50 Years of Marriage
Posted
Thursday, May 17, 2007 12:41 PM
My grandparents reached 50 years of marriage yesterday. These years have included a teenage marriage, happiness, love, three kids, arguing, difficulties, five grandkids, the divorces of two of their children, retirement, and now an unwelcome living separation. My grandma has recently become a permanent resident of a nursing home, and my grandpa is living alone for the first time in his whole entire life. He doesn't even know how to cook without his wife. If she were to die, he would immediately follow, I have no doubt about it. As much as I've seen them hate each other towards the end of their marriage (not even talking unless it was to tell the other to shut up), they truly love each other, depend on each other, and could not survive without each other. Tomorrow we are celebrating their successful 50 year marriage as they renew their vows at the nursing home. My mom and I bought a nice new outfit for my grandma, my mom's brother is going to walk his mother down the aisle, and my brother is going to stand next to his grandfather as best man. I'm going to take pictures. My sister and her four kids will be entertainment, I'm sure.
I hope I live to celebrate 50 years with my husband. And I hope it doesn't take a surprising nursing home separation to really appreciate my husband and know how much joy and completion he brings me. At least my grandparents were able to relive and re-experience the love they first shared before the end of their lives together.