the door
and asked."Why didn't "Max" come in?" That was when I realized you weren't behind me.
I turned around and walked back to your sisters' place and reminded
you, that mother was expecting you for supper.
As we walked back you said. "I thought you were mad at me, so I let
you go ahead and I went back home."
I never did know why you had thought this. I had said my good-byes
and got out of the car and headed on into the house expecting you would
be coming along.I guess I should've turned and waited for you.
Remember the snowballs we tossed? The angels in the snow? How we
loved the beautiful days when diamonds seemed to be twinkling along
on the snow, and on days when ice crystals were in the air, it seemed
diamonds were floating everywhere.
How you would take my hand and tuck it into your pocket along with
yours, and wonder why your coat pocket always tore along the seam.
The nights we spent walking and star gazing, stopping to pick out
the constellations? We knew several and could always locate them. There
were some you knew, which you pointed out to me and others I knew, I
pointed out to you.
We had such great times together and I was falling more and more
in love with you.You were so sweet, gentle and loving! Never trying to
force yourself on me. Your respect for me gave me reason to respect
you too.
This is what made our relationship so very special.
"....." was expecting her second child and since it was already
overdue, I said to her. "You might as well wait until the 21st and
have it on my birthday."
The Sunday before my birthday,we had been asked to have dinner
and an evening of cards with "....... and ....." and family again.
She took some pictures of us. I was a little shy, and the pictures
showed it, too.
After we had eaten and cleared the table we played cards until it
was time to go. We put our coats on, said our goodnights, and
prepared to walk out the door, when you decided to have a cigarette
first because it was easier to smoke there, than as we walked.
"......." and "......" went on to bed. We'd had a beautiful day and
a great evening.
You were sitting on the arm of the chesterfield while I sat on the
arm of the chair near the door.
Suddenly the door burst open and my mother blasted. "Well!!!" As if she expected to find us in some compromising situation.
I was just a few days away from 21 and I was so upset. With the deep
respect you showed me, it hurt that she would do such a thing. You
hugged me and gave me a kiss and said. "It's ok, Honey, we'll be
married soon."
She had asked dad to come get me, but he refused to and said. "Leave
them alone they're alright." She didn't know you knew each other.
I'm sure dad knew you respected me.
So she had "......" drive over. One thing about it, she did save
you walking me home and having to walk back again.
In a way it was a good thing you did stop for that cigarette.
Can you imagine the surprise mother would've had if we had not been
there? Nobody locked their doors. I think she was surprised to see us
as we were anyway. It was a beautiful night. A beautiful moon shining so brightly. The kind of evening we liked to walk home.
She nattered at me as we headed on our way and I told her if she
didn't stop I'd get out and walk home. Here I was five days away from
21 and doing nothing wrong. I asked "......" to stop the car, but he
asked her to leave me alone and for me to stay in the car, which I did,
and she was quiet the rest of the ride home.
So many times when I was out, with friends, she used to have dad
come and get me.
"....." had her baby on my 21st birthday. One reason I'll never
forget his age, the same as our anniversary, or his birthday.
All the nights we walked home and you sang,"Walkin' my Baby Back
Home." Such great walks and now beautiful, beautiful, memories.
We used to sing and talk all the way home.
One night as we were walking home, I looked ahead and thought there
was someone hanging from the power post. We followed the powerline,
which cut off a half mile, and no traffic to worry about.
Your night vision was so good, you could make out every detail, but
you walked on and checked it out for me,then you came back and got me,
to show me it was ok.
It was a shorter pole strapped to the main one with a metal band
and the way the moonlight hit it, it did look like someone hanging
there by the neck.
You were never afraid of anything, and so wise.
A Safeways Spring 1947 dance was coming up. All the employees were
asked to bring a guest, not a fellow employee. We decided to ask
"......" and his Fiance' "...," to make a foursome.
Dad let "......" take the car, so we wouldn't have to walk home
after. That way mother wouldn't be after him in the wee hours to come
get me. Good idea!
It was a great dance, how beautifully we danced. Other men who
liked your style, when dancing with me, would ask me to teach them
to dance like you. This would be an impossible task, since I did the following,not the leading.
We stopped in at the Shasta Cafe (a favorite stopping place below
the dance hall on Whyte) and had 'Waffles a La Mode.'(Another favorite).
"......" took "..." home, then you, before we went home.
Another beautiful evening,I'll never forget.
END PART FOUR
 To continue Click on PART FIVE
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