Only Fifty Years

August 21, 1965

Sitting here in my living room, listening to my two sisters and their husbands talk about grandchildren, politics, retirement, house values and health, the type of things most retirees talk about.  Amazingly, Evie is still sleeping, as the five of us chew the fat, over coffee.  It's a deliciously cool morning, 58º, lots of clouds over Long Point, the sun occasionally peaking through.  Today is special, thus my sisters and brother in laws being here...fifty years ago today Evie and I were married in Euclid, Ohio, at 2:00.  Fifty years...amazing grace!

6:34

6:48

7:30

Yesterday we were 'very busy', which means Evie led and I followed.  Because we were having family over for the weekend, we had lots to get done, like dinner for the six of us.  So Evie was busy in the kitchen much of the day, filled with energy, while I was a bit of a slug until I jumped in the lake to pick me up.  I shopped early, to buy pork chops from the Lighthouse, always great.  The butcher cut us seven one inch thick chops on his band saw.  I also picked up some corn, fresh tomatoes, local peaches, and walnuts.  When I got home, Evie had already made corn chowder, the the teriyaki marinade, put together a ratatouille, and was starting the peach/blueberry/nectarine crisp.  Yum.  So that's how much of the morning and early afternoon went.  And best of all, it rained off and on during the morning for a couple of hours, perhaps 3/4 of an inch.  We needed it.

My Sisters, Linda and Ellen, Their Husbands, Walt and Rich

My sister Linda and her husband Rich arrived around 3:30, Ellen and Walt, from Virginia, an hour later.  And then the fun began.  We sat on the porch, where else, as it was beginning to cool off and by the end of the evening, we all had long sleeve shirts or sweaters on.  It's always fun when we get together as we play the 'remember when' game.  Five of us grew up in Euclid so we have lots of common memories.  So we never lack for something to talk about, as well as, of course, politics and fortunately, we all seem to lean to the left.  Thus, we had a great time talking about the ridiculous Republican field, led by head clown, Donald Trump.

Celebratory Dinner

Around 7:30, the three guys went outside, and we grilled the pork chops, thick and juicy, done in little over ten minutes.  This dinner is an old standby, one we have been serving for thirty years.  So, it's teriyaki pork chops, ratatouille, fresh corn, salad, and rice.  We sat at the table for an hour and a half, then adjourned to the living room, having our dessert, the crips with ice cream, staying up past 11:00 to talk.  The guys went up at 11:00, the girls staying down talking for another fifteen minutes.

Today we will be going out to eat to celebrate our anniversary.  And it looks like a beautiful day on the lake, not too hot, lots of sun.