01 October, 1983

On this date in 1983 in Lewiston Maine we find a world waking up to a day already beginning to feel the morning crispness of New England Autumn. The leaves are already changing upon the many trees surrounding the local Baptist Church.

The Church parking lot is filling up as the daughter of the long serving minister of that rather large Baptist Church is being wed. The groom is largely known as “Jane’s fiancé,” and after the service he will be known as “Jane’s husband,” to the inhabitants of that area.

During the ceremony one of the best men, having clipped a large and quite unflattering photo of some now long forgotten single female missionary to the inside of his suit jacket keeps flashing that photo at me during the wedding vows, opening his jacket just enough for me to catch a glimpse of Brun-Hilda while I’m trying to keep a straight face while saying my vows to Cinderella standing next to me. Thanks Rick.

We had asked Jane’s Dad NOT to use the phrase, “I plight thee my troth,” because when he had used it during the wedding rehearsal it had brought the house down. We were unlearned kids and found the phrase “plight thee my troth” to be both indecipherable and funny to the ears. I mean, I had no idea, at that age, what I was plighting in that trothing. Rev. Lombardi did promise to not use that phrase, determining to use “I promise you to be faithful,” which is a loose translation of “I plight thee my troth.” These many years later I now know that traditionally, the troth is a promise or⁤ pledge ⁢of faithfulness and loyalty between two ‌individuals.‌ It is a solemn commitment to honor and uphold the‌ vows exchanged during⁣ the marriage ceremony. In ⁤essence, the ‌troth is ⁤a​ symbol of the unbreakable bond‍ and devotion shared between the​ couple as they​ embark on their journey together as partners in life. However, in 1983 “I plight thee my troth,” might just as well meant to me, “I promise to give you indigestion daily.”

So, we did ask Rev. Lombardi after the rehearsal not to use that phrase given its unfamiliarity to us. However, the day of the ceremony Jane and I found ourselves reciting after Rev. Lombardi, during the reciting of the vows, to “Plight our troth” to one another. My Father-in-law was a determined that no man was going to marry his daughter without “plighting his troth.”

Of course at the point in the ceremony when the plighting and trothing came up again my groomsmen found this irresistibly humorous and I could see they were struggling to keep composure. I made it through that section and 41 years later Jane and I have kept the plighted troth vow.

Jane’s Dad was first and foremost a minister. Being a minister and having a full attendance in the church the day of the wedding he could not resist announcing, during the wedding, (think kind of commercial interlude here) that the Church was holding its annual missionary conference starting later that evening (we had a morning wedding) and “wouldn’t it be nice if all the visitors attending the wedding from out of state planned on attending the Missionary conference.” Dad could never let a crowd get away.

I can still see in my mind’s eye Jane walking down the aisle on October 1, 1983. She wore a dress she had made while serving as a short term missionary in Ivory Coast, Africa. She was a vision out of some legendary fairy tale. Her beautiful Italian features were on full glow. Forty One years later today I still can not believe that I married the belle of the ball.

It’s been a great forty one years. I have repeatedly thanked the Lord Christ for the fact that “for me the lines have fallen in pleasant places.” Jane and I have faced a good number of challenges but never in our marriage. Our marriage, by God’s grace, has never been on the rocks or uncertain. Like any couple we’ve had our disagreements but those disagreements have never become more than just that. The have never become hard feelings sustained over long periods of time. I’m confident that is because she knew from the beginning that I am always right.

Anyway … Happy 41st Anniversary to the finest woman who walks the planet. Having zero regrets I could only wish we could do it all over again.

And now in 2024, Jane, I once again plight thee my troth.

Addendum

There were a few other happenings that day that still remain memorable.

First, I had to tell more than a few inquiring people asking about my family, “no, that woman over there is not my sister. That is my mother.” My Mom aged very slowly.

Jane’s Mom did not approve of my groomsmen friends antics and spent the wedding rehearsal seeking to reign them in with decided disapproving looks. It didn’t work. In fairness to Jane’s mother my friends and I were a trial for anybody who belonged to the generation ahead of us. Hey, what can I say? Good wine takes awhile to age.

During the Wedding reception three of the groomsmen (Rick, Kevin, and Duane)  serenaded Jane and I with a rousing version of a few verses from the song, “I wish I were single again.” That elicited a few guffaws.

Groomsmen

Steve DeNeff — Best Man
Rick Deisler
Burt McAtee
Kevin Batman
Duane Ford
John Lombardi
Bill Johnson

Bridesmaids

Jerri Fox
Donna Fredette
Terri Lombardi
Kerry Bartley