Your Hometown Connection
By Jason Stern
(My column from LeRoy Independent October 29, 2009)
It was abnormal. I was tossing and turning the night of October 2nd. The anticipated excitement wouldn’t let me sleep. I was feeling like an 8 year old waiting for Christmas morning to arrive. October 3, 2009 was my Christmas. The only difference was I already knew what my gift was—my wife.
Flashback to December 11, 2007. A dark haired, mocha skinned, brown eyed, steal the world with her smile young woman had just started working at the Minnesota Twins. I was her co-worker. I didn’t plan on anything, but whenever I got the chance to charm her, I was going to try my best. I got my first chance on an ironic day.
My late grandfather Eugene Stern would have celebrated his 80th birthday December 11, 2007. My grandpa was the most devoted Twins fan I ever knew. He updated me on every game before I even knew what ESPN was. When my grandpa Eugene passed away in 2004 he was laid to rest in the Minnesota Twins jersey I gave him while I worked for the team.That December 11th I had volunteered at a charity event in conjunction with the Minnesota Twins. This new girl named Eugenia had volunteered as well for that same charity event. We stood side by side and handed out ice cream bars to homeless people. As a result, we talked in between each ice cream bar and got to know each other’s smile. It would have been my grandpa’s birthday and I had volunteered to honor him. Somehow, I think he returned the favor.
Flash forward to October 3, 2009 and a little after 2pm. I’m in a black tux standing at the front of the St. Paul Cathedral in St. Paul, MN. I look up after watching our ring bearer and flower girl disappear into a church pew. I see Eugenia Racca in her ivory dress starting the walk down the aisle with her father. At that moment it began to get a little blurry until I wiped the tears blocking my view. That was the ultimate moment when it finally hit me. I’m getting married…and she’s absolutely stunning.
Flashback to January 1, 2008. Despite the earlier heartwarming charity event, I made a New Year’s resolution out of frustration and a heart broken one too many times. Frustrated by probably trying too hard to find my soulmate, I made only one New Year’s Resolution. “NO GIRLFRIEND FOR 2008.” 26 days later Eugenia and I were boyfriend and girlfriend. I was happy to break that resolution. I had asked her to be my girlfriend on her parents’ wedding anniversary. I had no idea it was their anniversary that day, but fate was in control.
Flash forward back to the church on October 3, 2009 about 2:30pm. I wasn’t nervous at all for our big day. I was just so excited--so excited. I had asked so many people what advice they had for our wedding day. It was always the same answer. “Take it all in. It goes by way too fast.” I wanted to find the pause button on life’s remote. I wanted to remember these moments the rest of my life. Walking my mom down the aisle. The faces in the church crowd. The gorgeousness of my bride. The flipped down ears of our three year old ring bearer while wearing his beloved top hat. I tried to photograph these moments in my mind.
Flashback to January 29, 2000. My grandma Mildred Stern passed away at St. Mary’s hospital that day. Being a son of a single mom who felt like his grandma was not only his 2nd mom but best friend, I remember that piercing pain like no other. I often told friends I didn’t have a dad, but two moms.
Flash forward to the wedding reception on October 3, 2009 probably almost 8:00 pm. Tears of joy slipped from my eyes more than once that day, but what was about to happen would release the tear flood gates.
Flashback to January 5, 2004. It’s the day my grandpa Eugene Stern went to meet my grandma. My heart was punched a second time as I lost another best friend.
I knew both my grandma and grandpa would be there on my wedding day. I always told Eugenia how much I missed them. How much I loved them. How much I honored them. And she always listened with a kind heart.
The coolest moment on the greatest day of my life was about to happen. Standing in the middle of the dance floor, surrounded by my favorite people in the world, Eugenia grabbed the microphone and said, “I have a surprise for Jason.”
What happened next proved I married the right woman. Some people choose to forget people who have passed on. It’s easier that way. In a way society tells us to move on. To forget. Well, my soulmate is truly my soulmate and knows I don’t feel that way.
A slide show then began.
“In loving memory of Eugene & Mildred Stern” were the first words on the screen. Then the song “Good Hearted Woman” by Waylon Jennings began to play as photos of my grandparents, photos of my grandparents and me, and photos of my grandparents and my close-knit family appeared on the screen in the ballroom. Tears tickled my face.
My grandma loved that song, and I can still see her huge smile as my uncle Dean would play it on his record player. Our whole family would then sing and dance along. Now days I love that song more than I ever knew back then. Eugenia remembered that.
The photos in the slide show continued to pass by as quickly as the years in them. Eugenia and I continued to stand out on the dance floor watching. Tears paraded down my face and it was impossible for me to love my wife anymore then I did at that moment.
The surprise tribute to my grandparents was the greatest gift I have ever received. It ended with these words: “I know that you are here with us today. Thank you for helping raise the man of my dreams. Although I never had the chance to meet you, you will always have a special place in my heart. Love, Eugenia”
Eugenia, you are the love of my life--my “good hearted woman”. My grandparents would be proud. Thanks for finding me, Eugenia. And thanks to God and the two angels above for making sure you did.
