Thursday, February 23, 2006

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MOM AND DAD

My parents met and married in Hawaii and now, 48 years later, my dad claims that they are still on their honeymoon. 

Hmmm,  I guess they waited until after I moved out to begin the honeymoon!  I remember being dragged across the country in the back of a station wagon... we always had a station wagon, never a regular car like all of my friends' families.  Of course the fact that there were 6 of us kids may have played a small part in the decision to travel in station wagons.  I remember leftovers for supper every other night, but I was always full when I stepped away from the table.  Fun yes, exciting, maybe sometimes, but no honeymoon!

My dad was in the Navy, a submariner.  To me it seemed that he was gone more often than he was home.  Mom filled the days with homemade cookies and crafts.  We couldn't afford fancy clothes but nobody knew because my mom was a talented seamstress and none of the other kids had dresses or blouses near as beautiful as we did.  My dad, when he was home, was always dragging us outdoors hiking or exploring.  Life was never boring.  And if we were bored, we'd never admit it because we learned that even just the mention of the word 'bored' would send my mom into a rant that usually ended up with us scrubbing or cleaning something to occupy our bored selves.  No, I tried not to be bored in my mother's house!

I spent most of my teenage years vowing never to be like my parents.  Now as the parent of teenagers myself, I find what most parents of teenagers discover... that I am very much like my parents.  Do I mind?  No, not nearly as much as my children mind.  Silly clichés spout from my lips all the time... 'Do as I say, not as I do', 'Two wrongs don't make a right', 'If your friends told you to jump off a bridge would you do it?',  'Don't swallow bubble gum or you'll blow bubbles when you fart.'  (oh wait, that one was mine!)

48 years, that's amazing.  I guess I shouldn't be surprised that my parents have achieved that much, considering the fact that they survived raising 6 children.  I just hit 22 years myself and 26 additional years seems like an awful lot of tolerance and compromise but yes, I would love to be just like them.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Best wishes to your mom and dad for may more happy years together.  

Anonymous said...

How nice!  Happy Anniversary to your mom and dad!!!

(do you really blow bubbles when you fart if you swallow gum? Oooo I may have to try that!)

Anonymous said...

What a great picture. Please wish your parents a Happy Anniversary and many more to come.  My folks just celebrated their 62nd anniversary, for your folks and mine it is an amazing committment to love.  Sandi  http://journals.aol.com/sdoscher458/LifeIsFullOfSurprises

Anonymous said...

what a sweet tribute to two lovely people.........now i know where you get your spunk...............

blessings,

regina

Anonymous said...

God Bless your beautiful parents... NOW AND ALWAYS!!!!!   I hope to be like them someday too...  I say alot of the same cliches you do... except that last one... lol

be well,
Dawn

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful picture of your parents! They look like they are still on their honeymoon! Congrats to them... and here's hoping for many, many more.
http://journals.aol.com/astaryth/AdventuresofanEclecticMind
http://adventuresofaneclecticmind.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary to your parents Dorn!!
Michelle :)

Anonymous said...

Wishing your Parents Happy Anniversary :)

Deb

Anonymous said...

Wish your parents a Happy Anniversary from me too!  My dad was in the Navy during WWII, and my Mom was a very good seamstress also.  She always made my clothes and they were great!  There were seven of us kids and we had a station wagon too.  We called the very back of it the "way back".  (Pleeeaaase can I sit in the way back??)  My parents were married for 55 years before my Dad died in 2002.
Lori

Anonymous said...

awww, how sweet! Congratulations Dorn's Parents!!! Godbless, Beckie

Anonymous said...

that is wonderful  48 years, good luck to them.

Anonymous said...

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad. I think it's great when people are together that long and still love each other. You sure don't see that much these days.
Hugs, R.C.

Anonymous said...

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.  Thanks Dorn, but.....................you were
never were very good in math were you Dorn?  1957-2006 happens to be 49 years of wedded bliss and yes, next year we make the "Big 50" and I've already got the 50 gold coins ready (Okay, so they're gold colored Saqueagawa dollars) to be presented then.  Today I gave her a fake diamond ring and asked her to marry me again while dining at our favorite cowpoke restuarant.  She said "Yes".
That should prove we're still "On our honeymoon!"

Anonymous said...

Oh shoots!  I just checked the calendar entry for the reunion site Val did and it said right there (and I do believe YOU made the entry) that it was your 48th.... in 2005!  Hahahahaha!  Sorry.

Anonymous said...

so, 48 or 49 years...that is amazing this day and age!!!!  I hope to make it there too!
Becky