Chapter 1: Li’l Drummergirl-to-Be

How it all began

Mom and Dad's Wedding Day
A Stunning Bride and Groom

A good place to start would be with Mom and Dad’s wedding on June 16, 1963.

Their union took place in a traditional Catholic Mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Newark, NJ, followed by a reception of 300 guests at Perillo’s in Belleville.

This followed eight years of courtship after Dad’s cousin Sabina’s matchmaking. Sabina’s high school friend, Mom, was a “knockout” and Dad had to meet her! The introduction was set for one of Granddaddy’s political dances held at Newark Symphony Hall in 1955. Dad was 27; Mom was just 16. Evidently, the intended pairing went exceedingly well, and they’d lied about their ages (20 and 24).

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Theme From “A Summer Place” by Percy Faith (their song)

Percy Faith – Theme From “A Summer Place”

As a bride, Mom wore a Scarlett O’Hara-like tiered lace dress, and her bridesmaids donned simple, knee-length taffeta in different pastels, as was typical then. Dad was dashing in a white jacket and black trousers.

Mom and Dad's honeymoon ride. 1963 Cadillac Convertible
Mom and Dad’s honeymoon ride. 1963 Cadillac Convertible

Since no photography was allowed inside the church, Uncle Johnny got some movie footage of the happy couple and bridal party as they emerged from the ceremony.

Following the reception, they sped off in their 1963 white Cadillac Coupe DeVille convertible for a month-long cross-country honeymoon.

Mom and Dad rolled like rock stars, maxing out the Caddy at 125+ mph out west, and took movies of all the sights, including Yellowstone, Disneyland, and the Grand Canyon.

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“California Dreamin'” by the Mamas and the Papas

Mamas and the Papas – California Dreaming

Mom and Dad lived with Nana and Granddaddy on Parker Street, Newark for a couple of years before they struck out on their own. They bought the first color TV in the neighborhood, and my cousins would crowd around it to see the “in living color” animated NBC Peacock as they ooohed and aaahed.

Mom and Dad decided it was time to escape the increasingly turbulent atmosphere in Newark. On January 14, 1965, they bought the little Levittown-style “rancher” in Old Bridge where I began my life.

24 Southwood Drive
Southwood Drive, in later years. My nursery was to the lower right.

Dad refinished a lot of it himself, with a big workshop/TV room upstairs, re-tiling the kitchenette, carpeting the living room, putting a tree swing out back, and building a picket fence around the property. To think I lived in such a house as a baby is nice.

I must have been a Valentine’s Day baby (counting back from November 15). I was now the youngest granddaughter of the family. I was almost named “Christy Lynn” or “Stephanie” but my parents decided on “Lori Ann” (my middle name after my Aunt Maryann). My parents thought “Lori” was so original until I started school among several others with the same name of various spelling.

My Christening Day
My Christening Day

Whenever we went to Nana and Granddaddy’s for years to come, Granddaddy always picked me up first, saying “my Lo-rrri!” or “my little doll.” All the other kids would crowd around and play with me.

I was baptized in December 1966, at Immaculate Conception Church, where my parents married three years before. My godparents were Aunt Maryann and Dad’s brother, Uncle Johnny. The party following at Nana’s was the typical Italian “mob scene,” with relatives and kids underfoot, all huddling around the new baby.

My earliest memories are of standing in my crib trying to reach the window, and being wheeled down Southwood Drive in a stroller as a young toddler. Music from that general era brings me right back to when being with Mom and Dad, just the three of us, was my whole life.

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“Words Of Love” by The Mamas and the Papas

Mamas & Papas – Words of Love

My dad tells me he would be so excited to get home to see me that as soon as he walked in the front door, my mother would smile wryly and gesture toward my general whereabouts. She knew I was the apple of Dad’s eye. Dad would usually find me in the play pen or the baby swing, and would make a beeline to me.

First flight
First flight

Mom and Dad were always extremely affectionate; Dad playing some sort of silly slapstick game (just like he always charmed little kids). Mom sang to me and got my creative impulses going with little word and story games.

Movies from this era are delightful. One shows me as a 1½ year old next to Dad on the couch, Dad is trying to read me a book, but I keep fussing … clearly I have other ideas for a pastime! Like, ice cream maybe?

There are many others that indicate that I was a very much wanted and loved baby, and to this day I am grateful for such wonderful parents.

Do daddies belong in cribs?
Do daddies belong in cribs?

When I was eight months old, we flew to Miami Beach, and Nana came with us.

Pictured is Dad sitting with me in the big hotel-provided crib: He looks happy—I look confused … do Daddies belong in cribs?

My earliest memories are so happy— Mommy, Daddy, toys, songs, family, pop music on the stereo (thanks to Mom), playing in the snow, and also wearing Dad’s big work shoes and Mommy’s sunglasses.

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“Something” by The Beatles

Beatles – Something

Mom stayed home to be with me, while Dad continued his long-standing job as Traffic Signal Technician in Newark. Dad would often stop by at Nana’s house on Parker Street for dinner while he worked for the city.

Mom had met another new mother, Judy H, in the hospital when I was born, and her daughter came along the day before I did. (I must have booked an extra day because the accommodations were so sweet.)

My first birthday
My first birthday on Southwood Drive

Judy and her husband lived close enough to keep in touch on a regular basis, and also happened to be from Newark. They lived just across Route 18, in another development. I am told that at my first birthday party, Mrs. H and her baby daughter, Donna Marie, were there. My parents took me over to the Hudsons’ many times.

There is a home movie of my first snow; Mom has me strapped to a little sled and she is pulling me along the quiet street, much to my delight. I am giggling and so is Mom.

Dad’s fortieth Birthday party was at our Southwood Drive house, and the entire family came down. A home movie shows everyone in the fenced-in back yard, with me in my carriage, kids playing and adults eating and visiting.

It was a surprise party, which somehow Mom managed to pull off. My dad later said that he’d arrived home that day to recognize Uncle Johnny’s car parked out front, and wondered why. He was absolutely thrilled with the surprise.

Learning to walk (future marching drummer)
Learning to walk (future marching drummer)

There is a home movie of my first snow; Mom has me strapped to a little sled and she is pulling me along the quiet street, much to my delight. I am giggling and so is Mom.

Dad’s fortieth Birthday party was at our Southwood Drive house, and the entire family came down. A home movie shows everyone in the fenced-in back yard, with me in my carriage, kids playing and adults eating and visiting.

It was a surprise party, which somehow Mom managed to pull off. My dad later said that he’d arrived home that day to recognize Uncle Johnny’s car parked out front, and wondered why. He was absolutely thrilled with the surprise.

Mom and Dad took a second honeymoon trip cross-country in 1968, for their fifth anniversary. I stayed with Grandmommy and Papa in Delaware for a few weeks.

On their first trip, Dad would take that Caddy upwards of 125 mph (the needle disappeared way to the right). This time, they assumed a bit more leisurely pace (oh, maybe 85) because they had their “little chicken” waiting for them back east.

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“Mama Told Me (Not To Come)” by Three Dog Night

Three Dog Night – Mama Told Me Not To Come

Another Baby

In the strong, gentle hands of my Dad
In the strong, gentle hands of my Dad

In 1969, I became aware Mommy would be soon having a baby, and as a 2½-year-old was so looking forward to it. So, when Mrs. Farrell across the street had her baby, Janet I thought Mom had popped (never mind she was still visibly with child). I went right over and kissed the newborn on the forehead the next time the Farrells came over.

They thought that was so cute that they asked me to do it again so they could get a picture.

There is a home movie of the three of us at a circus, my mother well advanced in pregnancy. I toddled around eating cotton candy and looking at the animals with Dad. Cousin Mona, aged 10 or so, was on that day trip with us.

My first snow
My first snow

Since my parents now had to look for a bigger house, they scouted areas as far south as Cliffwood Beach.

They would often drive up and down Old Bridge Turnpike in East Brunswick, and saw three new houses being built there. One of them, a new split-level which sat on a lot and a half, was the model home for the development. The location was right, the size perfect and it was brand-new.

So, they began the process of selling the Southwood Drive house and buying the one in East Brunswick. Unfortunately, their first house closed before the Township would authorize a CO for the new construction, so they had to stash all their things in storage and move to Newark to bunk temporarily with Nana and Granddaddy.

At Grandmommy's House
At Grandmommy’s House

My brother Steven crashed the party in July 1969. Mom was giving him a scheduled feeding in the hospital on July 19th, when he was two days old. That was the day of breaking news about NASA’s walking on the moon for the first time.

Mom urged the nurse to let her keep my brother a while longer so she could hold him while watching the monumental event coverage on TV.

Once we were cleared to move into our new home, we left Nana’s with a newborn in tow. I don’t recall any feelings of jealousy toward my new little brother. In fact, Mom and Dad always gave me lots of time and love, so integrating the new baby into family life was nearly seamless.

I was now a big sister, an important role that meant helping Mommy with easy tasks (happy to report nothing diaper-related).

Chapter Two: A Spanking New House

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4 Replies to “Chapter 1: Li’l Drummergirl-to-Be”

  1. i am loving reading about you and your family. i read chapters 9 and 10 the day i got the facebook message but was unable to stop thinking about it so today i have started on chapter 1. your mother was so beautiful….something i never noticed back then. there are so many things that i competely forgot and so many things that i never knew….i love all the pictures too! thanks lori! i will try not to comment too much and just read.

    1. Thank you, Joan! I appreciate that, and am glad you like the site. My mom was incredible and I think of her every day. 😎

  2. Johnine Cimbaro says:

    I love it!!! Made my day & have many memories of those days & our lives !! Were the best of times & never be replaced! You are STILL the apple of your fathers eye honey! What a wonderful tribute to our whole family! God bless you Lori Ann( I am also godchild of Aunt Mary Ann!! )Think Mona was too! Anyway…did you ever think of gathering all of these beautiful stories into a book? Would definitely have no trouble publishing I’m sure!! I love you beautiful cousin & my Mom is so proud of you. She’s so thankful that her special brother(your Dad) is with his “apple”!!!

    1. Thank you, Johnine! That is very sweet of you! And as for a book … this is it! lol God bless you, too—in all you do! 😎

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