What's love got to do with it?

For the last 60 years, I'd say that love has got everything do to with the fact that my Grandmom and Grandpop have been happily married, raised a family (6 children and 18 grandchildren) and have shown our family what it means to be a loving spouse. 

Grandpop John and Grandmom Honey have been together since they were teenagers and continue to make each other happy to this day - their 60th wedding anniversary.

As you might be able to tell from the photo above, my grandfather is a Scotch-Irish man with fair skin and blue eyes - while my grandmother is an Italian lady with olive skin and dark eyes.  He is about 6 ft tall and well she, as she likes to say, is a good thing in a small package :)  So - I guess you can say they are the definition of "opposites attract."

My Grandpop is known to be soft-spoken, very wise and extremely funny.  He's been telling jokes for years and they will always be funny.  He drives my Grandmom literally all around God's creation - and never puts up a fight about it - no matter how many times she decides she doesn't like a handbag or a curtain she just bought and that she needs to return it.  He gives great hugs and always has a smile on his face. 

My Grandmom is something else - she loves to dance and with those Italian roots, she loves to cook.  Her laugh is infectious and she loves a great story.  She is only about 5 ft. tall - so the joke of the grand kids was always to measure how much they have grown by standing next to her (unfortunately I never made it past her height...).  She brags about each of her grandchildren - whether she is on the train, in the back of the church, at her son's barbershop - to anyone who will listen.  She is proud of us and she makes sure that we know it.

Most importantly, my grandparents have modelled for our family what it means to have a strong faith and always remain confident that our faith will see us through. 

For me personally, their marriage has shown me that it is possible to find your one true love and remain loyal, faithful and happy for years and years.  I know that it is possible to find someone funny for 60 years - even if you heard the joke 60,000 times.  I know that is is possible to be respectful of each other's differences and accepting of their flaws.  In essence, I have learned how lucky I am to have witnessed their love and their marriage. 

I appreciate all you have taught me, Grandmom and Grandpop, and for always being there for us.  You have been an inspiration and true role models and I love you very much.

Here's to 60 more years of love and laughter. 

Love always,

Your oldest granddaughter