October 23, 1965: 50 Years Later and Achieving What Most Never Do

We have all heard the term proud parents, but on the flipside, this is about me being proud of my parents. Other than the obvious reasons why a daughter would be proud of her mom and dad, this is an extra special reason. Why?  They have successfully achieved what most never can nor ever do.  They are celebrating 50 years of marriage.

Congratulations William and Suzanne Campbell on your 50th wedding anniversary, an accomplishment many will ever know.

High school sweethearts with two years difference in age, my father joined the United States Air Force when he graduated and my mother had two more years to complete high school.  I’m sure she probably thought that was the last she would see of him.

On my mother’s high school graduation day, my father proposed.  At the youthful ages of just 18 and 20, they were married—just months later on October 23, 1965.

Off they went and were stationed for some time in Maine.  They lived in just a tiny trailer while my father was in the Air Force.  My mother gave birth to my older brother in 1967 and I followed in 1969.

In 1973, my parents purchased their home on Table Rock Lane, which they still own and live in to this day.  Over the years, my father has built additions and made home improvements to include placing each of the bricks with his own two hands.  Mom has always prided herself on her decorative ideas, yet was never afraid to pitch in and do the tougher work with my dad.  Now, that’s a home – more than 40 years in the same place!

In 1979, they surprised us two kids with a little brother (at the time, we’d rather had new bikes) and that was the completion of our family.

Over the years, they’ve experienced good times and bad, sickness and health, births, deaths, raising kids, job changes, difficult decisions and all those little life challenges that come your way. Heck, mom even went to college some years into the marriage.  But they survived, and they survived with love.

Today, they are happy, healthy and enjoying every minute with each other, ready and willing to climb any mountain that may come their way.  I don’t think either would ever know what to do without the other.

They have raised three children.  Bill, the lawyer.  me, a paralegal and my baby brother, Luke, the project manager.  Also, they are the grandparents of nine ranging from ages 27 down to three, great-grandparents of two and spend much of their time enjoying each and every one of their grandchildren.

Many people accomplish personal goals, career goals, financial goals and social goals, but there are few that I know who ever accomplish this.  Fifty years of marriage – to live long enough to see it and then to go all those years and still enjoy it.

We are so very fortunate to have the solid family foundation my parents have given us.  They have created a legacy and taught our family the value of commitment.

Congratulations, Mom and Dad.  All my love and many more years to come!  You’re Golden—HAPPY 50^th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!

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