Friday, February 13, 2026 – Day 539

Friday, February 13, 2026

Good morning, everyone.

Today marks the 72nd anniversary of my parents’ wedding. It’s time to pause ALS updates for a story.

My dad grew up in North Chicago, Illinois, of Polish descent. It was a tight-knit community of Eastern European immigrants, and there was an unspoken expectation that he would marry a “nice Polish girl.” At least that was what his mother envisioned for her only son.

My mom grew up in Marshfield, Wisconsin, with Irish blood running proudly through her veins. She was the youngest of five siblings. When she was just 14, her father passed away, leaving her at home with a grieving and unhappy widow. That loss shaped her independence early.

She graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a degree in bacteriology and moved to Waukegan to take a job at Abbott Labs in North Chicago. A young professional woman, new to town, living in a rooming house with other single women. She didn’t know many people yet — though that wouldn’t last long.

One Saturday night, looking for something to do, she and the girls got dressed up and went out in search of fun.

Whether they had heard about a wedding reception nearby or simply stumbled upon it remains unclear. But what is clear is this: they walked in.

Yes. My mother crashed a wedding reception.

The wedding they crashed happened to be my dad’s sister’s.

Someone in the wedding party noticed a small commotion at the entrance and tapped my dad on the shoulder to “handle it.” He walked over to investigate.

And that’s when he met the Irish girl.

She must have had the gift of gab, because instead of escorting the wedding crashers out, my dad invited her onto the dance floor.

A couple of years later, he married that Irish girl — much to the chagrin of his mother. When my grandmother learned her only son was marrying an Irish girl, she reportedly said:

“Well… at least the Irish are clean.”

And just like that, Polish met Irish. North Chicago met Marshfield. And the rest is family history.

Have a great Friday.

Love you guys!❤️