Photo by Paul F. Gero, all rights reserved. Today is the wedding anniversary of my parents. They were married 51 years ago. Last year, the whole family gathered to celebrate 50 years. This year, we are all in different places. Dad died July 3rd after a long illness. Mom spent the last 7 years of their married life providing care for him. She lived her vows "in sickness and in health." And she fulfilled her vow of "til death do us part." She hasn't stopped loving him.
Last year's gathering was bittersweet because we knew Dad was ill. But it was sweet to see them celebrate a milestone that is too rare these days. On the front porch of my girlhood home, Mom and Dad toasted their day from the family heirloom goblets--the same ones they toasted from on their wedding day in 1955. The same goblets that my husband and I toasted from at our wedding in 1990 [and all my siblings did, too, at their weddings.] These goblets were crafted for my great grandparents on the occasion of their 50th wedding anniversary. They are the family emblem of longevity in married life.
Fifty-one is also important because it is the year my father graduated from Rutgers University. He was a proud Joe College. He wore his college ring [emblazoned with Tau Kappa Epsilon on the stone] until the end. I believe my brother owns it now. When we were sassy, Dad would ask us if we wanted TKE written backwards on our forehead. It was an empty threat, but it usually stopped all the shenanigans. Dad always wore two gold rings for as long as I can ever remember.
So I recall these shiny things,
silver goblets, and golden rings.
Promises made. Promises kept.
Love was shared. Tears were wept.
4 comments:
That's a nice post, Ruth Ann!
Burkean Reflections
Your parents reached a milestone we all aspire to. Congratulations to them.
A nice tribute from their daughter, too.
Very cool, sister Kins.
It was a very fun day and I do believe that Dad's goal was to live for that milestone.
What a tribute to his commitment to Mom. I do think that after that, he felt it was okay to go as that milestone was very important to Mom.
I know Mom misses him....and I'm reminded of a country song that I believe was written kinda sorta for Ron and Nancy Reagan. This is a great song -
"She Misses Him" (Tim Rushlow)
She shaves his face
She combs his hair
She helps him find his rocking chair
She cooks his meals
She wipes his mouth
And the window that he's looking out
She reads him books
She speaks his name
Oh every day is much the same
She sighs that sigh from deep within
The one that says
She misses him
She misses his gentle touch
And the way he used to make her laugh
She misses the man he was
In all of those old photographs
So strong, so kind, so sweet, so smart
The man who stole her very heart
She misses him
His children come on Saturday
Their at his feet
His grandkids play
It's sad they don't know him at all
He's just the one they call grandpa
They take out his trash
They mow his lawn
Things he can't do since he's been gone
She's grateful that they're pitching in
And like everyone
She misses him
She misses his gentle touch
And the way he used to make her laugh
She misses the man he was
In all of those old photographs
So strong, so kind, so sweet, so smart
The man who stole her very heart
She misses him
And yes they're still together
After all these years
But sometimes you can almost feel
The sadness in her tears
She misses his gentle touch
And the way he used to make her laugh
She misses the man he was
In all of those old photographs
So strong, so kind, so sweet, so smart
The man who stole her very heart
She misses him
Today is the wedding anniversary of my parents. They were married 51 years ago. Last year, the whole family gathered to celebrate 50 years. This year, we are all in different places. Dad died July 3rd after a long illness. Mom spent the last 7 years of their married life providing care for him. She lived her vows "in sickness and in health." And she fulfilled her vow of "til death do us part." She hasn't stopped loving him.
Bless them both...what a great story, Ruth Anne.
I know it's bittersweet as well, but God only knows, those 50 years left you with a legacy of integrity, that will be hard to extinguish in your own life.
And allow me to extend my belated condolences on your dad's passing...
Cheers,
Victoria
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