My parents first date was planned much like a military maneuver. There were reconnaissance missions, negotiations, last minute changes of plan, something akin to treachery (or it seemed so at the time), and at last true love. All's well that ends well.
Uncle Wally, who joined the family some years later, worked with my dad at a gas station near Revere Beach. Mum, who turned 21 that summer, and her friend, Mary, walked to the beach almost daily and made it a point to make sure Dad and Wally saw them walk by. One look at my mother, and both Wally and Dad were smitten. Since Wally was the braver of the two, he arranged a double date, but he made it clear right away that he'd be Elizabeth's date; Stan was Mary's escort.
The four went out to a movie, but Dad drove because Wally didn't own a car. That made a big difference. When the evening was over, Dad drove his date home; then (here's the treachery) he drove Wally home. Wally protested vehemently that Elizabeth was his date and Stan should take her home next and then take Wally home. Dad wouldn't take no for an answer. Out Wally went, muttering with indignation.
The next day Dad showed up at Elizabeth's house with a note that he handed to her, "Wally says "it's OK with him if it's OK with you for you to go out with me.'" He looked for her response. I imagine a smile played around her lips as she nodded her response. She was that kind of woman. Over the years my father wrote poems for her that he decorated with his own watercolor designs. For her birthday one year he wrote about how much he loved her on the back of a piece of birch bark. They were traveling in Alaska at the time. He often stopped the car to pick wildflowers for her and usually knew the right thing to say. Only once did he make the mistake of telling her she made lumpy gravy. We never had gravy after that.
Mum and Dad were married six days before Valentine's Day in 1939. A couple of years later, Mum's little sister Christina married Wally's little brother, Bobby. Mum, Dad, and Wally coached Bobby on how to win "Teena's" love.
"Don't tell her she's beautiful," they said. Everyone tells her that. She'll drop you in in minute. Promise to wait at least a week before you call her again, or you'll lose her."
They were right, "Teena" was furious at first that Bob bided his time before calling for a second date, but if you look at the photos attached, everyone seems very happy. Of course Mum and Dad's 3 kid's, Auntie Teena's and Uncle Bobby's 7 kids, and Wally's 3 have not yet arrived. Teena is the bride, Elizabeth (Mum) the maid of honor, Uncle Bobby is in uniform next to his bride. The wedding took place during World War II, so Uncle Bobby and Wally are in uniform.