My Wedding Day

By Beatrice Dratt

It was a difficult evening...My boyfriend had difficult news. He had received his notice from the army and he was to be drafted in a few months.

We had been together for four months and we were both sure that we were in love. We decided to invite his parents over to my mother's apartment to share our plans -- to get married as soon as possible.

My friend told our parents that we were in love and wanted to share our lives together. The parents were shocked, and words flowed like animals fighting. My parents looked at me like I was a child (19 years old). My friend and I said if they couldn't understand our feelings, we would run away and marry somewhere.

Finally, we were sent out of the room and called back after an hour. We were mystified at the result -- the wedding would take place in two months. All the nasty words faded.

Today, Thanksgiving Day, will be our 65th Wedding Anniversary and as my husband said, "We were right to win the fight."

About the Author: Beatrice Dratt has lived in Riverdale, N.Y. for 36 years. She worked as the administrative assistant to the vice president of nursing at Mt. Sinai Hospital. She has three children, three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.