I can’t resist commenting on the celebration of our 50th wedding anniversay at St. Anna. Somehow St. Anna was appropriate because our families have been going to Schwarz’s for as long as I can remember.
It put an exclamation point on 50 shared years. You Grasshoppers have been the center-piece of our family so having you arrange the celebration was very special.
We were pleasantly surprised with the invitation from all of you, which was followed by a fruit basket. The chocolate covered cherries along with the cashews are already gone. What the hell, it is our anniversary. After that the memories kept coming. A commemorative crock, chococlate covered strawberries (your Mom hid some so that I didn’t eat them all) and a rhyming “Ode to Shelby and Chuck” added to the delight. We played the 60’s CD’s all the way home. All the warm cards and personal letters were appreciated.
Your Mom and I had decided to reminisce about the significant years of our family history. Mom remembers things differently than I do. Go figure! I remember getting gold bands for our wedding for $30 each. I did not recall she paid for them. It is amazing the “lengths” that a gal will go to catch her guy! Imagine her paying for the rings? I had also forgotten that I had presented Mom with paper products on our first wedding anniversay. She has kept the paper and “cheesy” poems for all these years. I was a very young 20 years old when I wrote the poems so moaning is allowed. I was very proud of giving her a matchbook constructed of paper and cardboard. The poem goes “A match burns with color; of red, white and blue: And each time you strike one; my love burns for you! Move over Lord Byron. Of course the poem on toilet paper wasn’t quite as elegant.
As we presented the chronology of significant years of our family history, you were able to guess most of the events associated each year. Five of the dates represented the birth of each of you so they were “gimme’s”. The funniest response came from Dano as she waited for the year 1985 to be mentioned. When I read the date from my notes, her hand went up and she shouted gleefully, “I know, that was the birthdate of your first Grandchild”. Her inabiliity to contain her excitement was memorable. Yep, she had it right.
As I looked around the room and saw all the smiling faces, the laughter and the sharing of stories, our 50 years together came into focus. It has been a fun ride. I am proud of the family legacy we have built. Five Grasshoppers. Five great personalities each negotiating life’s path in their own unique way. The summer trips that we took and 25 years of cottage life make for interesting tales. And then there are 8 Grandchildren. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the constant involvement of Nana and Grandpa George.
So for 3-4 precious hours, our 50 years together “came together” in one place with one tribute.
From me (and your Mom), a sincere Thank You. “Fifty at St. Anna will be remembered forever”.
Love,
Dad