What Was So Great About Our 50 Years Together?
We learned about the three "C's" of marriage; Companionship, Compromise, Consideration. In a nutshell, we survived, stuck by each other, and became better friends with each passing year.
Our wedding was fun! There were a few things missing -- invitations, guests, reception, decorations, cake, flowers, and spending lots of dollars. Our anniversary celebrations continued the same way. We agreed with my mom and dad on the premise, "Our anniversary is O U R anniversary." One year after another we seemed to find something we wanted to do together we really enjoyed.
However . . .
There was one occasion when our anniversary fell on Bob's day off, but I had to go to work. Bob celebrated alone by participating in one of our favorite sports, fishing. When I got home from work, I was presented with a great anniversary gift. I am being sarcastic when I use the words great and gift. There were two huge catfish swimming in our bathtub. Bob just wanted to save them to show me what good luck he had fishing. I don't rank this memory in the top 49 of anniversaries.
Nebraska Football or Going Fishing
Many times a Nebraska football game played a part in our celebrations. Once Devaney started the Big Red regime, tickets to a game have been a rare commodity; however, one year Nebraska happened to have a game on September 4 against the Oregon Ducks. I was so happy when my boss at the time had two tickets for me. We went to the game, the Big Red won and then we celebrated with other Big Red fans drinking beer at Barry's Bar and Grill on 9th and Q streets.
In the 1980's I worked at the Athletic Department and had tickets for all of the games. We didn't go very often because Bob worked Saturdays. Then one anniversary, there was a night game scheduled around September 6. We went out to eat and then to the game. I thought this was a really great way to celebrate, right? Wrong. This was the year the fickle Nebraska weather decided to be colder than . . . you fill in the gaps. It was also damp and drizzly. Now mind you, at a Nebraska game you don't want to drink too much of anything because getting out of that crowd and down to a bathroom is difficult to say the least. So, rule out drinking to stay warm. I must say it was a memorable anniversary.
Coming out here to Alma to fish and drink some beer at Doug's around the time of our anniversary was another special way we liked to celebrate when we could. For our 25th Anniversary, we forego a party for a fishing trip. First, I wanted to spend one night in the Holiday Inn in Kearney so we could eat at a special restaurant and I could swim in the pool, enjoy the hot tub, and get room service in the morning. Bob wasn't crazy about this part of the celebration. The next day we drove on to Alma to go fishing and to watch Nebraska play Florida State on the large screen TV at Doug's bar. We had a great time. For the life of me I cant remember if we caught any fish, but I can tell you it was hot, the beer was cold, and Nebraska got beat.
By the way, I had planned a trip to Los Vegas for our 40th anniversary. My statement to Bob was "With or without you, I am going to Vegas for our 40th anniversary." I changed my mind in June and agreed with Bob that the money would be much better spent on a Pontoon boat. I was never sorry. We had some good times and good fishing on that boat.
This Year
As the 2010 year began, I played around with some plans for how we would celebrate this milestone year. Basically I thought it would be fun to combine my 70th birthday, Bob's 75th birthday, and the 50th anniversary into one party. However, due to Bob's health and the situation with our estranged daughter, we continued the tradition and celebrated the Golden Anniversary Our Way. One thing was changed from our wedding and anniversaries, we had a cake, flowers, and decorations.
Cake
This year we spent many mornings prior to September 6 walking down memory lane. We drank our coffee and remembered the good times and, oh yes, the really bad times.
I ordered the cake from Jayne Hogeland who goes to our church. She does a nice job but even better, her cakes taste delicious. Of course, it was chocolate with white icing. But I wouldn't cut into it until Monday, September 6. There was so much cake. Later in the week I shared some with our friends.
Flowers
On Saturday, the highlight of our day was the beginning of football season. We paid the $40 to watch Nebraska's first home game on Pay Per View. That's as much as we paid for the tickets to the first Nebraska game we ever got to attend. Nebraska won.
I had picked up the flowers from our local floral shop. If I would have had a wedding bouquet, I'm pretty sure the colors would have been blue. However, I knew the red and white would work for the Nebraska football game also.
The candle holders in the picture are old. Bob's mom gave them to us many years ago. The gold rimmed candy dish came from my mom and has also been around for a long time, much longer than 50 years.
Decorations
On Sunday we had decided to enjoy the buffet at a local restaurant. My friend Jill surprised us by buying our dinner.
Along with the balloons in the bay window, I lined up the arrangement of pictures of Bob and I down through the years. The floral bouquet I had saved from my mom and dad's 50th anniversary. The bride doll is one I crocheted for a Barbie Doll.
Rings
On Monday September 6, we had planned to take a road trip; however, Bob really didn't feel that great. In the morning we had our coffee and again reminisced. I opened the cards we had received. Then we exchanged gifts.
This exchange of rings was a very special time for us. Bob and I do not ordinarily exchange gifts on our anniversaries unless it was to get something special for the house. We really surprised each other. I have to admit, I had hinted about the ring and had even talked to Vickie at her local shop called Rings and Things. That way if Bob did happen to stop in her store, she would have some idea what I would like. It is a real ruby which is my birthstone commemorating my turning 70 and a white gold setting for our 50th.
Bob had cut off his wedding band about 16 years ago because his fingers swelled when a fish horned him. He had really botched the job. He couldn't wear a ring while he was still working on the railroad so we didn't get it repaired. Then the years passed and it just didn't get fixed. I had made up my mind I would have it repaired for our anniversary. The cost of replacement gold to make the repair was almost as much as a new wedding band, and Vickie wasn't sure how good the repair would be. I decided to buy a new one. Bob was kind of emotional when he opened the case.
Watch
A big surprise for me was this watch. For a little background information, I will fill you in about the watch Bob got me for Mothers Day. It was a big surprise; however, the watch had a chartreuse green leather band which didn't go with too many of the clothes I wear. It also had a very large face. I couldn't tell Bob how I really felt about the watch. He was so proud of his surprise. However, I finally admitted I would like to have a different band. Vickie ordered a stretch white and gold band and made the exchange. Evidently Bob had noticed the face on this watch was too big. While he was shopping for my ring, he saw this watch at Vickie's store, had her get the same band and really surprised me with this additional anniversary gift.
Quilt
Since we didn't take the road trip on the day of our anniversary, we had to decide what to do about our dinner. A friend had given us money to eat at Subway; suited us just fine. Remember, it was Labor Day and everything around Alma is packed with about 40,000 people. We had our Subway sandwiches and then we finally got to cut our cake. Later in the week I did share some with friends.
All in all I think our 50th anniversary was just great.
The quilt block displayed is called the Bridal Bouquet. I thought this would be an appropriate block to make for this occasion. On the top is a 50th Anniversary cup and saucer which I picked up at our local Collectibles Store and a 50th anniversary bell Mom and Dad received on their 50th anniversary. I didn't take a picture but my hutch has the 50th Anniversary Plate Mom and Dad received and the pictures from the day we got married. Joe and Judy, you will probably be the next ones to reach this milestone. Let me know if you want the plate, bells, flowers, or the hearts I had on our cake.
Well tomorrow is the end of September. I still haven't taken the decorations down.