Share the Joy and the Sorrow

As you know, we recently stopped to visit with Aunt Rose, Uncle Lou and Diana.  Aunt Rose presented me with a copy of a journal that her Aunt Rose (Rose Messa Joswicki) wrote depicting their childhood in Ohio and early years in New York.  Here's a transcription of a portion of that journal telling the story of how your grandmother Mary Messa met Costante Dalpiaz.  Although I think I've shared this story previously (thanks to Aunt Josie), this journal entry fills in some of the interesting details.  I thought you might enjoy Rose's version of that story. 


"About this time mother was to act in a play for a good cause.  The part that she had was to be a mother of a son that went to the war.  This woman had a part in it too so three times a week all the players would meet in this woman's house and practice.  Then my older sister Mary was sixteen.  She met and fell in love with one of the young men that was in the play, was he good looking!  We could not wait for the three night to see him.  He was a very nice fellow too.  Father did not take notice of what was going on among us for we really had a jolly time.  At least they allknew their act so it was to be played on the stage of the town theatre on March 29, 1924.  The night before this fellow told my sister how much he loved her.  My sister and I was so happy and we share the secret together. Because father never allowed us to go out.  Things began to go a long pretty smooth for us.  This fellow bought an auto and it was called the Blue Bird.  Every Sunday in June, Mary and two other girl friends and I would go for a ride and we would have so much fun.  We would be back home about 4 or 5 o'clock in the evening. Our parents knew nothing about this.  Five months they were going together,  but she never saw him alone.  He would a like to take her out alone, but we wouldn't dare tell my father he was very strict. (If we did probably this would a turn out different.)  So he got discouraged and they quarrel over a little thing.  Mary was very broken hearted, and I was so sad for her for we share our joy and sorrow together although Mary had many other fellow that wanted to marry her.  Next she pick his cousin Costante Dalpiaz.  It was a courtship about five months.  They they planned on getting married.  All   this while they never went our alone.  We wanted my four cousins to be ushers but my father would not allow it.  We were very unhappy about this for we loved our cousins like brothers.  Mary was married on six of June 1925 with none of our relations present.  She had a very beautiful wedding with five ushers and five bridesmaids.  I was the maid of honor and this fellow was the best man."

If memory serves, the first guy would have been Costante's cousin Victor.  Mary and Rose shared a tight sister bond all their lives sharing the joy and the sorrow. 

The story tickles me in that I thought all those descriptors of this "fellow" applied to Costante, but not so much!  Also that she doesn't name him in this journal despite so many other very particular details.  Hmmm.  Anyway, I hope you get to share with your sister this week!