Love Is In The Air. . . .Sweet, Sweet, Love. . . .#7

The new Mr. and Mrs. George Paul Wimsatt

The bride, still not sure about those "Ginger Rogers" bangs

Delores, the most beautiful Maid of Honor

It's time to get dressed, Ina", Mother said softly and I heard a

wistful hint of sadness in her voice. Then she smiled at me and

I could see those wonderful eyes dancing with joy, excitement

and a mother's love and pride.

Soon, our little home was abuzz with activity. Mother and

Theresa helped into my beautiful wedding dress. I fastened the

locket Leo had sent me for my birthday several years ago while

he was serving as a pilot in the Air Force. I had put a picture of

George in one side and a cameo made from the first picture taken

of George and I when we started dating. I slipped the locket

inside the neck of my dress and felt it laying cool against my

skin. It was my "something old". Martha handed me a pair of

beautiful pearl earrings to wear. They would be lovely with the

pearls on my veil. They were my "something new". Mother

pressed a white handkerchief with a delicate crocheted edging

into my hand. It was the one she carried when she married my

father. It was my "something borrowed" and she said I would

carry it again when George and I were sealed in the temple. I

had found a lacy blue garter the day that Theresa and I were

shopping for my dress in Salt Lake City. For some reason,

Delores thought it was hilarious when I had to go under all of

the material of my slip and dress to put it on. "You did that

backwards, Ina, I think it was supposed to go on before your

dress and slip." It was my "something blue".

I was dressed and Martha was fussing with my hair, no thanks

to those two pesky little clouds that had rained on me, and me

alone. I was still not sure about my new, short, "Ginger

Rogers" bangs but everyone assured me that my hair looked

very nice. The sun was shining, the air was clear, and as I

stepped outside to walk the short distance to Mrs. Free's, it

seemed that I could already smell the flowers that covered

the yard in a riot of beautiful color.

Delores looked beautiful in the lovely pink lace dress I had

chosen for her to wear as my Maid of Honor. Lois Marie and

Todd Ann looked like little angels and were already taking

their role as Flower Girls very seriously. Gino, as Best Man

looked. . . .well. . . .he looked like Gino and I admit that as I

saw him standing there, I was praying that he wouldn't act

like Gino. . . .the unpredictable prankster. . . .and ruin my

wedding.

With "butterflies in my stomach", I took my father's arm as

he walked me to my place and put my hand into George's.

He gave me a hug as he returned to his place and my heart

jumped as I saw the sweet and loving smile on Georges

face. Bishop Horlacher said some wonderful spiritual

things to us, gave us good advice, and injected a bit of

loving humor. It had all gone so beautifully, I had to

admit that when Bishop Horlacher asked Gino if he had

the ring to give to George, I had a moment of panic.

Having been on the receiving end of Gino's pranks over

the years, this seemed like the ultimate opportunity for

the "prank of all pranks", but Gino just smiled and handed

George the ring. Right then I could have hugged him but

instead I held out my hand and George slipped on my ring.

I put his on and suddenly it was all over, he pronounced

us man and wife ending with these words to George, "You

may now kiss your bride"! After all of those weeks of

preparation and anticipation, it was over. . . .or I guess

it would be more apt to say that is was just beginning,

I was married! As unreal as it seemed, I was a wife.

We had a short amount of time to stand amid the flowers

as family and friends congratulated us and then, with

Delores carrying my train and the little flower girls

scattering flowers petals ahead of us, we walked the

short distance to the church for the reception.

In Panaca, as in most of the small Mormon towns of that

time, wedding receptions followed a distinct pattern. The

receiving line formed in the spacious foyer. Relief Society

sisters took the gifts from the guests before they advanced

down the line and placed them on a nearby table. There

were guests from all of the little towns in Lincoln County.

The receiving line was a joyous reunion of our families and

friends with lots of laughter, a few tears, and many great

stories from those who had known me since I was an infant

and whose ancestors, like mine, had helped to settle the

beautiful little town of Panaca. George's family, not being

a part of this Mormon lore and heritage, must have been

overwhelmed by some of this but they took it all very

graciously and even tut tutted and laughed in all of the

right places.

No LDS wedding reception in Panaca was complete with

out the traditional program that began with a hilarious

parody of married life. Karma Hollingshead from Panaca

was well known throughout the county for her readings.

Whether spiritual, serious, or pure comedy, she was a

master storyteller with all of the theatrics to go with her

script. The reading she gave for us was a masterpiece

about marriage; the trials, pitfalls, and joys that we would

encounter throughout our life together as husband and

wife.

The highlight of our program was the performance of my

two little nieces, my sister Edna's daughters, Marsha and

Thea Ann. These little girls had always been one of my

dearest joys. While my other sisters had been helping

me get ready, Edna had been with Marsha and Ann as

they dressed and practiced for their part on the program.

Marsha was eleven and Ann was eight. Even as young as

they were, they were the ultimate performers. For little

girls they had polished singing voices that were way beyond

their years. They stood fearless and belted out rousing

renditions of two "Hit Parade" songs of the day; "Abba

Dabba Honeymoon" and "Side By Side". The guests

loved it and they were called back twice to sing

another chorus of the songs.

From Abba Dabba Honeymoon:

"Abba dabba dabba dabba dabba dabba dabba"

said the chimp, "I love but you.'

Abba dabba dabba in monkey talk means

"Chimp, I love you too."

Then the ol' baboon, one night in June,

married them and very soon,

they sailed away on an Abba Dabba Honeymoon!"

(Eat your heart out, Debbie Reynolds!)

And, from Side By Side:

Through all kinds of weather, what if the sky should fall?

As long as we're together,

it really doesn't matter at all.

When they've all had their troubles and parted,

we'll be the same as we started,

just travelin' along singing a song, Side By Side.

(as I post this story, it is just several months from

59 years of being side by side, that's not too bad!)

Before the reception was over, they were asked to sing at

two other wedding receptions that were taking place soon.

They were the "Belles of the Ball!"

Refreshments were served during the program and then

there was dancing to the music of the Lincoln County

orchestra/band. I tossed my boquet (to Delores) but

was too timid to let George retrieve and toss the garter.

It was a perfect day, well almost, there were those two

little clouds that cried, a perfect wedding and a perfect

reception.

Next up. . . .Our Honeymoon. . . .