Sixty years together

If you were to go back and read my June 15th post, you would read about an upcoming anniversary. My parents have been married sixty years now.   We had a grand celebration that weekend, just  a few days after their actual anniversary.

The weather was as pleasant that Sunday as photos show on their wedding day in 1949. And my brother came from out West for the celebration too.

We had family pictures taken outside on the lawn near our family home.  My sister brought her single copy of the family history project assembled in one binder, with many photos. I look forward to the day when I have my own copy to peruse. I barely got a glimpse of it that day.

Our whole family had dinner together at a hall in town. Other guests included my parent’s remaining siblings and their partners, except for Dad’s one sister and brother-in-law, who were not well enough to be there. Mom and Dad had invited people who were in their wedding party sixty years ago. Dad’s older sister Edith, Mom’s sister-in-law Ruth, and flower girl Sandra, all grown up with grandchildren of her own, are all who are left of their wedding party. Even some of their godchildren attended the dinner. And some of their close friends joined us there as well.

Bryan, one of my brother-in-laws, was the Master of Ceremonies. He had managed to dig up a few nuggets of amusing and serious stories, and the grandchildren added their own memories.

A slide show had been prepared, combining popular tunes of the 40s, 50s and 60s,  including some of Mom and Dad’s favourite tunes, timed to coincide with photos of Mom and Dad growing up, their courting years and all their family. Many hours went into this presentation and Sarah, our family DJ, set up her equipment to play music and show the picture show that  Adrienne had organized in a special program.

Many of us returned to the farm for refreshments, more food and more social time. A perfect end to an exciting day… and wait ’til I get my hands on a copy of that book. That’s a story for another day.