anniversary

tomorrow
would
have been
my parents 
66th wedding anniversary 

did I ever tell you how they met? 
Mom's friend Betty
 was marrying 
Dad's friend Al 
apparently 
back then 
friends went along on the honeymoon
 the reception became a weekend get-away


I cant recall if they,
 Mom and Dad, 
knew one another
 before 
that weekend
 but 
from this photo
 its clear it was the start of something real





my parents wedding was small
they married during the war 
no one had a lot of anything
it was held in the local 
shul
synagog
temple
whichever
the reception was just as small 
held in a room in the shul 
there was no cake 
so there was no little couple
 no figurines
 to keep as a memento

for their 50th
 my sister, Toonman and I
 threw them a brunch
 at what was then
 the Sea Grill in Rockefeller Center
 it was June
 so it was outdoors 
where the skating rink is in winter

I ordered a special cake 
 then 
went in search of a couple to put on top

the little couple
 ended up in Mom's breakfront in Florida
 now it lives
 in my house
 somewhere
 safe 
so
 safe
 I dont remember where
typical

this weekend always brings back memories
strong memories

in addition to
their 
anniversary
 Father's Day
is same weekend
add to that
June 23 
was 
Mom's birthday

we'd celebrate
 all
 three occasions 
together
because 
we'd be 
together
either
 here in NYC
 when they used to come visit for the month
or 
down in Florida
 after travel here became too difficult

Dad passed in October 2000
Mom passed a few months later in March 2001

I hope your weekend will be filled with as many good memories as mine