December 18, 1949...60 years ago today. It was an important date. I Googled it because I was curious as to what all went on that day. I learned that it was on this date that the NFL Championship between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Rams was played in the Los Angeles Coliseum. 27, 980 people attended. The game is mostly remembered for the driving rain that reduced the field to a mud pit. Philadelphia won...14 to 0.
That's not all that happened that day. 2,078 miles away, another significant event took place. Not in a coliseum...it was in a single room. Thousands did not attend...it was more like a half dozen. I don't know if it was raining or not.
It was the day Bobby married Joyce.
As I think about them during the days and weeks leading up to the Wedding Day, I can't help but wonder what they talked about. I wonder what they shared with each other about their hopes and dreams and their life together.
Did they hope and dream about where they might live? Did they share dreams about traveling and seeing the world? Did they giggle when they thought of their upcoming Honeymoon trip to Charleston, South Carolina? Did they dream of vacations and wonderful destinations?
I wonder if they talked about things like vocations and careers. Did Bobby share his hopes and dreams of owning a business or climbing a corporate ladder? Did they plan how they would spend their leisure time or what community events they might like to get involved in? Did they talk about hobbies? Or, did they talk about having children and raising a family?
I wonder if they shared their hopes and dreams about owning a home or driving a new car. Did they hope and dream about accomplishments? Did Bobby hope and promise to provide Joyce with everything she had ever wanted?
I'm left to wonder about those things. After all, they are the private stuff between a husband and wife who inhabit a universe all their own.
I do know this, however. Somewhere along the way they made an important discovery amid all the hopes and dreams. They may have suspected it from the beginning...but somewhere along the way this truth solidified...it came in to razor sharp focus.
It doesn't matter where you go in life...or what you do...or what you have. What matters is who you have beside you.
It is a discovery...a truth...that they have lived out for 60 years. They love each other. They adore each other. They cherish each other. They have taught this truth to their children and grandchildren...just by the way they live.
Connie and I chose each other. Scott, by brother, and Terry chose each other. Gary, my brother, and Kathy chose each other. We chose each other because we believe it too...It really doesn't matter where you go in life...or what you do...or what you have. What matters is who you have beside you.
Bobby and Joyce...Dad and Mom...thank you for the lesson.
Happy Anniversary.
I love you.
David
Photo by "thepostess"
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2 comments:
We are two blessed people. My parents would have been married 62 years had Daddy lived to November 27th.
Susan Y. Gilbert
Yes we are Susan. I've heard from several of our friends about the stories of their parents and long, long marriages. Thanks for the comment.
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