Hocus Pocus, I need wine to focus! Just kidding. I have been watching too many “Fear Fest” movies on television. Most people associate October with Halloween. Who doesn’t like to dress up and get free candy? I think of October as a very romantic month. No, not because of “Bride of Dracula.” I was married on October 4. It was a beautiful day and many people helped make it special. My great-aunt Winnie made my white satin and lace gown, friends made my cake and other friends donated fall flowers from their garden. People who arranged the flowers did a very artistic job, but they forgot to fill the vases with water! Dead flowers at a wedding seemed like a bad omen, so we did without flowers for the reception. My mother made her famous maple cream candies and brought them from Iowa in a three-pound coffee can. It was warm so they all glommed together. We ate them out of the can with spoons on our honeymoon. Reviewing wedding pictures was fun until reality reared it’s ugly head.
Boy, did we look young and thin. While downsizing in the attic I found a box of melamine dinnerware, a gift from my friend Nadine. They have been reissued and are worth more money! She was always a savvy shopper and voted “most likely to succeed” in high school.
Of course in the olden days we had to date the hard way like actionally meeting the person face to face in school, in church, at a dance, or while roller skating. No dating apps for us. Some women went to college to get a MRS. degree. If you were over 21, you might be called an old maid, unless you were married. Times have changed. But recently, while reading an old book about Christmas traditions, I discovered that women have always been fascinated about a future mate.
During Advent there were three marriage magic spells. The first one stated that you would take as many onions as you had boyfriends. Mark each one with a sign and put them in a warm place. The first one that sprouted would indicate your perfect mate! I think I will save the other two for a future column.