During their impromptu party, I was asked to give a speech and I was not prepared. Afterwards I got to thinking about what it takes to make it to fifty years of wedded bliss...or at least a low level of tolerance. So here is my take on 50 years! - The top 5 version
5. Both people have to live! This is important as I am sure lots of people toast their love ones on what would have been their 50th but I am going to be a stickler on this one and rule you must both be living. Wheelchairs, pacemakers, oxygen masks..whatever it takes people.
4. Keep each day as a new discovery. I am sure that after 50 years it is hard to keep the mystery alive, but I am happy to say my parents have. For instance, my Father waited until they had been married for 46 years to tell my mother that he didn't like salmon.
3. Like different things. If you each like doing the same things with each other all of the time, you are going to get sick of each other really damn quick. My Father likes to go out and meet everyone with in a 10 km radius..Mom likes to go walking at night so she doesn't have to see anyone. Mom likes to read novels in short order and it takes the entire day for dad to read the newspaper.
2. Know who the leader is. While people like to believe a relationship is 50/50.. I believe that those people are probably divorced. When my parents travel, my father goes where he is told to go and they arrive safe and sound. When my mother dozes off in the backseat my dad and I take a wrong turn and end up with a story which still makes laughing headlines in our family.
1. Marriage is not 9-5. If it was we would all be unemployed or looking for a raise. Everyone signs up for the good times, but it is the bad times which strengthens the marriage. My parents have been through loss of family and friends, raising children, health issues, renovations and struggles a long the way.
But the
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!
