Saturday, July 23, 1988

1988 Wedding Reception (7/23/1988)

Saturday, July 23, 1988
Our prayers have been answered as the sun was peeking out this morning! Kent and I went out to put up the tent canopies, durable with huge yellow and white stripes. We laid them out, and discovered that instead of two 20’ x 30’ canopies, one of them was 20’ x 20’. But actually it fit better in our back yard, because of the shed. We began pounding in stakes, and the cheap hammer eventually broke into several pieces.
Jim, arrived with Terry, Kathy, and my mom, and Kent's parents arrived. The Ss took Kyle and Erich to return a video and pick up video games, and to buy mahogany plate stands at Pier 1 Imports. The others, especially Jim, helped put up the canopies, using sophisticated knots to draw the ropes taut. Frank arrived in the middle of this and helped, too. He had been at the Esquire Motel, having arrived at 2:00 or so. Eventually we got the canopies up, with three rather than four section lengths in the middle poles. Swept the dirt off the insides, and my mother took a damp cloth to wipe the edges. We set up the tables; three banquet tables along the back of the largest tent, with four round tables. A banquet table over the concrete cistern cap, towards the middle of the smaller canopy, with two round tables. We put eight chairs around each round table, and spread out the rest of the 75 in total chairs! We put tablecloths on the tables.
Our backyard (GJT)
Town Wine & Spirits delivered the beverages; four cases of Hope beer, two of Samuel Adams, one of Amstel Light, a case of Coca-cola, a case of Diet Coke, a case of ginger ale, a half case of 7-Up, nine bottles of white wine, and two bottle of rose, and two large washtubs. Kent went to get ice and go to the bank, and ended up having to get another washtub. Last Thursday I had gone to the Yacht Club factory outlet in North Providence to get a case each of birch beer, sarsaparilla, and cream sodas, so we had those to ice down as well!
Beverage table (photo by Ada)
Kent’s mom took me to State Line Florist to pick up the flowers, and Mary S waited on us. I also got some fresh cut flowers, including the last of the iris. Back at home, I had help putting a bouquet on each round table, and one on the beverage and one on the food table.
One of the bouquets
I put iris in the vases on either side of the fireplace and some in a vase upstairs. We had snowflake mums that my mother arranged in a vase for the TV room and in a vase for the dining room table, with help from Terry and Kathy.
The Poppyseed Caterers, Pat F and her helper, Steven, arrived about 12:30 to set up the food.
Food tables (GJT)
I was given the wrong cake bouquet, and we had to doctor it a bit with greens to fit the cake. The angel food cake was especially nice, two-tiered with white icing with an arrangement of tiny white cloth roses. The tradition of a wedding cake goes back to Roman times where wheat symbolized fertility. Supposedly one pound of cake will yield five portions. This must have been a 16-pound cake! We did not have the rice that also symbolizes fertility. Flowers are also a Roman tradition, being symbols of fertility and fidelity. (The purple iris symbolizes wisdom and admiration.) The Roman brides often carried herbs. Roses symbolize love. A Victorian custom is to have the first letters of the flowers spell out the groom’s name, but I couldn’t find flowers that began with the letters K, E, N, or T!
Wedding cake (MJT)
The Ss took off with Kyle and Erich to get a bite to eat and have a swim before returning for the reception at 14:00. Terry, Kathy, and Frank went off to eat, and my mother and Jim stayed to help. Jim helped Kent set up the stereo on the butcher block table on the screened porch along with the coffeemaker. The speakers were placed outside. We had a large selection of cassette tapes, but only played the jazz radio station WOTB/100/3! Jim showered, and then Kent and I showered, being done at 13:45!
Everyone dressed casually, except I wore my wedding dress.
Tamiko and Ada (TAB)
On the wedding day I followed the ancient rhyme of “something old (stockings), something new (dress, slip, shoes), something borrowed (Kathy’s earrings), something blue (I sewed a blue bow on my slip),” but I did not have a sixpence in my shoe! According to Israeli custom, a blue ribbon border was used on the robes to symbolize purity, fidelity, and love. Otherwise, blue is associated with the purity of the Virgin Mary. I received lots of admiration for the dress, and for the wedding ring, and estate ring. The circle shape of the ring symbolized unending love since the time of the Egyptians. Gold is thought to be pure and holy. The ring is traditionally placed on the third finger of the left hand because the ancient peoples believed a vein ran directly from this finger to the heart. Another Roman tradition is to be carried over the threshold. It is thought that brides demonstrated reluctance and had to be bodily taken in to the man’s home! Or else it is believed the groom lifts the bride over evil spirits which lurk at the threshold! We have yet to deal with any evil spirits!
At 14:00 we began making the punch. My dad arrived with Grandma and Dot. He had taken them down to Newport for the morning. Phil and David arrived with David’s girlfriend, Debbie. The reception had begun, and there was a fairly steady flow of guests, with plenty to eat and drink. I was able to greet most people and have them sign the guest book, and to point out the “confetti” for them to take home.
Guest book and confetti basket
Confetti
“Confetti” is the Italian tradition of giving out sugared almonds (confetto is a candy or sugared almond) to represent the bitterness and sweetness of life. We put in three white and two yellow sugared almonds in a square of fine netting, wrapped the wire stem of a tiny cloth rose to close the packet, then added a purple ribbon bow. The colors of our reception are turned out to be yellow and purple!
Nearly everyone wanted a tour through the house, some went on their own, and some had a S family member guide. And people brought gifts, even many who had already given us something! Our dining room table as overflowing with gifts.
Dining room table (photo by Ada)
Any kids who arrived were sent to the basement where Kyle and Erich had the Nintendo set up. Anyone who was interested could watch the wedding video in the TV room.
At 15:30, Kent and I alerted the family photographers, and went to cut the cake.
Erich watches his dad and Tamiko cut the cake (TAB)
We let each other take a neat bite. The caterer cut the rest of the cake. We timed it so that those who had to leave by 16:00 could get dessert! Kent and I even found time to eat. A basket of crackers and breadsticks, and a tray of cheese and grapes. The food was explained and served by Pat and Steven as you walked along the banquet tables. Chicken teriyaki on sticks, mini corn muffins with jam and ham or turkey, a delicious chicken pasta salad with a pesto-French vinaigrette, a garden salad fresh from Pat’s garden with a vinaigrette dressing, and crudité with carrots, celery, cauliflower and broccoli in a basket with a choice of a French onion dip or an herb sour cream dip. There was also a basket of mini spinach pies. Everyone seemed happy, pleased with the food, the drinks, and the house. Kent and I tried to mingle with everyone.
Grandma Marie and Dot (GJT)
Gordon and Jim (MJT)

Yuriko and Grandma Marie (GJT)
Kathy and Phil (GJT)
Jim and Terry (GJT)
David and Debbie (GJT)
Yuriko, Frank, Jim, and Terry (MJT)
Erich and Jim (TAB)
Bert and Tamiko (TAB)
Ada and Bert (GJT)
Kent and Erich (photo by Ada)
Bert and Kyle (photo by Ada)
Erich with a wet basketball (KWT)
Very slowly people began to leave. The sky remained dry throughout the day, with some clouds, but also some sun. It wasn’t too hot or humid. We were so lucky! By 19:30 only the Ss and our immediate families were left, but they soon dissipated. Only Kent’s parents were left when we started putting away the beverages, folding up the linens, and taking apart the stereo. We folded the tables and put them and the chairs on the screened porch. This is when it began to rain! We left only the canopies up at night. Later the Ts called, and we went to join them and the Ws at 21:00 at Friendly’s. Kent’s parents stayed with Kyle and Erich.

It was freezing at Friendly’s because of the air-conditioning so we moved to Pub Dennis, where they had to spread out the 17 of us! The first table was given to the old ladies: Grandma, Aunt Sophie, and Dot. Kent and I joined them, and so did my dad and Kathy. The others were put at booths of six and four. I had a crock of seafood chowder (you could stand a spoon in it) and Kent had a bacon-mushroom-onion burger. It was pouring rain outside. We left at 22:30 and said our goodbyes and thank-yous to everyone. Once home, Kent was anxious to open gifts, and so I logged them on my list. The kids were already in bed, and Kent’s parents watched. Later Frank arrived to spend the night at our house. Kent's parents left, and we opened cards and money gifts. Wow!

Sunday, July 3, 1988

1988 Vacation Baseball Hall of Fame (7/2-3/1988)

Saturday, July 2, 1988
Up at 7:00 to do a load of laundry, which allowed Kyle and Erich to watch Saturday morning cartoons. When the laundry was done and Kent had made sandwiches, we left about 10:30 to head across New York State. We followed Main Street to Clarence and hoped to do some antique shopping, but places were closed, moved, or sold reproductions. At Pembroke we got gas and got on the NY Thruway. Had a picnic lunch at the Clifton Springs rest area.
I took over driving and we exited at Exit 31 for Utica, paying a $1.60 toll. Nearby we found the Best Western Gateway Motel and checked in. It was cloudy and cool, but Kyle and Erich spent some time in the pool.
Erich and Kyle at the Best Western Motel pool
They played video games while Kent showered. In the car, we drove along Genesee Street through the city of Utica, population nearly 73,000. Small downtown, then big houses along the main street. Once we reached New Hartford, we turned around and wandered through some back streets.
We returned to the main drag to eat at Johnny Appleseed’s Tavern, a family restaurant with a bar, and backgammon game lined up for those who were waiting for tables. There was no waiting today. Kyle opted for the kids’ menu chicken fingers with barbecue sauce and waffle fries, and milk. The rest of us had chicken parmigiana, with two pieces of thick chicken, and pasta with sauce. And we had salads, too! Stuffed ourselves, and left $45. As we left, the kids got free candied apples. Kent drove as the rest of us walked back to the motel. Played some catch with the baseball, before showering and heading to bed.

Sunday, July 3, 1988
We checked out of the Best Western for $62 and went up the street to the Village Pancake House for breakfast. Had a bit of a wait because only one cook was on duty, and he was making giant pancakes. Kyle and Erich had three pigs in giant blankets on top of a fourth pancake. Kent had two eggs over easy, with two sausages, home fries, and a biscuit. I had the same, except instead of sausage I had four pieces of bacon I shared with the boys. Left about $25.
By 8:00 we were on our way on NY-5S East, with hardly any cars on the road. Saw a red fox limping across the road. A pick-up truck going the other direction stopped. Kent thought it might be the police or a ranger. Drove through some small towns with fine Victorian houses. Turned south on NY-28 into Cooperstown where cars were lined up for an antique show. We continued down Main Street with its diagonal parking and found a parking spot a building away from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, which had just opened at 9:00.
National Hall of Fame and Museum
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum guide
Hall of Fame and Museum
adult tickets
Hall of Fame and Museum
child tickets
Paid the entrance fee of $5/adult and $2/child. Went right up to the second floor with a chronological history of baseball, from prehistoric stick and ball games to the present. Saw uniforms, gloves, ball from historic moments, and photos of players. Saw how the game evolved, and that the tricks of yesteryear are illegal today (spit balls, dropping infield flies, etc.) The history included the early black or Negro leagues, and the contribution of early black players. There were displays on the evolution of the bat, the ball, and catcher’s equipment. World tours, including to Japan, were shown, and Casey Stengel (inducted in 1966) and Hank Aaron (inducted in 1982) were featured. One room showcased All-Star games. We went upstairs to see a pretty complete exhibit of baseball cards and stamps. A Babe Ruth Memorial contained his locker. A wall display on the minor leagues and youth leagues. More on the evolution of the uniform, including experimental ones. Models of ball parks, and memorabilia from World Series games. Interesting was a display showing Ted Williams strike zone with balls showing his batting averages, all above .200 it seemed for balls thrown in that part of the zone. We headed down to the first floor to see the art gallery and Great Moments. The Cooperstown Room explains why Abner Doubleday, a military hero, was called the Father of Baseball, mostly because a baseball was found in his effects. Thus Cooperstown was adopted as the home of baseball.
Cooperstown was founded in 1786 by Judge William Cooper. He was the father of James Fenimore Cooper, author of “The Last of the Mohicans.” Otsego Lake was called Glimmerglass in his stories. The National Baseball Commission made an official decree in 1908 that Doubleday founded baseball in 1839 in a cow pasture in Cooperstown, while a student at West Point. Now equal credit is given to New York City resident Alexander Joy Cartwright who devised the playing field and rules. We continued down to the basement to see the manufacture of baseball equipment, the displays on the present teams, and the records room, updated every Monday. The highlight film of the hour was the 1986 World Series, lost by the Red Sox. We skipped it and went to the gift shop, where Kyle and Erich bought souvenir batting helmets. There was now a long line waiting to enter the actual Hall of Fame, which of course, we perused to see the plaques of all the members. Having spent 2.5 hours at the museum, we walked up and down Main Street, and saw many young Japanese guys. 

We drove down NY-28 to Oneonta, the home of the Soccer Hall of Fame! But we went on to find I-88, which we took to Cobleskill where we stopped to have lunch at a Burger King. On our way back to I-88, we saw a sign for Howe Caverns, but thought we needed to get Kyle and Erich home to their mother. Got on I-90/NY Thruway after getting gas, continued on the Mass Turnpike, turned down MA/RI-146 and arrived home at 17:00. We called Mary Jane several times, but no answer. Finally at 19:00, we decided to have dinner at the Peking Restaurant. Kyle and Erich started with egg roll, and Erich had wonton soup. Kent and I had hot and sour soup. The boys had chicken lo mein, and Kent and I had the Mysterious Taste chicken, related to Little Chopsticks Strange Flavor chicken? Left about $25. Kyle and Erich ended up staying the night.

Friday, July 1, 1988

1988 Vacation Niagara Falls, ON (7/1/1988)

Friday, July 1, 1988
July already! Up at 7:00, breakfast, and we left about 8:15. Cool and sunny and we were all in shorts except Kent. Got gas, and headed east to the Shoreway to I-90. Passed the Burke Lakefront Airport, which has been transformed into a Grand Prix racetrack. Paul Newman is supposed to “come home” (Shaker Heights) to race on Sunday.
Lots of hawks sighted as we drove along I-90. Made a pit stop in Pennsylvania. In New York there were good views of Lake Erie and glimpses of Canada beyond. Saw vineyards. And a brush fire along the highway median being tended by firemen. Some big clouds creating a cloud cover by the time we reached my parents’ home in Buffalo. My mom and sister, Kathy, were home, and served us lunch of fruit salad and a pasta salad with pepperoni. And we were just thinking we’d like some garlic! Good old brownies for dessert. It was just after 12:30 when we headed out down Main Street, detouring down Jewett Parkway to see the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Darwin Martin House. Went along Delaware Park to the Scajaquada Expressway, passing the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo History Museum, the statue of David, and Buffalo State College. Took I-195 to Peace Bridge, paying a 50 cent toll on the Thruway, then 50 cents to cross the bridge. Customs was very brief. Continued along the scenic Niagara Parkway, a very pleasant drive with some lovely homes. Drove through Niagara Falls, then back to look for parking. Found a free spot, but had a bit of a hike to see the Falls. Saw old power plants, a marooned barge in the rapids, and eventually looked over the brink of Horseshoe Falls.
Tamiko with Erich and Kyle (KSS)
Kyle photographs Erich, Kent and Tamiko
at Horseshoe Falls
Erich photographs Kyle, Kent, and Tamiko
Horseshoe Falls
Maid of the Mist boat
Watched the Maid of the Mist with people wearing brilliant blue raincoats. Kyle and Erich each paid a quarter to use a viewer. Returned to the car. They have banned parking along the road, but have set up parking lots and provided a “people mover:” a bus pulling a trailer. Looks like giant green scarabs! Found a restroom at the Greenhouse, whew! Lots of Indians and Asians picnicking and napping on the grass.
Had a snack in the car, and headed back the way we came. We were just a few of the millions of people who come to view the Falls throughout history. It is the site of the first hydroelectric plant. The Canadian, or Horseshoe Falls, are 176 feet high over a curving crest of 2200 feet. The American Falls are 184 feet high and 1075 feet across. The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest at 181 feet and 56 feet across, and lies between the other two. The flow of water is equivalent to 1.5 million gallons per second! About ½ to ¾ is diverted for the generation of electricity. The first European to see the Falls was Father Louis Hennepin, a French priest, who came in 1678. The Falls are eroding about an inch per year, and at that rate will reach Buffalo in 130,000 years. Over 12,000 years ago the Niagara River started flowing over the Niagara Escarpment which is now seven miles away.
We decided to take a different route near Fort Erie, and a scruffy looking guy came up to tell us the road was closed because of the Friendship Festival, being the second annual festival between the neighbors of Fort Erie, Canada, and Buffalo, USA. The guy gave us directions to get to Peace Bridge. We paid our 50 cents and went through customs. Other people were being sent for further inspection.
The sun was finally out as we drove down Niagara Street to Niagara Square in front of City Hall. The kids commented on the “Junior Washington Monument,” the obelisk of the McKinley Monument. We drove across Main Street and the light rail tracks.  We passed Pilot Field, the brand new as of this year triple A baseball stadium for the Buffalo Bisons. In poured concrete with green metal trim in about the same style as the light rail stations downtown. Very big and impressive for a minor league field! We headed up Franklin Street, passing huge houses, and over to the Wilcox Mansion on Delaware Avenue, where Theodore Roosevelt was inaugurated as the 26th President after the assassination of William McKinley at the city’s Pan American Exposition in 1901. Buffalo has produced two Presidents; Millard Fillmore and Grover Cleveland. Other notables are William Fargo of the Wells-Fargo Stagecoach line, Trico that developed windshield wipers, Willis Carrier invented air conditioning, Wilson Greatbatch invented the pacemaker, and Alfred Southwick invented the electric chair. Mark Twain was a Buffalo resident and editor of the Buffalo Express newspaper. Other residents were authoress Taylor Caldwell, Edwin P Christy launched the Christy Minstrels here, and Buffalo composers penned “When Irish Eyes are Smiling” (co-written by Chauncey Olcott, who also composed “My Wild Irish Rose”) and “Over the Rainbow” (Harold Arlen). Michael Bennett of “A Chorus Line” came from Buffalo. We continue up Linwood Avenue to Delevan, then up Main Street back to my parents’ house. My mom and I walked to Bell’s Supermarket in Central Park to get $1 off coupons for the Buffalo Bisons game. We asked for 5 coupons, and got five books of 10 coupons!
We ate early, having Buffalo wings/chicken wings delivered, as well as beef on weck type sandwiches, salad, and carrots and celery with bleu cheese dressing. We left at 18:15 to walk the couple blocks to the LaSalle Metro station, and changed a couple dollars to get tokens and change. Bought tickets at 80 cents for adults, and 40 cents for children. Went down two sets of escalators, and a train came within five minutes. Even with this being the second stop on the line, the train was already standing room only. A ticket inspector came through carefully checking every ticket. We got off at Seneca and had one block to walk to Pilot Field for the Buffalo Bisons vs the Pawtucket Red Sox minor baseball game. We stood in the ticket line until it became obvious that they were sold out except for expensive single tickets. The kids were very disappointed, so we went in search of scalpers. A bagpipe band was playing at one entrance. We found someone with 4 tickets, seated in pairs, with a face value of $5 each.
Scalped Buffalo Bisons ticket
Kyle and I sat in section 122, and a couple bearded guys in neighboring seats informed us they only paid $3 for their seats. We felt lucky just to be there. The guy next to me had most of the fingers cut off his left hand, and he and his buddies wore shirts that said Canoers United National Team. They looked and acted like a motorcycle gang and kept buying beers and passing them down the row. The beer seller made the mistake of pouring three beers of a four beer order, and going off to get more beer without being paid. By the time he came back, the beer drinkers were so far gone that they couldn’t remember, and ended up not paying anything.
Every inning the announcer called a program number for a prize, and every other inning they had a special event, such as Earl the Bud, a black PeeWee Herman type dancing to “Tequila,” or Buster the Bison leading cheers. The scoreboard graphics were great in multi-colors. But the stadium needs a clock!
In the fourth quarter, Kyle and I went to find Erich and Kent in Section 116. They had a couple empty seats near them, which we took. Kent went to get drinks, and came back saying the food looked good. Pilot Field is supposed to have the best ball park food in the country. The Bisons won 4-1, despite or because of a middle-of-the-game argument by the PawSox manager, which got him kicked out of the game. Saw a balk called. After the game we stayed for the fireworks display, with music blaring out of the stadium loudspeakers. Quite a good show.
Afterwards, we went to the Metro station, but there were no dollar changing machines. We walked down to the terminus at the Auditorium, but no machines. We boarded a train and got seats, and rode through the fare-free zone downtown. Got off at the Theater station, and tried to get change at the McDonald’s, but the manager had just closed up. We walked to the Allen-Hospital station that was guarded by several policemen. They had a change machine, and we got our tickets and caught the next train to LaSalle. Back at my parents’ house, we put the boys to bed in Paul’s room, and Kent and I camped out on the living room floor.