I made it!

Themis Tolis “To love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that’s everything.”

Congratulations to the two of you, and best early birthday wishes, soon to come!
 
The party event was yesterday. About 50 people turned up but several major figures could not because of ill-health etc.

My oldest friend came but he was unhappy. His wife (also my friend) is now severely disabled with arthritis and has to have a full-time carer. My friend was unhappy at leaving her for a day and also aware this was probably the last time he would be able to come to see us. That emphasised his own mortality.

My 'posh' cousin came with her husband even though he had had a major heart operation only three weeks ago. For someone recovering from heart surgery, he looked remarkably well.

My wife's oldest friend couldn't come on the day because her husband has severe dementia. She had visited us on the Friday while their daughter looked after him.

Most of the local friends and neighbours came. We had a visit from some of our friends from a long way away despite the wife having had an operation on her thumb on Tuesday and wearing a massive arm support.

By the end, my wife and I were exhausted. I had run out of voice from talking to so many people. Our youngest (eight-year-old) granddaughter had appointed herself as drinks waitress, taking orders and delivering drinks made by our two daughters.

It was great to see so many people, especially the relations whom we now usually meet only at funerals. But we expect the next meeting to be at another funeral, perhaps even mine. We were discussing which relation is due to die next and I am high on the list of contenders.

But I think most of us enjoyed it.

PS. The weather was great. Sunshine and blue skies, - exactly as it had been on our wedding day fifty years ago. It would have been a disaster today with rain showers frequently because most of the time yesterday we were out in the garden.
 
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Congrats! I don't know you or your situation that well but am aware enough to understand there's been some struggles, so glad to hear things are better.
 
Congratulations indeed!

Both for your marriage’s longevity and still having at least some of your original guests to celebrate it with you.

And Ogg? I’m looking forward to your post on your next anniversary.
 
My wife, I and the cat are shattered.

The immediate family celebration was on Friday afternoon and evening; the full party on Saturday; and today has been Mother's Day and the youngest granddaughter's birthday party after the clocks went forward...

The cat has been sleeping all evening. My wife decided I had to get a takeaway meal after hours of washing up, and now I'm going to an early bed...
 
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Congratulations! It is funny, thinking "wow, they have been married 50 years"..and then realizing that 50 years is in my lifetime. My son would probably think "wow, they were married in 1972, that was ancient times", the way when my grandparents 50th happened in 1970 I thought of 1920 as being ancient.

Anyway, enough of my rumblings, glad people can make it to help celebrate, that is important. Still a ways away from my 50th anniversary (this year my spouse and I will be up to 40 years knowing each other, 34 married).
 
The most memorable element of my 50th wedding anniversary was that we took the family to a casino resort for a long weekend and my daughter, who was 45 at the time, got carded for age every time she came anywhere close to the casino floor.
 
Congratulations! It is funny, thinking "wow, they have been married 50 years"..and then realizing that 50 years is in my lifetime. My son would probably think "wow, they were married in 1972, that was ancient times", the way when my grandparents 50th happened in 1970 I thought of 1920 as being ancient.

Anyway, enough of my rumblings, glad people can make it to help celebrate, that is important. Still a ways away from my 50th anniversary (this year my spouse and I will be up to 40 years knowing each other, 34 married).
I know how you feel. When I was a teenager, my oldest relations were born way back in the 19th Century.

My father was born before the Wright Brother's first flight.

I started my first career in 1962. When I meet adult people who were born in 2000 or after I can't believe it...
 
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