Hearts and Hands

So. I was right and she was right. The Lovely Teresa's bridal shower was a rousing and delightful success!

Of course I was fretting and pouting up to the last moment. Why? I don't know. Everything had been done: flowers, decorations, catering : check, check, check. Yet I found kvetching curiously soothing. Is that just me?

In any case, all the fussing was forgotten when I walked through the door of our clubhouse where Carole ceremoniously presented me with a red rose corsage. Teresa's Nana and I were seated in places of honor. Yes, chairs.

Actually, everybody attending had access to a chair. (I was so proud of Carole!) However, our guests seemed to prefer milling around and mingling. We all laughed, chatted and enjoyed each other's company.

Then Teresa opened her presents. As I watched her I thought about my own marriage. My husband Ben and I were from the Depression era. Our families had no money for presents or showers or even weddings. But one thought sticks in my memory.

It was 1942. Ben, like most young men in those days, was in the army. We decided that I would join him at his station in Louisiana and get married there. I was working for a mens' hosiery company in Cinncinnati at that time. When I told him I was leaving to get married my boss gave me $25.00 for a present. Boy! I thought that was really something!

But what to do with such riches? After a good deal of thought I determined to do something I'd never done before. Get a manicure. I imagined how nice my hands would look when Ben slipped the ring (I hoped he'd managed to get one) on my finger. It made me happier than anything I could think of.

As I recall, the manicure took a good part of my twenty-five dollars. But oh, it was worth it! As I sat in the rolling, rocking train I listened to the Navy men strolling up and down the aisle singing, "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition." And I gazed at my beautiful hands and smiled and smiled.