The happy couple at their surprise 40th wedding anniversary bash.
Like the fool I am, I was busy working on a sample story for a newspaper that *fingers crossed* will want to hire me full time, and completely forgot about it at the time.
But since then, I've had some time to reflect on my folks' life together. And, yes, I mean life. Because although it's plural possessive, it's been one life lived as a partnership with loving harmony, a surplus of joy and even the occasional tear.
In a time when people swap marriages more often than they do hair, nearly a half-century together is a remarkable accomplishment.
Speaking from experience, I know that marriage to a good friend and loving partner is the most joyous union imaginable. But while the vast majority works well, it ain't always hearts and butterflies. Opinions sometimes differ, personalities occasionally clash, and once in a while, feelings get hurt. It can be hard to swallow your pride and admit when you're wrong and sorry (or right and sorry), but it's a fundamental part of working it out.
My parents have been text book role models for working it out. They taught me, by example, how a marriage should work; how couples should share both the ups and the downs, in richer and poorer, for better or worse, till death do them part. (Although that will be a LONG way from now, for everyone involved, right?)
All I can hope for is, 40 years down the road when Andy and I are celebrating our 42nd, our nieces and nephews can say the same thing.
So here's a toast to love, to life and to longevity.
Congratulations, Mom and Dad! And here's to many, many more. I promise I'll not be so belated next time. :)
1 comment:
I have to agree with you Regan about them living their life as an example to all the other couples out there. Even though I have only spent few days with them, few wonderful days, I feel like I have known them for a long time. Probably the stories that you have told me and them being so open to me and so welcoming at their home, helped a lot too. They are a great couple and I want to raise a toast and congratulate them on their 42 years with each other. Wish them many, many more years of great life together. Once you pass the wishes, could u please ask your mom to forward me or you the flour-less cake recipe, which was amazing.
Post a Comment