April 3, 1954

Today, April 3, would have been my parent’s 70th anniversary.

Dad was a Marine from around 1950-1952. The story goes that it came down to a flip of a coin to see if he or his friend in boot camp named Howard would go off to schooling or to Korea. Howard unfortunately got the side of the coin that would send him to Korea. Shortly after Howard turned 19 years old, he would die from his wounds suffered during the Battle of Chosin in December 1950. Something I think always haunted Dad.

Both Mom and Dad came from big families. Mom was the middle child of 7, Dad the youngest of 7. They would meet at a party courtesy of a friend named June. I got to meet June once. Quite the lady!

They didn’t have a fancy ceremony. Couple witnesses and I believe their parents were there but I could be wrong about that. Later that year would welcome the birth of my sister.

Dad would go onto work at a wholesale florist after a couple other odd jobs. He would stay with them until 1977. Mom would stay at home with my sister and brother. She would also help a florist friend named Mary B. Another lady who was quite something!

1957 would see the loss of my Mom’s Mom to a horrible case of colon cancer. She would pass before my brother was born. The story of what I know of her was how wonderful a cook she was.

1962 Mom was pregnant with twins but she had problems from the start of the pregnancy and unfortunately would lose the both.

1964 saw the loss of my Dad’s Dad. Shortly afterwards his Mom would lose her sight and remained blind until she passed away in 1983.

1969 brought yours truly into the world.

1973 saw the passing of my Mom’s Dad. I have a couple memories of him as a young child but I would learn more about him in years to come. Pappy played the violin until he went deaf. He saved a violin for me hopefully to learn as well as a bag of violin books. I sadly never learned how to play but I still have that violin as well as the books.

Mom and Dad truly adored each other and they made a wonderful life together. Something that is not lost on me.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! One day you both will be reunited in Heaven and can celebrate eternity together.