60 YEARS!

On September 1st, my parents marked their 60th wedding anniversary. But the milestone was officially celebrated on September 13th with an open house at Killarney Lake Lodge. If you could look up the definition for "successful marriage" or "perfect-as-it-can-get marriage", my parent's photo would be there ... in colour. They would be looking into each other's eyes and still holding hands tightly. But there was more to it than the physical expressions of devotion we saw throughout our childhood and still witness today. There was patience and compromise, respect and friendship.

Of course the whole family was there for the party, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, siblings, cousins... and the friends! I can't begin to recount the number of close friends, neighbours, colleagues and acquaintances who felt strongly enough to come and pay their respects. It was awesome and a tribute to my parents as a couple and as individuals.

My younger sister created a 13-minute DVD recapturing personal accounts by the "bride and groom" as well as the newspaper write-up of the day. It was priceless and I saw a glint of a tear in my mother's eyes at the end. Happy ones no question, but somewhat in amazement that so much time had passed.

They have been blessed and they have been lucky. Unlike my in-laws who were torn apart by war as a young married couple, my father would have been the next wave of soldiers old enough to fight when the war ended and they married three years after that in 1948. Blessed because they still have each other and a family that loves, admires and respects them and what they have.

God never said life would always be easy, and it hasn't, but He promised it would be worth it. I believe this past weekend, my parents would agree ... they've proven it hands down.

Happy Anniversary Aulder and Phyl (MacDougall) Manzer