Too Young? A Celebration of 60 Years

If you research what happened in 1953, you might come up with some of these:

• The Korean War ends after three years and one month;
• The first polio vaccine was developed;
• Dwight D. Eisenhower became president;
• Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay make the first successful ascent to the summit of Mount Everest;
• Ian Fleming publishes his first James Bond novel, Casino Royale;
• The first color television sets go on sale for about $1,175 in the US;
• The average cost of a new house was  $9.550, while workers took home an average annual paycheck of $4,000. A new car would cost you in the neighborhood of $1,650, while the gasoline to make it go was 20 cents a gallon. A Kodak Brownie Flash Six-20 would set you back $13 bucks.
  

An event that happened August 12, 1953, in tiny Byers United Methodist Church didn't make the internet list. Janis Neelly and Bob Moore were married. We honored their 60th anniversary with a family celebration this weekend.

They were high school sweethearts. My Mom was 17 years old and had just earned her high school diploma from Byers High School. My Dad, at age 19, had finished his first year at Kansas State. As my Dad said on Saturday night:

"We are thankful that we have been compatible, considering we are both firstborns, which is supposed to make it more difficult. We were also very young, which is another reason it is supposed to be more difficult." -- Bob Moore

As part of the program, I sang the song, "Too Young." When my sisters and I were little, we played that 45 rpm record over and over on the record player. (We also played "They Called the Wind Mariah," but we thought the Nat King Cole classic was the better choice for an anniversary celebration):

1953, Kappa Sigma formal, Kansas State (a photo of a photo so the quality isn't great)

They tried to tell us we're too young

Too young to really be in love ...

And yet we're not too young to know
This love will last though years may go
And then some day they may recall
We were not too young at all.

 

After 60 years, I'd say they were right: "This love will last though years may go."

It has been a great and wonderful 60 years. We are very thankful for the many blessings bestowed upon us. ... Of course, things are not always 100 percent rosey, but we are truly privileged to have been grated these 60 years of a remarkably successful and happy marriage." - Bob Moore

Another photo of a photo of the wedding party

My brother, Kent and his daughter, Madison, sang another song, "For Good," from the musical, "Wicked." (It's one of my favorite songs from a musical. If you don't know it, listen here.)

My Dad didn't want any overly flowery tributes or any "mushy stuff," but a phrase from that song resonates with me (and just might make me tear up every time I hear it):

So much of me

Is made of what I learned from you

You'll be with me

Like a handprint on my heart ...

Who can say if I've been changed for the better?

But because I knew you

I have been changed for good.

I know I've been "changed for the better" by having them for my parents and seeing an example of love and commitment for 60 years. (OK. I haven't seen it for 60 years. Let's not age me prematurely. Their firstborn (me!) didn't come along until 1957.)

I'd venture to say that all 4 children, 7 grandchildren and 5 great-grands have been changed, too. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa and yes, even Ma and Pa. (Thanks to great-grandson Braden, almost 3.)

***

There will be more to come from my week of family fun. I am readjusting to my "empty nest" today. What a wonderful week!