On the eve of my parents 40th anniversary, I feel like a share of my mom’s post is not enough to show how much I appreciate these two. My love letter to my parents… Mom & Dad, Forty years is a long time – longer than I know. I look back at the years and took for granted the love you shared with each other and shared with us kids. I thought this was normal and didn’t realize how special your relationship was and is…ongoing. When you said I do, it was a promise to each other. What you didn’t understand is the “I do” created a bond not only for you but for your children. Saying “I do” was the easiest part of your marriage. You’ve been honest w/ us kids that marriage is not easy but if two people are committed to each other you will make it work. How you ever started dating will still be a mystery to me – all I know is you went on a date and played pool. Little did dad know mom took a pool class in college and made dad look like a clown (funny, because has now become a clown for the Shriners). But in reality, the match wasn’t perfect on paper. Dad was a Vietnam Navy vet coming back from an unpopular war, mom was a college student going to a liberal arts school and thought marijuana smelled funny. It wasn’t a popular engagement but you figure out a way to convince your parents that you were meant to be – or at least convince them to show up to be your witnesses. Your wedding was not fancy – you made your own dress, you got married at a small chapel, your siblings were your attendants, your honeymoon wasn’t extravagant. But you made your commitment to each other work - the other was more important than the rest of it. And now we’re here – 40 years later. The memories I own belong to you – ever moment, good and bad, are a result of your commitment to each other. And then when you had kids, and that commitment changed. You always made sure we knew we were your new commitment – you always made us feel loved. From my earliest memories, I knew I was loved. Dad made sure I grew up on the football sidelines but while we were gone, mom would make sure to record the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for me. While dad had me as a bat boy, mom made me my own team jersey w/ ½ as the number. I was a part of the team. Everything I did as I grew up, you could have passed off to one or the other but you made sure it was both of you. I can’t remember an event I was a part of that you didn’t both show up. I honestly can’t recall you missing a game. And even if you did, I felt like you were both there. That meant the world to me. We always played to win the game, for our teammates, for the hardware at the end of a tournament but in the end, we played for you. You were supporting us but in reality, we were playing for you. I may not have fully appreciated it all then but I have learned. I’ve learned from you two, I’ve learned from your friends, I’ve learned from the families you’ve brought into our lives. Even when I went back into a basketball game late and dad told me to tuck in my shirt and I gave him the “little birdie.” I’ve learned that nothing is perfect – I’ve seen you upset w/ each other. I’ve witnessed you upset w/ my siblings, and I’ve seen you disappointed with me. But knowing you loved each other, loved my siblings and loved me, I knew you were only trying to make each other and us better people. On your anniversary, I want to thank you for your commitment to each other. You probably know how much it means to each other but you probably have no idea how much it means to your kids. You’re marriage is a great example of how your parents raised you and I can only hope to follow in your footsteps. I love you both, and want to say congratulations. Your 40 year anniversary is unique and truly a testament of the people you are – I can’t wait to celebrate 50 and beyond. Thank you for loving each other, thank you for loving us kids. I hope you enjoy your extended anniversary tour. Happy Anniversary! Love, Your first son and second child J
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 03:22:22 +0000
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