Chapter 8
Diary, June 29
Wedding day!!!!
St. Patrick’s was decorated to the hilt. There were garlands of green everywhere, on the railings outside the church, on the pews inside, lining the wall and the altar. I had never seen anything like it. Flowers were everywhere. No expense had been spared.
Two bridesmaids were old friends and colleagues from Kellerman’s, one was Louise, a dancer from the current show and then there was me. Penny’s sister, Sharon, was the Maid of Honor. Her niece was the flower girl and her nephew, the ring bearer. They were four-year-old blond haired twins and they were the cutest little darlings I had ever seen.
There were three priests on hand and Cardinal O’Hara was waiting impatiently at the altar with Philip.
Johnny would give Penny away, then perform his duties as an usher.
Penny looked radiant as she glided down the aisle in her white empire waste gown with the longest train that I had ever seen.
The mass was over an hour, but it was worth it every second.
The reception was at 6:00 at the St. James Theatre in one of the private reception rooms used for guests. It would be directly after the Sunday matinee.
Rochelle and I had some time to kill, so we decided to go to Radio City Music Hall to see a movie and a show.
We went to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building, then the 86th Observatory and stopped into the Central Park Zoo before heading back to the theatre.
The reception was amazing. Everyone was there, including my parents and my sister and her husband. Daddy and Johnny spoke to each other as if they were old friends. At one point, my father put his arm around Johnny’s shoulders. I smiled remembering back to 1963 when Johnny and I were standing on a hill watching my father walk out of the main house of Kellerman’s with his arms around Robbie Gould and Lisa.
Well, Johnny’s wish came true. Daddy finally put his arm around Johnny and was giving him his advice. It made me feel good to watch this happen.
Johnny and Penny did some dancing as did the two of us.
I forgot to mention Camille. She was hanging all over Johnny and wouldn’t leave him alone.
We didn’t stay late, my parents drove us back to Great Neck that night. It was such a beautiful wedding that I have included the invitation and the rose from the favor. I will remember this day always.