Today’s the Big Day!

Today’s the Big Day!

July 30, 2014

Today’s a big day in our family.  First my parents are celebrating their 49th Wedding Anniversary!  People are lucky if they have a quality relationship in their lifetime and to have both quality and quantity, well-that’s the Holy Grail.  I’ve said before that we (my sisters and me) knew we were in trouble if my dad asked what we did to “piss off his girlfriend.”  I was never sure if he wanted that list in chronological or alphabetical order.  Our maternal grandparents were married on July 29* and our paternal grandparents were married on July 31 and my parents in between those two dates on July 30, so there’s always a lot of good energy around this time of year.

Heading out to dinner tonight to celebrate.

Dad’s Parents

(that wedding dress was amazing and cost $4 all silk with 52 buttons up the back and one of life’s great mysteries in our family-it disappeared one day after being there for 50 years).

*My Mom’s Mother and Step-Father

Funny thing though, my parents married and fearful of what their parents would say, lived apart with their parents without telling anyone they were married for six months.  Except the Justice of the Peace called each home to verify their ages.  So our Pap Louie (paternal grandfather) and our Uncle Rudy (maternal uncle) actually knew but were fearful of the wife/mother reaction would be and hid the truth.

Mom’s Family (real father who died soon after Amy was born) her mom and brother Rudy

Dad with Aunt Jean

(He hates when I tell this story; but, he was branding expert before it was a “thing.”

He just finished watching a western as a kid, stuck a knife in the fire

and branded my Aunt Jean on her leg)

Pre-Selfie Pittsburgh 1965

Some of the readers know my parents and have heard the story of how they met (so humor us for a moment if you’ve heard it before). They were at a dance and my parents were dancing together and my mom kept asking about my dad’s friend; and, he was growing tired of feeling like second best, spun her and left her on the dance floor.  That-is the moment my mom knew he was the man she was going to marry. And the three of us girls know we won the parental lottery; and, I think we have the best characteristics of each.  My sister Laura is kind and caring like our Mom and my sister Amy is an great Mom who reads to her boys (like my Mom used to with us) and plays with them (like my Dad used to with us)  she is one half the amazing duo that produced my favorite two people- my nephews.  

Which brings me to the second big event in our family the youngest is starting kindergarten today; and, he’s not happy about it.  He told my sister that he’s decided “He’s just going to sit this one out.”  Once it was explained that he couldn’t redshirt his kindergarten year (no matter how cute he is) I think it hit us all hard the baby of the family (sorry Laura-you lost the title) is starting school.

Here’s his Mom on her first day of school.  I also wore this dress on my first day of school (because I wanted to be like my big sis)  but  sadly threw up on and had to change before the bus came.

I have a suspicion my sister will get a call to come pick up their new kitten that was smuggled into a kindergarten classroom.

Meet Thor

Soon to be Kindergarten Mascot

and

Melt(er) of Hearts (yes his eyes are violet)

Thor was lost as a newborn during a recent Monsoon Storm

and rescued by my favorite two heroes

One of my favorite things is to see my parents as grandparents.  They are definitely much more relaxed than with us.  And like most grandparents they love to recount the grandkid’s cuteness.  Watching them get excited or laugh about something the boys did is precious but; my favorite thing is hearing them still make each other laugh, which they do every day.  That’s love when you can still make each other laugh after almost 50 years together.  Please join us in congratulating our parents on 49 amazing years together.

These pictures are from what Amy and I referred to as Geriatics Ball or The Seniors Prom 

but really the Club Gala-and we thought we were so funny, except we’re that age now.

(Please leave your well wishes below-whether you know them or not!)