67th Wedding Anniversary

Mom and Dad were married at "high noon" on Saturday, April 12, 1941 in Cornwall, Ontario 67 years ago today. Mom says after the ceremony which her father, Rev. James A. Bain performed, the wedding party, family and guests celebrated with a luncheon at the Cornwallis Hotel. Mom's mother, Della, was very concerned that the hotel chef would not cook the chicken properly and she went over to "check out the food" before the guests arrived and "poked at the chicken". She also made the wedding cake. The bottom layer was fruitcake as was the tradition and the other layers were white cake with white icing. After the luncheon, Mom and Dad went back to the family home, opened some wedding gifts and later in the afternoon set out in their car for the 200 mile drive to New York City for their honeymoon. They stayed at the Paramount Hotel in Manhattan.

Today I visited Mom and Dad to wish them a happy day and take them a box of See's candy. The day has been gorgeous, 70 degrees and clear. Mom and I took a walk outside and sat on a bench with a view of the lawn in front of King's High School. There were a few crows around and some people walked by with their dogs. I'm reminded again and again how much Mom loves animals. As we sat on the bench enjoying the cool breezes of a grand spring day, I asked her questions about that day 67 years ago. I've heard her tell about the wedding day before but today I wanted more details so that I could put the memories down on paper (blog paper). She had good recall of details and I now think of other questions I could have asked but didn't.

Thanks to Jeanne for ordering a gorgeous bouquet of flowers to be delivered; "from the family", complete with an attached card with twenty names (3 children, 7 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and 6 significant others). Very, very nice. Dad asked me to put the roses and tulip arrangement on the small table outside their room so that others could enjoy them and they kept their door open all afternoon. Several residents commented on the "beautiful flowers" and the helium balloon close by that said "Celebrate".

I hope Mom and Dad have a good day today. They must know that they are loved and treasured by their family. Some 15 (baby Paige included) of us would not be here, in the specific form we take in this world if it weren't for their marriage. We owe all our elders and those that came before them, and before them, and before them a debt of gratitude.

To Doris Evelyn Bain Thompson and Dean Vincent Thompson: Congratulations on 67 years together!

And always remember what it (now) says on the door of your new space....