November 25, 2021

THANKSGIVING ~ A Memory, An Anniversary, and Two Weddings

It all happened this week, 47 years ago.  So this is always my week to be thankful for memories I love to revisit, memories that now fill me with laughter (no longer tears) and joy (no longer sadness) and for this I am so very thankful. 
~ ~ ~
I could be celebrating 47 years of marriage this week but will not because my husband has crossed his rainbow bridge.  But if he were here, we would reminisce over how my Mom wound up in the ICU on that day, thus missing her only daughters wedding, but how Dad insisted we carry on and he walked me down the aisle like a "drunken sailor" having been with her at hospital the entire night!  
~ ~ ~
How Father Frank came to the altar in a wheel chair having fallen that morning, unable to walk and then slurring all his words for being on too many pain meds, we thought washed down with a gin and tonic.
~ ~ ~  
How we went from Holy Trinity in Georgetown (immediate family) direct to the hospital, to the ICU in our wedding-finery and the staff broke the rules of only allowing "one or two" in and permitted the whole party into ICU.  Mom barely opened her eyes long enough to see us, to shed a tear. 
~ ~ ~ 
How by the time we reached our reception, nearly everyone had gone home and the only food left was a slip-sliding-away mushy un-cut cake.
A wedding to remember.
~ ~ ~ 
 How we cancelled our honeymoon trip to Ocho Rios to stay at home in Arlington, so Dad could stay with us and visit with Mom ...  
~ ~ ~
A week later, Dad drove home to Indiana.  Two weeks later, Mom was released from hospital, an allergy attack had caused a blood clot to break free resulting in a pulmonary embolism.  She flew home.  
Meanwhile, Dad had been planning his own wedding-reception at their church for Christmas week, so Mom could have the pleasure of "attending".  She would be Mother of the Bride ... I would wear my gown, Vic to dress up ... all their long time friends in the community would attend!  He would have it catered, there would be a cake!  Mom would not miss her only daughters wedding after all.  
~ ~ ~
Love you, Daddy!  
(though for unknown reasons, he didn't toss in a honeymoon trip ...) 
~ ~ ~ 
We were young and poor, couldn't afford to fly, and short of time off from our jobs.  We drove all night in a blizzard, from DC to Indiana, but made it for our "second wedding and reception" attended by people we didn't know, but people who gifted us with joy and love and memories
and it was a another wedding to remember.
~ ~ ~
Mom and Dad and Vic are all together in heaven now,
wonder if they're reminiscing about this as well?



Have a blessed and beautiful Thanksgiving,
share memories, create new ones.
  


35 comments:

  1. What a tale....sometimes things really work out in a way we never would have guessed....but we get through it all and with love. I know those we've lost are with us forever and feel that deeply. May you have a wonderful Thanksgiving full of memories and love and of course yummy food!

    Hugs, Pam and Teddy

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  2. they all will love this post and they will remember the times you had together and in your meory they are there today to spend this day together.... have a good thanksgiving...

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  3. My goodness, that definitely was a wedding...or two of a sort...to remember. We rather suspect they ARE all reminiscing with you, Ann. Lots of hugs and purrs. We wish you a happy, peaceful Thanksgiving.

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  4. What a wonderful, yet crazy wedding day and memory. It is one that will never be forgotten. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  5. wow and wow again!! what a wedding memory, the most unique I have ever read. So glad everything eventually worked out. Murphy was in full attendance for the both weddings. Happy Anniversary and also to Vic in heaven

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  6. thank you for sharing - how touching and sweet! I'm glad you can have less tears now as even I got sad at one part .. but totoally awesome memory to be thankful for on this day! Blessings to you!

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  7. That was a whole lot going on and it's good to look back and smile now. Happy Thanksgiving from all of us and thanks for joining our Thankful Thursday Blog Hop.

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  8. • ★ Happy ★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
    •。★ Thanksgiving ★。* 。
    ° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
    ˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~\。˚ ˚ ˛
    ˚ ˛ •˛• ˚| 田田 |門| ˚
    * Grateful ♫•*¨* Blessed♪♫•*¨*

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  9. Oh, my. It sounds like the start of a marriage of grand adventures. A blessed and beautiful Happy Thanksgiving to you!

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  10. That is an amazing wedding story! I wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving and holiday season.

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  11. Wow, that certainly was a wedding to remember. So happy the memories of it make you smile now. Happy Thanksgiving, Ann and Juney! <3

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  12. What a wedding to always remember! I often think of our departed as having more family to celebrate with in heaven than we have here on this earth, it is one thing that brings me comfort.

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  13. That was quite a wedding day. I am sorry your husband is in Heaven now with your folks. Sending you love and hugs. XO

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  14. Happy Gratitude day! This is the most edge of the seat wedding story I have ever heard. I hear how love outweighs the pain. Love wins. have a delightful day.

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  15. Ann what a beautiful written Thanksgiving memory....not a day to ever forget. As the years moved on I guess it was a fun story to share with Mom, Dad and Vic
    Happy Thanksgiving
    Hugs Cecilia

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  16. Now that's one heckuva wedding story!
    Happy Thanksgiving, as your memories warm your heart.

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  17. Happy Thanksgiving to mew all, we hope mew have a supurr epically blessed day!

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  18. With that shaky a start, it's a wonder that divorce court wasn't next on the agenda.

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  19. That is a wedding day that you will never forget! Hugs to you and Happy Thanksgiving.

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  20. That was a wedding day to remember, and it gave you lots of precious unforgettable memories.

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  21. What a crazy wedding day ! Happy Thanksgiving ! Purrs

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  22. Wow ! An inauspicious start to what turned out quite well.

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  23. What a wedding! And I’m glad you can look back on that day and smile now. Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

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  24. Such lovely memories...thanks so much for sharing them!
    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  25. Mom did not know all that about your wedding day, but it seems like the 47 years of joy and happiness with Vic didn't suffer for it at all. We loved your memories.

    We are so very thankful to call you our dear friend.

    Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving.

    Hugs and Woos - Lightning, Misty, and Timber and of course, Mom

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  26. Now that is a wedding to remember. Congratulations and we love sharing your memories.

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  27. Such special memories! Hope you're having a purrfect Thanksgiving! We're incredibly thankful for your friendship!

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  28. Those wedding memories were sure to be ones you will never forget. How scary to have your mom end up in the ICU. We're glad to hear you did get a nice wedding reception the second time around.

    Happy Thanksgiving!

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  29. Memorable! Thanks for sharing, your memories can never be replaced, the older they are the more valuable they became and the really important one are so vivid that they leak out our eyes and down our cheeks.
    This year I am so grateful for so many, many things, but you are at the top of my list. I am so thankful to have you as a fiend, You are priceless. Happy Thanksgiving!

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  30. I know you can't kiss me back, I don't have lips. k

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  31. A marriage that begins in great turmoil become the strongest over times. It is still you anniversary. The love never ends.

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  32. You'll never forget that whole, um, episode! Happy Thanksgiving. We're thankful for you.

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  33. Happy Memories & Anniversary.

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  34. Like Bob Hope used to say ~ 'Thanks for the memories.' ~ I am so grateful to have the loving memories ~ glad you do too ~ xo

    Living in the moment,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  35. Your memories are wonderful, simply because of all the wrongs working together to form the best marriage and family ties ever!

    And I thought it was awful at my wedding to have the hottest day of the year, and a bit of rain to add to the humidity...and the AC broke down in the reception hall...I think I love your story much better! LOL!
    Happy Thanksgiving, belatedly, to you and yours!

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