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| Millie & Tom, on their 1st Anniversary |
A beautiful young woman named Mildred Pokrywka (aka Millie) was living in Baltimore, MD and working at a local pharmaceutical company. She was 21 years old and grew up quickly after her mother passed when she was only 16. Her father remarried a woman who was...how shall we say it diplomatically...not a very kind human being. Millie found herself handing over most of her paycheck to this woman and really did not have much to call her own.
At the same time, a handsome young man named Tom Trovato was stationed in Alaska. He was 21 years old and a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force. He was getting ready to be transferred to West Palm Beach, FL to finish out the last year of his enlisted time after he went on a two week furlow. Tom was also from Baltimore and he was dating a girl, Theresa, who happened to be the sister of the man who was about to marry his own sister (my aunt). He would write her many letters during his time in Alaska and mentioned he would be home in March for the wedding.
Millie had number of friends in Baltimore and would hit the local dance halls at night with them. She loved to dance and have a good time. One of her friends, Geraldine, was talking about this guy who was dating her sister Theresa and that he writes her letters all the time. Millie and Geraldine were hanging out one day and decided to sneak into the Theresa's room and read her letters. Tom sounded like a great guy who wanted to make something of himself and could not wait to have a family. Millie dreamed of meeting someone like him someday.
Tom headed to Baltimore on his two week leave for his sister's wedding. One of the first nights he was home, he was out with friends at the local dance hall when he saw a stunning brunette with piercing blue eyes. He was captivated by her and had to meet her, even though he was seeing someone. He approached Millie and introduced himself. She let him know that she heard about him through Geraldine and asked what the deal was with his girlfriend, Theresa. He assured her that it was only a casual thing and they left it open to date other people when he left for Alaska. That night, they danced and talked and Tom asked Millie if he could come by her house while he was home. She said that would be fine, but in true Millie form, she let him know she knew from his letters what a smooth talker he could be and not to try any of that junk on her.
The next night, Tom showed up on Millie's doorstep and asked to come in and hang out with her. And that happened night after night while he was home for his leave. They mainly went dancing and 'Wheel of Fortune' quickly became their song:
Oh, wheel of fortune
I'm hoping somehow
If you ever smile on me
Please let it be now
Their love for each other blossomed and the wheel was certainly smiling upon them.
They were having a wonderful time together and did not want their time together to end. Tom dreaded going back to Florida without her, so after knowing her for only 2 weeks, he did what his heart told him to do and asked Millie to marry him. She was shocked, but did what her heart told her to do and said yes. Before they knew it, they were making plans for a quick ceremony and their life together. He let her know he would have an apartment just off the base all set up for her and they could get married by the chaplain on base. Three weeks later, Millie said goodbye to her family and flew to West Palm Beach. She arrived on a Sunday and stayed with the landlady who rented Tom the apartment for two nights until they got married the following Tuesday. The ceremony was simple with two witnesses and no frills. When they got back to the apartment, their landlady had baked them an orange chiffon cake and gave them $25, which they added to the $100 they had between the two of them.
That is how it all started for my parents on April 15, 1952. The wheel of fortune brought them together and growing in love kept them together. They took a huge leap of faith that day, as they really did not know each other that well, but what they knew was that they could make it work. My mom told me that she just didn't over-think the whole thing and getting to know each other over the years kept it exciting. She knew he was a good man and would be a great husband and father. They were married 43 years when my dad passed away and they were still very much in love with each other. It was no easy road, either. They moved over 10 times while my dad went where the work was while he built his career on the railroad and took care of their aging parents along the way. But, they had a great deal of love and respect for one another and were not afraid to show it. He would give her a big kiss every night the minute he got home from work and they always called each other 'Hon' (a Baltimore term of endearment - best when said with a 'Balimer' accent).
I ask my mom to tell me this story every once in a while. I know it makes her happy to talk about it and helps her keep that memory of my father alive in her heart...and I love hearing it. My parents taught me that love is all about following your heart, having faith in each other, forgiving one another at times and always, always, always showing your love...and I thank God every day for their incredible example of love.
