It’s become a bit of a Dad joke.
“How long have you been married?”
“Oh 25 years.”
“You get less for murder.”
Hilarious.
If this is the case, my parents could have got away with multiple murders by now.
Just recently, this couple who still hold hands marked 68 years of marriage. My sister thought it might be nice to put something in the local paper and I said, “No, they’ll have to wait to 70.” I look forward to that time, such is their vigour and their a set of genes hell bent on defying illness and pessimism.
In January, Dad got his best 94th birthday present when his doctor gave him continued permission to drive. That’s driving to bowls once a week, driving to Masonic, Probus and National Seniors meetings and heading to the cinema regularly. I hold my breath when they tootle off down the Gold Coast to visit my sister and brother. But they always come home hearty and clearly unconcerned that I might have any concerns.
It’s grand.
My mother turns 90 in September and we three siblings have a few things in the wind to celebrate the milestone.
I’m proud of my parents. Not just because they have reached an age to feel proud of, but they have reached it with aplomb. They live in their own home. They participate in community events. But most of all, they remain positive and buoyant about all things.
While I might offer a critique about a show I see, they will always say how much they enjoy it. It doesn’t matter if the timing is a bit off or someone has a lyric hiccup, everything is always good in their eyes. My Dad loves Gilbert and Sullivan and his eyes light up and his mouth moves along to those patter songs that he first learned in his teens.
My mother probably enjoys the shows most for the intermission when she can chat with other audience members and share the moment just experienced.
It is sad that for a few years, a large part of their social life was attending funeral services. The sad part of living a long life is experiencing the pain of people who don’t. But overall they are lucky. They mourn the loss of many friends but celebrate the life of those remaining. But most of all they have one another. Here’s to many more anniversaries.