The Tennessee Waltz, 1958
November 19, 1958. Mother and Dad’s 25th wedding anniversary.
The dance band is playing at the old log community hall, near Larisa School. Can’t you just hear Leonard Borsa on guitar?
Applause. Voices from the crowd calling for Jean.
Mother and Dad at their 25th wedding anniversary.
She graces the stage wearing her hunter green wool dress coat, trimmed with grey-ish fur about the neck and wrists.
To play the violin with her rendition of the ‘Tennessee Waltz’ — which may very well have sounded something like this.
So many faces in that crowd
Gravel Roads was nestled on her Godmother’s lap. Stephania Husak.
Godfather, Fred Muzichuk, near-by. Brother Orest, as well, bow-tie, white shirt.
Mother playing onstage. Auntie Tillie waiting to shuttle me off to bed.
Most likely, they were neighbours, family, friends. Frank and Francis Gargol. Alvay and Ella Engstrom. Fred and Nadia Palaschuk. The Husaks. Peter and Sheila Sianchuk. Earl and Gertie Long. Maryon and Rose Davidowich. Nadia and Bill Zack. Vera and Peter Senkiw. Mike and Nellie Moroz. The Wolitskis. Spaffords. Hladys. Kostiuks. Kuseys.
And their sons and daughters.
Just to name a few.
Young faces. Able-bodied, determined souls. Gathered to eat and sing and dance and celebrate.
Mother and Dad were two of those faces.
Wedding photo of Joseph and Josephine Sworak, originally captured on November 19, –, and pictured her as printed in the Wynyard Advance, November 19, — . By son, Orest, to commemorate Mother and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary.
