IMMIGRANT DAUGHTER #11

I did not get an opportunity to publish this before Christmas and I will just do it now and ask you for your patience.

I am going to pick up where I left off on meeting the man of my life. I know every one is busy with the busyness of Christmas cooking and preparations enjoying the spirit of Christmas. I am enjoying a Christmas Blessing with grand children and my youngest daughter. The first picture is the man of my life.

I left off telling you C.C. came to town every chance he could when he did not have duty at the naval air station. I met him in June and the summer passed quickly. Between work at the restaurant, and my free time with C.C. no one else mattered and before you know it C.C. got his orders to attend air control mans’ school in Olathe Kansas.

C.C. told me he had to be there by January 1, 1950 and I said “Not without me, you're not”.

We laughed because he said, "Are you proposing to me?" I replied, "You can call it what you want, because I am not letting you get away from me." We talked about how the Lord brought us together.

 We did not have much time to arrange a wedding even if it is just family. This caught him off guard because I then told him that he had to go and ask my dad if he could marry me. And ask for his blessing. We both knew it would be okay because C.C. was always there but nevertheless he had to ask.

One Sunday dad was playing solitaire at the kitchen table and C.C. asked him if he could talk to him. Uncle George was still living with us and was at the table kibitzing while dad played cards. C.C. saw he was not going to leave so he just sat down and spilled out his plans. Now my father was accustomed to C.C. being around and was kind of expecting it so the answer was yes. I was 19 years old and the baby of the family.

When the relatives (pictured to the left) heard of the marriage they bombarded my dad telling him he should not allow the youngest to get married until her older sisters were married first. I was so proud of my dad when he told them he is in charge of his family not them. He came to  America to be free and not tied to “old” customs. They raised their families the way they wanted without his input and he will finish raising his the American way. We were off to a good start because we had my father's blessing.

 I never cared about wearing a bridal gown and chose to wear a brown suit with baby doll shoes and C.C, chose to wear his one and only suit which was brown. We knew it had to be a small practical affair because we would be making plans for my travel by train to Kansas. The military would move C.C but we had to make the arrangements for me, his wife. He was too low on the military ranking for the government to pay for my move so we were on our own. We learned early on how to pinch pennies.

Here are pictures of our wedding in N.J. and dad and moms’ in Greece. I am glad my dad did not abide by the Greek wedding vows. Traditions really were different. Old country weddings lasted weeks and we did not have that much time. My oldest brother and his girl friend were best man and bridesmaid. She went to school with me and her honor was she never missed a day of school in twelve years. My best friend was away at college and could not attend the wedding.

 

We married in October in the same church Tippy use to sneak in and hide under the pews waiting for my dad to leave. It was a small group of family and friends. All those attending the wedding came to the house afterwards for cake and ouzo. Ouzo is a Greek liquor that taste like licorice. The Greeks always ate sweet cake with it.

 Now my honey never saw any of the Greek customs especially the way they celebrated different occasions. When they passed the ouzo to everyone they waited for the groom to take the first swallow and they would follow. Well C.C. took a sip and then they joined I gulping it down laughing and speaking Greek, which left C.C. stunned telling me later he never saw “old folks” drink like that. I guess at that time he was wondering what kind of family he was getting into. You have to understand we did not see our relatives often because we lived in N.J. and they were in New York City. and celebrations were few and far between because dad was not a drinker or a traveler.

We went to New York City for our honeymoon and then came home and prepared to leave the next day for a four-month stay in Kansas. We were young, happy and had a lot to learn which I will tell you later. Until next time, I am Immigrant daughter.