Warm Reception

There are three days that I remember being the best in my life ... 14 August 1976 .. when Yvonne and I got married ... 16 January 1987 when Yvonne gave birth to our oldest daughter .. and the 11 September 1992 .. . yes 9/11 .. when Yvonne gave birth to our youngest daughter ... 

I remember all three very well ... I will now focus on 14 August 1976 ... the wedding party was all located in a motel in the centre of town ... the wedding was being held in the church in the small town where Yvonne was born and brought up ... old friends .. new friends .. relatives from both sides were all gathered ... we were all in the motel together ... Bernard Lundy was there ... my old connection to my youth and the west side of Saint John ... my sister was there .. a rare chance to connect that I probably wasted .. I remember spending time with Bernard and my old friend from university ... and with Bill and RC .. we had a few beer .. but  not as many as we would normally sink ... 

When the time came to depart .. the wedding was at 2 PM in the afternoon ... maybe 1:30 PM .. :-) maybe 1: PM ... :-) ...... Bill drove me in my car to the church and we entered through the back .. I am sure there is a more formal name for that entrance but damned if I know what it is ... I was dressed all in white .. Bill and the ushers were dressed in powder blue ... you should see the pictures ... it looked like a southern wedding ... Bill and I were shaking like leaves ... we could have used a drink .. when the time came .. in we went and unbeknownst to us it was a full blown high mass wedding .. later we found out there was a shorter form ... oh well .. go big or go home ... 

Everything proceeded normally until we were to exchange our vows .. Yvonne swears to this day we were never actually married because of this ... so I am asked to repeat the wedding pledge or vow and I do ... Yvonne's cousin .. who was officiating turns to Yvonne .. repeat after me ... Yvonne is sobbing so hard she can't speak ... so she mumbles something and that is the way our union was sealed .. or not .. according to Yvonne ... 

My favorite picture of the day was taken by my cousin Michael ... who passed away 2 years ago now ... it was taken just as I am stepping off the step in front of the church with Yvonne on my arm ... you can clearly see she has been crying .. I am smiling and and you can also clearly see that I am towering over Yvonne .. because I had worn 3 inch heel platform shoes .. making me about 6' 5" tall ... the photo I have included here was taken about 2 or 3 seconds later ... but still .. you get the idea ...

Bill drove Yvonne and I and her sister Janice ... who sadly and tragically died of cancer about 15 years ago now ... to the Legion Hall in town .. and let me tell you we rocked the joint .. Japanese gin flowed like a river .. and Bernard may have had 10% of it ... it was simply a great, great afternoon of partying ... Yvonne and I left at some point to change into out 'going away' outfits .. since we did that at her parent's apartment we had a pizza .. I mean why not with Pizza Delight just downstairs .. back to the hall for the final formalities ... at some point the men all got me in blanket and started tossing me in the air ... I never forgot that ... it was like I was a goddamn hero .. a feeling I never had before .. I had tears in my eyes ...

Then .. just like that .. Yvonne and I stepped into my car ... actually .. now our car .. and we slowly pulled out of the motel parking lot to the drunken cheers .. of friends and family ... starting a journey that would take us who knows where ... and the journey continues ... to still .. who knows where ...


Phil (21 January 2021 - San Patricio de Melaque - 8:02 PM)


Krome Koan - 'What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about'




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