Memories of Our Wedding/The Dragon Tattoo

The preview of the movie "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" brought to mind, my Mother's poem. Mom wrote the poem for my brother's 31st anniversary. I don't know if it is true about the tattoo, but it is true that my brother and his sweetheart were both under age and needed parental consent to be married.

He was going off to war in Vietnam and they wanted to be married before he departed for Kamran Bay, Vietnam. She was still in high-school and would graduate to next June.

I love Mom's poem and wanted to share it.

^{By: Mae Winkler}

I'll always remember the day we were wed,

By a grouchy old Judge in Chicago,

The frown on his face made him look out of place --

Reminded me, of a movie called Fargo.

He had no remorse, like he was in court, having a trial,

Not performing a wedding.

The way he was yelling and making a fuss

We wondered just where we were heading.

He was standing there with rumpled-up hair.

He must be thinking getting married a must.

We were both under age, and became afraid he would not marry us.

I was shaking so, from the look that he had, and I sure was glad

Mom came to our rescue,

While signing the papers for us to be married

We were so happy and excited we didn't know what to do.

While saying our vows, I hardly knew how.

Which, made me stop and linger

As he started yelling at me, "Can't you see?"

"You put the ring on the wrong finger".

When we finally got through with saying, I do.

I wanted to run and hide.

I was still shaking, and though he was faking.

When he said, "You may now kiss the bride."

Before we got home, I was getting warm,

Thinking at least he had done us no harm,

All I could see was you and me,

Watching, that dragon tattoo on his arm.

Soon, we were alone, in a world of our own

Wondering how we could survive.

Times were rough, and we had to be tough.

But we are happy being together and alive.

Wait till we tell our friends where we have been, and

What that old Judge put us through.

I won't be bragging, but their tongues will be wagging

When, I tell them about the dragon Tattoo.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My brother and his wife are still together and have two children and numerous grandchildren, he owns an automotive repair shop and she has been his book-keeper and office manager for all these years.

I hope that their grandchildren will read this and love this bit of family history.