It started with our high schools, then our marriage, soon our college. 50 years is a good marker and I don't intend to get all celebratory for 60 and higher numbers if they occur. So why not celebrate a good thing, something that many don't get?
Somehow, I didn't hear about any high school reunion prior to the 50th. We live 1000 miles from the school so it isn't a trip that happens incidentally. I lived an hour's ride from the school as a student so I wasn't close to it during my years there. It was all-male, and therefore of low interest at the time. I was quite surprised at how much I remembered, and how friendly the reunion attenders were, and going to it was definitely worthwhile. The event impressed my wife, too, since it gave her an idea of what those years and the friends there were like.
Likewise, my chance to attend her 50th high school reunion was a chance for me to walk through the very halls of her adventures, her studies, her friendships. It was a pleasure.
It is interesting that the earlier event, such our high school educations, took place the longest ago. Of course, that would be true chronologically but it also means that the biggest changes have taken place in us, our lives and our friends since high school.
We married in college. We had both dated many people before glomming onto each other as prizes, so we felt confident we had found the right partner. I read, as always, about marriage and was warned that getting a good partner is often a big part of having a good life. I thank the Lutheran gods for getting us together and showing us how right we were. Also, for her forbearance in times of low funds, bad tempers, and doubts.
But now we have celebrated with our family all together for a holiday weekend in the woods, taken a leisurely trip out west, and had a terrific party sponsored by our friend. We are happy to have those big 50's and we look forward to our college reunion, where we met each other. I don't plan to try for any celebration of advanced degrees or tons of lucky breaks and happy achievements beyond the ones on the horizon right now. We can see that every day is the anniversary of something wonderful.
