Golden

VIEWPOINT

By RALPH HARDIN

Evening Times Editor

So, today is my parents’ 50th anniversary. Fifty years is a long time to do anything, let alone do it together with someone, so a heartfelt congratulations to them, and a personal thank you, because if they had not gotten married I would not be here.

They were married in a simple ceremony on Dec. 30, 1972, and moved into the house they still live in and proceeded to raise a little family. I came along in 1973, my sister followed in 1976, and we capped our fivesome with my baby sister in 1980. It wasn’t always easy for them, with my Dad teaching school and coaching every sport the Earle School District offered at one time or another.

My Mom didn’t work until my youngest sister started school and even then it was hard to make ends meet but for what we might have lacked in money, we made up for it in love and laughter and togetherness.

Regardless of what lilfe threw at them and no matter how much they had to work or fulfill other obligations they were, above all else, parents. They didn’t take vacations or nights out just the two of them. They didn’t deny us anything they could get for us in favor of themselves. I

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probably didn’t show the appreciation that I should have growing up (what kid does?), so I hope I can make it up to them here in their later years.

That whole “being parents” thing translated seamlessly into “being grandparents,” and my kids and my sister’s kids received that same sort of selfless love that we got gropwing up.

The only thing I can ever remember them doing “special” for their anniversary is that they used to go to Red Lobster almost every year. One of my proudest moments was several years ago when I was able to take them to Red Lobster and pay for their meal. I know that to a lot of folks Red Lobster is the “fast food” equivalent of seafood, but that was our idea of fancy eating, and it was a treat to be able to treat them. They don’t get out much these days and rarely cross the bridge, so they probably won’t be going to Red Lobster this year. Maybe a trip to the Seafood Shack is in order?

In any event, in a time when half of all marriages end in divorce, I’m proud to say my parents’ has stood the test of time. My own 30th annivarsary is in a couple of months, so with a little luck and a lot of love, I’ll be celebrating my own Golden Anniversary on Feb. 13, 2043.