What does it take to have a beautiful marriage? To stay happy and committed over for over five decades.
Today is my mum and dad’s 53rd anniversary. A 53 year wedding anniversary! How incredible to share more than half a century together. Is it that they just found their soulmate so beautifully early in life? Or that love means through ‘the best of times and the worst of times’ or that well-known phrase: “Falling in love is easy. But staying in love takes practice.”
A career in “LOVE”
I guess it was only natural that I ended up finding a career in “love”. Weddings and celebrations. Love and commitment. As role models they showed us that a long-lasting love is about trust, about time, about attention. It’s about good communication and listening and tolerance. Marriage and relationships are about patience, openness, and respect. We were (and still are) witness to consideration, care and generosity. That’s a 53 year wedding anniversary to celebrate.
No big celebrations this year
As with everything 2020, celebrations are muted this year. And as such, it’ll be a beautiful bottle of red (and 2 meat pies) opened on their balcony over sunset. And that’s all they need. So fitting of the times we live in and such a metaphor for life right now. We adapt. We find love and solace and gratitude in the small things. All the while wishing there was so much we could be sharing with friends and family around the world. But they’re connected. They’re together. And that gives us all great peace of mind right now.
So, I rang them earlier today to ask about the secrets to a long marriage. And here’s my Mum’s reply:
“We’ve had 53 wonderful and happy years together with so much love. It doesn’t matter where you are going in life but who you have beside you”.
And I guess in a way it’s that simple. It’s who you have beside you. We’re so thankful you have each other.
And from Dad:
3rd June 1967-3rd June 2020, 53 years and counting. Trace, a perfect marriage is just two imperfect people who refuse to give up on each other. In our case we have been assisted every inch of the journey by good fortune, good health and a wonderful family.
So beautiful. Heart heart heart. Love love love.
So Happy 53 Year Wedding Anniversary Mum and Dad. We love you so much and can’t begin to explain the depth of gratitude we have for all you’ve shared with us.
Let’s party on the roof for the 54th.
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