My first Wedding - Part of my Autobiography...

 Jo-Ann and I were living in a Duplex in Santa Clara, California and She was working the Graveyard Shift at National Semiconductor Microprocessor Division and I was working at System Industries. I had to close up the house before the wedding because we were not coming back for a week and accidentally cut my arm on a window that I was trying to close. It had a crank that was not functioning well and I just pushed on the pane of glass which broke. I got blood on my WHITE TUXEDO. I had a small scar on my left wrist for years. It was a joke that day - people kidded me about slashing my wrists to commit suicide instead of marrying Jo-Ann. We were married in Mission Santa Clara. The Mission was very cool and dark. As a Student at University of Santa Clara she was allowed to use the Mission for her Wedding. Any religion was allowed... When we met the Minister he asked me the date I was Baptized... I guess that's a common fill in the blank question... and I told him I had never been Baptized as I was an Atheist... He was Shocked! but performed the ceremony anyway. It was July 4th, 1976. The wedding was a BIG Production affair with invitations, registered gifts at Valley Fair Shopping Center - Emporium and Macys, little bags of Almonds in a Hard white sugar Coating, and Bridesmaids in Matching Dresses, Grooms in White Tuxes, Joe Franck was my best man, I wanted Barry Hill but he was Busy at work as a Park Ranger and Couldn't attend. We then rode in an open Model T Ford to a room where there was a Country and Western Band playing for our reception. Then we drove to the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco and had a drink in the revolving restaurant on top. Excellent view of the fireworks in many cities. Berkeley, Oakland, Sausalito... you can see very far... Then we drove to Canada, camped outdoors in a forest of trees with white blossoms. I had a hay fever reaction to that plant and had a stuffed nose. Then we rode the Pacific National Exhibit Roller Coaster. It was really scary and you have to hold on tight to keep your seat. We also rode a Bicycle built for two in Stanley Park... I remember the name of the Park was Lyons Gate... Maybe i was thinking of the Bridge there... Then we stayed in My Mother in Laws Mansion in Pollack Pines near Lake Tahoe. It was under construction and we slept in a walk in closet in sleeping bags. I remember that we drank a lot and I liked going out to the street and lying down to watch the Stars. Elevation 4,000 feet - almost no city lights... and the smell of the sugar pines was strong... There was no danger of getting run over by a car. You could see the lights approaching about five minutes before they got to where we were. 

It is fun to write my autobiography... it makes me remember all the events of my life... My first wedding was quite an event! The Bicentennial! July 4th 1976... My brother attended but made sure he told me that he was MISSING a Giant Sailboat Event in New York City... where he lived... and I had to pay him back by attending his Daughter's wedding in a SUIT and SOBER...  

READ MORE AT: https://gvan42.blogspot.com/2018/03/growing-up-in-los-gatos-california-in.html