Storycorps: Ben and Bernice Finn
Series: StoryCorps
From: StoryCorps
Length: 00:01:53
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Ben Finn and his wife Bernice met on a blind date over a half-century ago. It was eight months after the end of World War II, and Ben had recently returned home to Brooklyn, N.Y., after serving in the Army. The couple dated for two years before getting married. Ben eventually got a master's degree in education and taught elementary school. The Finns have two children, Gail and Steven, and three grandchildren. Their 60th wedding anniversary will be this Christmas, Dec. 25.
Broadcast History
NPR's Morning Edition 10/10/08
Transcript
BenF: My two best friends were Hank and Eddie. Hank had a girlfriend. Eddie had a girlfriend. I had no girlfriend. So. Eddie approached me one day and said, 'Would you like to join us with a blind date?' So I said, 'Sure, why not.' In those days you wore a suit and a tie when you went on a date.
BerniceF: Right.
BenF: I didn't have a suit to my name. So, I bought a suit to match the tie that I had.
BerniceF: Did it have apples on it?
BenF: It had apples on it, yes.
BerniceF: I remember that.
BenF: I was very nervous. And, uh, she was so pretty.
BerniceF: I remember that day very well. And, no, you weren't pretty. I remember Jeannette and I going into the ladies' room and she says, 'Well, what do you think?' "He's nice.' You know, what am I, I didn't know.
BenF: We walked out into the cold night air.
BerniceF: And, I took your arm.
BenF: I was thrilled by that, you know...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:"Time now for StoryCorps...
This project records conversations between friends and loved ones.
Today we hear from a couple who have been together for over half a century:
""My name is Ben Finn...and I'm Ben's wife."" (0:05)
Ben and Bernice met on a blind date.
It was the end of World War II and Ben was just coming home to Brownsville, Brooklyn after serving in the army."
That's Ben and Bernice Finn at StoryCorps.
Their interview will be archived along with ALL the others at the Library of Congress. Read more stories in StoryCorps' book "Listening is an Act of Love."
Subscribe to the StoryCorps podcast, at NPR-DOT-ORG.
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