tephenson's blog: "tephenson's blog"

Last week my wife, Evelyn, and I celebrated our 66th wedding anniversary. I'm not sure if she agrees with the word celebrate because on occasion I will say I don't remember ever being single, and she replies that she certainly does.

We met at a high school social after a football game -- she was a band majorette -- and after a two-year courtship, we married.

The morning Mass took place at the old St. Titus Catholic Church in Aliquippa and we had a wedding party of five ushers and bridesmaids. It was a typical Italian wedding with a breakfast after Mass at the groom's home, then to the Ukrainian Hall in Plan 11 for an afternoon dinner with 200 family and close friends prepared by the women from my parents' hometown of Supino, Italy, who were also our neighbors in the Logstown section of Aliquippa.

It was the traditional meal of of soup, homemade spaghetti, veal and side dishes. At night a reception was held for the other guests at that hall, and it was a larger crowd that enjoyed dancing and liquid refreshments. Another standard for the evening reception was capicola and salami sandwiches distributed in large baskets. A scene in "The Godfather" movie shows those wedding guests tossing sandwiches around.

Another standard, also featured in that movie, was the gift box that held cards with monetary gifts. We remember that we were a little disappointed at those who instead of bringing an envelope, brought wrapped gifts. Now, 66 years later, we cherish those gifts that we still have and use.

(Picture:wedding dresses cardiff)

We went to the William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh that night and the next morning took a train to New York City for our week-long honeymoon and stayed at the Taft Hotel. We enjoyed the sights: the Statue of Liberty, Empire State building, the night club owned by Barbara Walter's father, Lou, the Latin Quarter and many Broadway shows. We were able to see Frank Sinatra leaning against the building housing the Columbia Record Studio, and got the autograph of Ray Bolger, the scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz," who was then starring in the Broadway show, "Charlie's Aunt."

And we learned first hand that it's a small world. While on Broadway, we heard from across that wide avenue someone yelling “Hey Gino!” It was Sammy Jackman from West Aliquippa who also was visiting the Big Apple. We returned by train and still remember rounding the historic Horseshoe Curve near Altoona.

There were many, many weddings during that period, mostly veterans returning from World War II and getting married and raising families. We lived in one of the new housing developments that sprung up after the war to accommodate that generation, Crestmont Village in Hopewell Township.

We were able, like so many of that period, to live the American dream of many middle-class families by finding steady employment, buying a home and car, having and educating children -- our three, Edward, Concetta and David -- and cementing friendships that would last a lifetime.

We were both children of Italian immigrants and kept the customs of that upbringing throughout the ups and downs of marriage. Evelyn was, which is now a rarity, a stay-at-home mother. She provided all the traditions and strengths of that lifestyle, particularly with the holidays and passing down to our children her excellent cooking of all the Italian staples -- homemade spaghetti, ravioli, gnocchi and lasagna.

We both speak Italian and, much to the chagrin of our children, use it when we have some private discussions, especially involving them. I retired in 1988 and we've been fortunate to overcome health problems and enjoy visits to most of our great nation. We hope that readers will be able to achieve this stage in life with the same benefits and same results.

See more at:vintage wedding dresses