In an apartment in Poughkeepsie, New York, Judge Raymond E. Aldrich, Jr. (no relation to my family) pronounced William R. Aldrich and Rena Joyce Benjinsohn man and wife 50 years ago today. The newly betrothed honeymooned in New York City that weekend. They saw Mame, among other shows. They returned to their jobs the following Monday.

Today is my parents’ golden wedding anniversary. There is no big party planned because neither of my parents would much care for it. Almost all of the things that one might assume a couple can pack into 50 years of life has followed, and some that one might not imagine. My parents have had the chance to experience the “through thick and thin” part of the standard wedding vows and the “through sickness and health.” They are a team and I admire them for that.

Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!

The number one song that week in 1966 was “Cherish,” performed by The Association:

 
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On this date in 1871, several large fires consumed parts of the Midwest: the Great Chicago Fire, the Peshtigo Fire in Wisconsin, and several wildfires in Michigan.

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Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the only perfect game in World Series history 60 years ago today against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The final pitch of the game, with Vin Scully broadcasting:

Vin Scully was in his seventh season as Dodgers broadcaster that October afternoon. Scully broadcast his final game last week, which closed his 67-year career as a broadcaster for the Dodgers, both in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Some local coverage of his final words:

 
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Leon Klinghoffer was murdered on this date in 1985. Jacques Derrida died on this date in 2004. Al Davis died five years ago today.

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Rona Barrett is 80. Paul Hogan is 77. Lynne Stewart is 76. Jesse Jackson is 75 today. Chevy Chase, a good friend of Opus 40, is 73 today. R.L. Stine is 73. Representative Dennis Kucinich is 70. Sarah Purcell is 68. Sigourney Weaver is 67. Bill Elliott is 61. Stephanie Zimbalist is 60 today. Nick Bakay is 57. Matt Damon is 46. Kristanna Loken is 37 today. Nick Cannon is 36 today.

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