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Chicago, Illinois

December 17, 1955: Wedding

The first couples through the doorway and under the flower-covered trellis was Lawrence and Marsha’s friend Sandy, then her cousin Maxine and her boyfriend, David, followed by Rosalie and her fiancé, Marty, then Shelly and her fiancé, Alvin. They were followed by two other couples whom, at a precise distance, walked down the white-carpeted aisle to split right and left before the raised platform. The ring boy, Morton, looking very serious, walking by himself, took his position to the left of the huppa, the plume-covered arch under which the bride, the groom and the Rabbi were to stand throughout the conservative Jewish ceremony. The best man, Roger, following Morton, went to the right of the huppa. Pearl, Marsha’s grandmother, was helped down the aisle by her daughter Sadie, while Ruth, Marsha’s other grandmother, was accompanied by her son William. Arm in arm, Morris and Jennie Barrish walked the aisle together.

My, God! So many people! Standing in the doorway beneath the trellis, looking across the huge, pink plume- and flower-adorned room, thinking, And they’re all looking at me! Hearing the barely whispered comments…

“He’s beautiful!”

“He’s gorgeous!”

“He’s so handsome!”

Blushing, suddenly the white, starched collar was much too tight, and Mitchell had an all but uncontrollable urge to look down to see if he’d, Oh, please, God! zipped his trousers.

The music began.

Mitchell stepped off the maroon carpet onto the white runner. Within two steps, Myra flanked him on the right and Walter the left.

He felt his mother’s fingers touch his, and held her hand.

He felt his father’s fingers touch his, and held his hand.

Walking slowly, in time with the music, he tried to hold his head steadily forward, but, shifting from side to side, his eyes searched for and, finding them, nodded at familiar faces, as, Oh, God, Mitchell thought, this has to be the longest walk I’ve ever walked!

Finally, reaching the dais, Myra and Walter veered to the left as, Mitchell, Don’t trip! went up the two steps, turned around and, standing beneath the huppa, faced the people. But now…

Turned in their seats, the people were all looking expectantly towards the trellis.

The music stopped.

The room perfectly silent…

The music began again, and…

Marsha was there!

Catching his breath, his heart pounding, his eyes became moist because, Oh, my God, from across the room, Mitchell saw Marsha’s face through the sheer, white veil… and, Oh, my God! he had never, ever seen anyone as lovely, anyone as beautiful, as Marsha… his Marsha.

Marsha’s snow-white gown was velvet over lace. The bodice was covered with white sequins and seed pearls. The long overskirt was scalloped in a tulip cut, and shoulder length, detached sleeves of white velvet covered her arms and wrists. Wearing a crown of seed pearls, the rear of the veil fell to below her waist. On her right arm, Marsha held a bouquet of long stemmed, white roses, and in her left hand, a white, leather-bound Bible trailed a short streamer of small, white orchids.

She stood, a stunningly beautiful picture, magnificently framed within the trellis of flowers.

The music of the orchestra trailed off, once again leaving the room in momentary silence.

Three hundred and thirty-three people looked at the tall, slender girl in the white gown and gossamer veil, and as a ground swell picks up momentum…

“She is so beautiful!”

…The collective whisper becoming Mitchell’s thoughts…

“Oh, so beautiful!”

Hearing the whispers…

“Lovely!”

…Seeing the faces, the girl became hopelessly stage-struck.

The plaintively melodic strands of a single violin playing “The Wedding March.”

Swallowing, closing her eyes a moment, instinctively, Oh, God! moving out of fear itself, Marsha stepped out from under the trellis and began the, Oh, God! long journey to the huppa… And as she did her knees began to wobble and she became faint. Only by sheer willpower and her inherent stubbornness was she able to remain standing for the three seconds it took until she was taken in tow and held, Thank God! by her elbows by Rhea on her right and Eli on the left. Her eyes cast downward, concentrating on keeping her feet moving—one, the other, one, the other—her hands shaking, Marsha truly heard the nervous rattle of the bouquet of flowers she held within the crook of her left arm…

Oh, God! Why are we stopping?

Hands leaving her elbows, Oh, God!

Eli took the bouquet of long-stemmed roses, Rhea the white, leather bound Bible, then going to the right of the dais, they left their daughter to stand…

Alone, Oh, God! As now…

A pair of patent-leather shoes, approaching from before her, came down the two steps and a new hand, a hand with a completely different touch, taking hold of her right elbow, “Marcie,” she heard someone whisper, “I love you!” Mitchell’s touch and voice registering on her mind, once again she allowed herself to be propelled forward, up the two steps, and now, the hundreds of people at her back, she was able to lift her eyes and with a glance at the profile of the young man to her right, Marsha looked forward as, releasing her elbow, reaching to the side, taking her sweating hand, Mitchell clasped it tightly as…

“Ba-ruch A-ta Adoni, Eh-lo-hei-nu meh-lech ha-o-lam.”

The ceremony began…

“Do you, Mitchell, take Marsha…”

“I do!” Leaning forward, he sipped sweet wine from a silver goblet.

“Do you, Marsha, take Mitchell…”

“I do!” Lifting the veil, she sipped sweet wine from a silver goblet.

“With this ring, I do thee wed.” Repeating the Rabbi’s words, Mitchell put the wide band of white gold onto Marsha’s finger.

“I now pronounce you man and wife.”

“I now pronounce you man and wife.” With these words, Mitchell stamped upon the bulky napkin that had been placed beside his right foot, shattering the wine glass within.

“Mazel tov!”

Turning to his bride, lifting her veil, Mitchell Lipensky kissed Marsha Lipensky.

“Mazel tov!”

In the eyes of God!

“Mazel tov!”

                                                                                **** 

A reception line formed and the hundreds of people filed by. Relatives and friends, and those who were strangers to either the bride or the groom, and to one or the other family, and twice there were people that, truly, no one knew.

The people came into the line offering…

“Congratulations!” And wishing, “You should have a long, healthy, and prosperous life!”

And envelopes, oh, yeah, lots of envelopes were pressed into Mitchell’s hands, that he stuffed into the thickening inside pockets of his rented tuxedo.

“Mazel tov! You’re a beautiful couple!” said a lady.

“A long and healthy life to both of you!” said a man.

“Be happy, mein kinder!”

“Hey, Mitch,” winking at him slyly, “don’t do anything I wouldn’t!”

“Yeah. Lurey, I’ll remember not to do anything you wouldn’t!”

“Mazel tov!” … “Thank you!” Mitchell said.

“Mazel tov!” … “Thank you!” Marsha said.

“Thank you!” … “Thank you!” … “Thank you!”

“Stand here! Let’s get a picture of the bride and groom kissing under the trellis.” … “Under the huppa.” … “With the parents.” … “With the grandparents.” … “The entire wedding party, there!”

A bottleneck formed at the open bar: “A martini, bartender.” … “White wine.” … “Beer, please.” … “Scotch’n’rocks.” … “Straight up!” … “On the side.”

Speaking from behind his hand, “Kat a kool at the drub with the gib tits!”

Looking, “What broad with big tits you talkin’ about, Lurey?” Joey Solomon asked. “Oh, her!”

“I heard it!” an older woman said. “Her hands were shaking so badly the flowers rattled.”

“Where the hell’s the food?”

Dinner: The bride and groom were the center of attraction at the head table, with Myra and Walter to the right, Rhea and Eli to the left, and their immediate families at their sides. All others were at their places, at their assigned tables, with the exception of the two that no one knew, who sat wherever there was an empty chair.

A toast by Walter: “Welcome to the family, Marsha!”

A toast by Eli: “Welcome to the family, Mitchell!”

A toast by Roger: “To the newlyweds!”

Circulate from table to table: “Hi! Hope you’re enjoying yourself!” … “Hello! Hope you’re having a good time!” … “Hi! Glad you could come!”

Dance time: “Lets get the newlyweds up here to lead us in the first dance, and in their first dance as Mister and Mrs. Mitchell Lipensky!”

“Oh, how we danced on

the night we were wed,

we vowed our true love,

though a word wasn’t said.”

Fox trot … rumba … jitterbug … bunny hop … Form a line, hold hands, “Ha-va-negila!” Kick your feet, “Ha-va-negila!” form a circle, “Ha-va-negila!” kick your feet higher, faster, higher, faster!

More pictures. More movies. Tomorrow’s memories.

A couple put their hats and coats on. Thanking the Goldmans and Lipenskys, giving Marsha and Mitchell one last “Good luck to you kids,” they left. Then another couple, and soon, another.

The large room began to empty.

The orchestra played “Good Night, Ladies.”