How do you celebrate 65 years?

65 years. 

That’s just astonishing to me. 

But that was the number we celebrated last week at my mother and father’s Brandon home for their anniversary. 

Our country recently celebrated the 80th anniversary of D-Day. When my parents were married on June 6, 1959, it was 15 years to the day of when the allied forces stormed the German-occupied beaches of Normandy.

At their 60th anniversary celebration five years ago, my sister and brother-in-law had the newspaper from June 6, 1959 blown up onto a huge board. At the bottom of the front page was a story about the 15-year anniversary of  D-Day.

Think about what happened 15 years ago this week. Remember the Miracle on the Hudson when U.S. Airways pilot Sully Sullenberger safely landed his Flight 1549 onto the Hudson River in New York?

Yeah, that was 15 years this Saturday. Doesn’t seem that long ago. It’s the same time frame from D-Day to when my parents were married.

Again, it’s just astonishing to think that my mom and dad have been married that long.

Last week, my brother flew in from Atlanta to join me, Nancy, Isabella and my sister and brother-in-law at my parent’s house to celebrate 65 years together. We told our parents that we’d grab some food and bring it over, and we did, getting a few of our favorites from around the area. My mom and dad love the new Kwik Star on the west side of Brandon. I do too. My dad suggested we get a pasta dish from there. But, I don’t know…I thought we could do a little better to celebrate 65 years than a noodle dish from a gas station.

It wasn’t a long get-together, but it was special.

Probably the thing I’ll take away the most from last week’s party is what they said.

They could have talked about what the weather was like 65 years ago on their special day. They could have talked about the countless fun times they shared, or the vacations, or the date nights, or their actual first date, or what kind of flowers they had at their wedding, or who was in their wedding party, or maybe even the arguments over the years. No doubt there were some, as there is for any couple that’s been together for 70 years from when they began dating.

But they didn’t talk about any of those things.

They both talked for a little bit, and they spoke of their memories of my sister, brother and I. That says a lot.

My dad talked about how when my sister was born, she squeezed my mom’s pinky finger tightly as they wheeled them both to their recovery rooms.

He talked about how my brother overcame childhood sickness as an infant. My dad said the doctor told him, “He’s in God’s hands now.” My brother was there last week to grin at that statement.

When I was born, the medical crew had to smack me around a little because my circulation wasn’t quite running on all eight cylinders yet and I was a shade of blue when I first entered the world.

My mother shared similar stories, all about my sister, brother and I.

It’s probably a little conceited on my part to think the best part of my mom and dad’s 65 years together are my sister, brother and I. But, I’ll take it. We are pretty cool.

But even if we weren’t, I have a solid hunch they’d still make it a point to talk about us on their very special day. It’s just the way they are.

I don’t like to use the term “judge” when talking about others. But I guess it’s the right word when it comes to my perception of people. 

I always watch how people parent. That tells a lot about a person. Actually, it tells me everything I need to know about them.

And if I - or anyone - were judging my parents, they’d have to agree with me that my mom and dad are amongst the top.

Happy 65!