Half-Century Anniversary

It goes without saying FIFTY YEARS is a long time.
Not to mention being married to someone that long. It probably seems like a dream.

But who am I to know a thing about marriage? About building a future and a family?

Some people wait fifty years just to meet their soulmate - the one they'll spend a lifetime with.
Some have to endure the pain of watching the love of their life leave them early. These people don't get to watch their children's children turn into adults. They don't have the opportunity.

A fifty-year marriage is exceptional in a lot of ways.

My grandparents celebrated 50 years together; a milestone only rare couples reach.
A half-century full of memories and hardship and laughter and triumph. I want to use the word inspiration but I don't even think that does them justice. They are my best friends.

When you have met someone who causes you to think about your future it's difficult to imagine what it will feel like after ten or fifteen years. Some people still value the tradition and would prefer to be happily married before starting a family. But today we've learned how to take advantage by staying common-law instead. And then if we really think about today, and what being married means to our generation...yeah, it can be a bit terrifying.
But 50 years ago there were people getting married for the all the wrong reasons too.

My grandparents being nearly ten years apart in age have this almost strange balance.
Grandma is black or white about everything. If she doesn't like something then it's not good for anyone. As the ultimate-homemaker she can do no wrong. And my Grandpa has this insatiable need to know more about everything. He loves technology which may seem odd for a man in his mid-70s but maybe that's just it - because if something isn't working he will work until it does. Grandma would have thrown it out already.
Together they have these hearts filled with so much love it's almost unbelievable.
I feel so blessed just to call myself part of both of them. 


Marriage was always something to be taken seriously. You do it once.
And I think at seventeen years old my Grandmother was the most courageous young woman I'll ever never-know. Because now she is 66 and experienced in so many ways.
Ways that I couldn't possibly understand.
Why? Because it's rare for marriages to last five, ten years today.
But they show everyone that it's possible for a love to last...and last.

A Toast:

We would be nowhere without you two.
Literally, we would not exist.
The man of many treasures, and a woman of many recipes. 
Between the two, nobody gets bored or goes hungry. ever.

I'm so proud of the things you did; the sacrifices you have made over the years...even though I don't believe you only had 20$ when you came here to Canada. But we'll say you did.
And I love you more than I will live to explain.
My world revolves around you two, at the centre of it all.

The roots of a family tree are formed from the love of two hearts.
(and a lot of work, too)
Here's to you. Happy Anniversary.