My Dear Children,
As I recount your mother and I’s wedding, my heart is full of warmth. Our journey to that day was a tale of love, passion, faith, and youthful innocence. It was a cold day, but the sun shone with a clarity that seemed to be a blessing from above.
Your mother coming down the aisle was almost angelic in her off-white wedding dress, a choice made to complement her fair complexion. This detail, seemingly small, carried weight with my mother which reminds me of how important our roots and values were, as we both entered our marriage still virgins after four years, two months, and nineteen days of courtship.
The ceremony, held at a Catholic church of course, was deeply moving me. Father Dumminger married us and in his sermon spoke of prayer because we asked him to. It was just a small reminder of the spiritual foundation we saw in marriage. After we exchanged vows, I remember looking at Susie and promising God I would cherish and protect her always. I haven’t been nearly as good at that as I thought I would be that day, but we have both been very good for each other.
Exiting the church, amidst the ringing of bells, I kissed your mother, a moment so perfectly captured by the photographer that it still resides in my wallet, a memento of the day and a reminder of what it meant.
Our celebration was the boisterous party most weddings were at the time. With about 400 guests, the local American Legion was filled with music, laughter, and dance. We danced a lot of square dances, as that was how we met and something we still love to do.
But, my children, as I reflect on that day, what stands out is not just the celebration, but how young we were when we made this huge promise to each other before God. I was 23, and your mother, just 20. Some might see youth as a disadvantage, but in hindsight, it is a huge blessing. It allowed us to grow together, to shape our lives not in solitude but in the shared experience of our love and commitment.
In marrying young, we didn’t miss out on the so-called freedoms of youth. Remember “Freedom’s just another word for nothin left to lose”. Most of the things we likely would have done if we were not obligated to each other may have been very pleasurable, but usually not very meaningful, at least not in the long run. Instead, we found freedom in our unity, in the responsibility to each other, and in the life we built together.
As you navigate your own paths, remember that life’s adventure is not in the pleasurable, but the meaningful. It’s worth is measured not by the breadth of your experiences, but by the depth of the connections you make, the love you share, and the faith you hold. Our wedding was more than a day; it was the beginning of a lifelong journey. I’m so thankful it started when we were young and pray it continues for all eternity.
God Bless Us All,
Dad