What is your name : Nancy

Who do you want the poem written for: My parents (Elly and Irv)


Why do you want the poem written: 50th wedding anniversary


What are the key messages you would like to send: When my parents met it was like a fairy tale. He was older (29 was old at the time) than her by 9 years. She was beautiful and he was rich. There were hardships to come, but when they were young everything was coming up roses. Irv's mother and Elly's grandmother were friends. One day, her grandmother met Irv and said she wanted to introduce him to her granddaughter, Marilyn! By the time he got around to it, she said, "you're too late - she's already engaged. You know, I've got another granddaughter, Elly, but she's too young for you!" Some time later (months or years?) Irv was at Shy Troup's gas station and Shy said, "Got somebody I'd like to fix you up with." That was Elly! So it was meant to be. On their first date, Elly told her mother she was going to marry him. Its a standing joke that she really liked the car he was driving! That car - driven by his nephews when he was out of town, soon became Elly's car. It was a white oldsmobile with red leather upholstery. To this day, the nephews remember the girl who came along to steal the car away from them!

They spent their honeymoon in Cuba.

One of their favorite things to do when they were young was to dance. They recently went to see the movie Shall We Dance together and they both loved it. I think it brought back memories of how they used to get together with friends and relatives and dance, and dance and dance. They were both very good at it.

They spent weekends with friends dining in Minneapolis at Charlie's, McCarthy's and Murray's. They loved to eat steak and drink scotch and soda.

Dad was in the movie business - working for Columbia Pictures and then owning his own indoor and outdoor movie theatres. He was quite successful but ran into some business problems with a cousin. This has shadowed their lives. They had big dreams that didn't come to fruition and has caused some heartbreak. They don't always get along - they are so different, but the beautiful thing is that they have stayed together. Dad says, "its not always great, but its better together." I know that Mom and Dad love eachother, but shattered dreams have caused alot of stress.

We have an outspoken family. There are always arguments with phone calls back and forth - he said, she said. But through it all, we really love and care for one another.

Elly and Irv's first apartment was in Golden Valley - beautifully furnished by LaVoy's - where they had Jeff. Soon after they moved to 212 Farmdale Road in Hobby Acres where they had Nancy and Stacy. When plans for a highway came about, Elly and Irv moved their family to 1440 Utah Avenue in St. Louis Park. They would raise their family there until 1985 when they moved to their condo in Minnetonka.

Elly and Irv have 8 grandchildren - 4 boys, 4 girls. They are Stephanie, Dori, Joshua, Cory, Jeremy, Sydney, Nicole and Ari.

Do you have any funny, sad, happy, embarrassing or otherwise memorable moments that you would like to share: Summers were spent hanging out at Brookview and Rolling Green Country Clubs. Golf, bingo, hanging by the bar with friends. Saturdays, Dad would play cards. He was a really good card player - well known in Minneapolis for his unique skills. Elly was particularly close to Bess (Irv's sister) in the early years, hanging out with her at the Dykeman Hotel and antiquing on Saturdays. Bess's friend Bernice would come along and they would find oh so many treasures. Conversations growing up often centered around what valuables they had found and how beautiful they were able to make their homes.
Do you have any other comments or thoughts

: I want to tell about their personalities. Dad is a generous sweet man who would do anything for his children. They come first. All he ever wants to do is hear about them and see them. Three of his grandsons live in another city and he makes it a point to travel 12 hours by car to see them.

Mom is very funny and we have enjoyed ourselves hearing about some of her crazy antics. She's not embarrassed by anything and doesn't care what anyone thinks of her - a unique quality. Like the time she ate all the olives before her mother's party and the guests were left with nothing. Or the time she was selling Stacy's bike with an ad in the paper. She decided to call on another ad that sounded similar. After calling for hours and getting a busy signal, Stacy realized that she had been calling her own number all along!

What style of poem would you prefer (happy, sad, romantic etc.): happy, funny, sentimental


Please choose which package you would prefer: Unique


Do you have any last comments or thoughts: The main thing I would like to convey in this poem is their wonderful early years (they tend to be nostalgic), and how much we all (their children) appreciate that they have stayed together and kept our family together. Obviously, I don't want to dwell on the negative, but I think somehow the idea that things weren't always perfect and yet, these people have stayed together through thick and thin - and that this is appreciated by their children. I don't have the right words - hopefully you do!

Dear Mom and Dad

The older prince met his beautiful princess, it seemed just like a fairy tale, when you were young it was joy and roses, falling in love would never fail. Elly's bubbe was the matchmaker, although Marilyn was the intended first date, but by the time Irv finally got around to it, "she's engaged - you are too late!" "You know, I've got another granddaughter, Elly, but she's far too young for you", and much later, at Shy Troup's gas station, Shy wanted to he'd hurry your destiny through. Your first date must have gone pretty well, because Elly told Dorothy it was Irv she would wed, she especially liked the car you were driving, it was a white Oldsmobile and the leather was red. You spent your honeymoon in Cuba, and "Shall We Dance?" was a question you'd often ask, and we know the movie brought back some memories, so let's get a few more out of the cask: Dad worked for Columbia Pictures, and the drive-in was our life, he was quite successful at what he did, although it caused a little strife. And shattered dreams can be like broken glass, it's hard to put them (delete word all) back in one piece, but life must go on, and it does, and the wonders simply never cease. Jeff, Nancy and Stacy joined the family tree, and my! Look how the branches have grown, Stephanie, Dori, Joshua, Cory, Jeremy, Sydney, Nicole and Ari, we're all very grateful for the love that you've shown. Summers were spent at Brookview and Rolling Green, golf, bingo and hanging by the bar with friends, Dad would play cards like you've never seen, we thought those summers would never end. Elly was close to Bess in those years, they loved to laugh and drink , it was the Dyckman Hotel and antiquing Saturdays. the treasures found there were more than you think. Now, Dad is such a generous man, his kids come first, not last, to visit, he travels 12 hours by car, and as you know, he drives pretty fast. Mom is everyone's sounding board, for all our problems she has some advice, compassion and kindness are qualities she has, she burns the phone lines sorting out the fights. Dad loves to tell his stories, he repeats them many times, he's quite a well-groomed man, and hardly ever whines. Mom is a very funny lady, she does crazy things and acts very fast, there was the time when she ate all the olives, and her store returns sure are a blast! Now, your fifty years haven't always been easy, and life is not a rose filled dream, but through it all, you've stuck together, you've proved to the world you are a team. So, Mom and Dad, thank you for our family, We know that you'll be united forever, because absolutely, we love each other, "it's not always great, but it's better together." And we just want to say Happy 50th Anniversary, I guess that's really what these words are for, here's to you, Mom and Dad, you're truly wonderful, and We will love you for evermore! Love, Your Children

Copyright www.agiftofpoetry.co.uk 2008

Allen Jesson

Comments:

After the party, Nancy kindly replied:
"My parents loved their 50th anniversary poem. Everyone was very impressed! The card, box and presentation were really beautiful - nicer even than the website shows. Thank you! I will keep your website on my list of favorites. I've sent my friend to your site for her parents anniversary. Nancy"