Our Wedding Day

66 years ago in the morning of Nov. 27 1954, my Dad and I went to our parish priest to ask permission to marry.  Rayleine and one of her parents was doing the same thing with her parish priest. 

You have to understand that as a Catholic in those days you had to get permission to wed, and banns had to be announced for three weeks prior to the wedding. I only had 10 days leave.  

Both of our priests did their damnedest to talk us out of this marriage. Unbeknownst to the other, we both informed the priests that if they wouldn't marry us, we would go to the court house and get  married. The both relented and gave permission. 

My Dad took me to Rae's house where I picked up my future brother-in-law's car. That evening I drove to downtown Seattle to get the wedding rings at the Bon Marche. Why there? Mom worked there and had a 15 percent discount.  

On the way I ran into into another car and did some damage to my brother-in-law's car. The person I ran into was an old schoolmate who took pity on me and told me it was no problem. I found a parking garage and the attendant asked what had happened. I explained my sad state of affairs and he said he would see what he could do to fix up the car. Got the rings for $82.00 (with the discount). 

Picking up the car, I must have really looked sad. The attendant had repaired the car, couldn't tell any damage, no charge - still don't understand that series of events. 

The only piece of advice my Dad gave me, he told me when I give the rings to Rae, "Don't just give them to her, get down on your knee and ask her to marry you." I took his advice and did that. 

Fast forward 50 years, Dec. 4, 2004. Rae asked me if I remembered what I had said in 1954. I said "Yes, I asked you to marry me, and you said yes."

She said, "Do you remember what else you said?" "I probably said, 'Yeah let's go to bed.'"

She said, "No, you said "Do you know that in when we celebrate our 50th anniversary, you will be 69 years old and I will only be 67.'"  I had completely forgotten about that, but it turned out to be true.