Though it predates my existence by 28 months, the first half of 1960 was a seminal time for me. Events were unfolding that would alter the world permanently:
- John F. Kennedy was on his way to winning the presidency of the United States.
- A race riot broke out at the normally tranquil Newport Jazz Festival.
- The Cold War was many degrees north of chill.
The world would never be the same again. Race Relations would become a permanent part of the American lexicon. Spheres of Influence would drive governments to do things that, in retrospect, just look stupid. Perhaps there is some poetry in the fact that Emily Post, the Queen Mother of politeness, died this year.
But the impact on my life and the lives of my family was even greater. Best friend Michael was born in March. And, even more importantly, Anthony Angelo Tursi married Norma Marie Esposito.
This is a classic couple who fill each other's voids. Norma is the Yin to Anthony's Yang. They support one another in the way you would expect a loving couple to do, but they also balance each other. She is high energy, he is a controlled burn. She is turbo-charged acceleration, he is cruise control. Norma is naturally caffeinated. Anthony is herbal tea. He is the tortoise to her hare, but it's not a competition -- together they have won every major challenge they've faced.
Some photos and observations as we reflect on their remarkable (first) 50 years:
Anthony was a handsome young man. (Notice the upolstery of the day -- polyethylene.)
Norma was a cute tomato...and thanks, Mom, for passing that body on to your daughters ; )
They made (and continue to make) an elegant, classy couple.
Here's a shot from 1957 at the Jersey Shore. Nice guns for an accountant, Dad!
No moss grows on Norma. As beautiful and nostalgic as that muscle photo on the beach may be, when a pudding recipe came her way, the back of the picture had to be sacrificed. A word to the wise -- don't sit still around Mom...you could find yourself inside her vacuum cleaner bag or in a box in the basement.
They started their relationship where they grew up -- the Italian Market section of South Philly. They lived atop Attilio Esposito's Meats (Norma's family's store, founded by her father):
Dad respects Mom's parenting of the four girls, even when the transactions work against their long term interest (as seen here, Mom is shaking youngest daughter Carol's hand, agreeing to cook for her for life):
Mom holds Dad in the highest esteem -- for example, she has always complimented him on his elevator summoning and other hotel/casino navigation skills.
For all of the challenges they faced in working, making a home, raising the girls, they always made time to focus on their relationship. Here they are renewing their wedding vows in 1985:
Like any couple, through the years there was some abuse -- witness this hairdo Mom forced Dad to wear on a cruise:
On the boardwalk in Ocean City, Anthony had better be smiling, sitting with three beautiful girls in the summer time! Of course, this belies the pain they both went through when all four girls were dating (Dad's only comment to me about this time in their relationship was "Parade of idiots"...of course, I have always assumed that the parade ended before I marched into Donna's life)
In a more elegant time, a very elegant couple. They could pass for Hollywood royalty:
Dad was not a slave to fashion, but he willingly went along with the trends of the day. Unfortunately, the cameras during the leisure suit era continued to function normally:
Here they are in the '60s in Ocean City, NJ. Mom was kind enough to put a foot on the pedal for this picture so that future generations would believe she helped pedal.
This is one of my favorite shots of them -- a shared smile that says everything about their relationship: the fun they shared, the inherent trust:
You gave me gifts I can never adequately thank you for; imparted happiness I can only hope to pass on to others; created a debt that I can never repay. Without you, there would be no Deidre, no Alaina, no Christopher and no Brandon. Andre would be living in Russia, hoping that someone would care for him. And my life would have no purpose. We respect you deeply and love you intensely and we always will. Happy 50th Anniversary, Mom and Dad!
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