Ten Keys

On June 27th, 1964, Dad and Mom got married!

saturday, june 27th, 1964, after the signing of the register

On June 27th, 1964…

• “I Get Around” by the Beach Boys was the #2 song on the Music Chart (source)
• The New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers by a score of 5-4 at Yankee Stadium (source)
• Fashionable women were wearing:

(source)

• and gas cost about $0.27 a gallon! (source)

That was a long time ago!

After 47 years together, I figure Mom and Dad have learned a thing or two about marriage. I asked them if they could please share tidbits of wisdom that they have gleaned from so many years of being together.

official anniversary portrait, sunday june 26th, 2011

Let’s see what they have to say…

Mom‘s Five Keys to a Successful Marriage:

1. Laugh together, and roll your eyeballs or smirk or wink or nod, whatever connects you in the moment.

2. Remember in a special way those dates important to your relationship – anniversary, birthdays, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas.

3. Accept each age and each stage, which do change over the years – we were DINKs for 6 years, then came the really busy era of young children, then the time of raising kids and both working away from home, then Cathy and Chris’ teen years, then the Empty Nest, then retirement.  Each age and each stage does have rewards and challenges.

christmas, 1974

4. Enjoy your roles in your family and within extended family.

5. Hold hands when you cross the street as a symbol of “We are into this, together, forever.”

Dad‘s Five Keys to a Successful Marriage:

1.  Forgive and forget.  There are always differences of opinion and sometimes hurtful things are said on the spur of the moment.  It helps to be able to forgive and forget when you feel slighted.

2.  Spend a lot of time together, and share not only the interests you have in common but also take time on your spouse’s interests.  (i.e.  M loves to shop.)

3.  Good food….it never hurts to have a wife that can really cook good food. [see below...]

4.  Have a sense of humour….laugh at mistakes, share funny incidents, and be willing to admit when you have been foolish.

5.  Be an understanding listener.  It always feels good when you can share disappointments, troubles and failures with an understanding/compassionate mate.

~*~*~*~*~

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for sharing your insights.

Happy Anniversary to you both – enjoy your special day!

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Mom Got the Hint

Was it thanks to the blog post? Was it because of Dad’s whining and begging woebegone expression and cajoling requests? Can we thank Valumart for stocking gorgeously fresh local berries? Whatever the reason, we joyfully gathered together yesterday for…

mom's homemade strawberry pie - the first of the season!

There was one tshirt and one tshirt only for me to wear for the occasion:

love the slogan, love the graphics, love the tie dye

is your mouth watering yet?!

I don’t mean to lord it over The Brother and SIL Ana you, but man was this scrumptious!

one pie, four people, sixteen minutes. true story.

Dad’s already pleading asking for a repeat performance asap!

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Have you feasted on strawberries yet this year? Valumart was sold out by yesterday afternoon – local berries are a hot commodity!

Please contribute one of your own keys to a happy relationship – whether you’re married or not! My key would be this: you each have your own particular strengths. Use whatever you are good at individually for the betterment of your partnership.

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