Family gathers for anniversary fete

I open my story with boundless joy.

This past weekend, Bob and I celebrated 62 years of marriage. We also celebrated both of our birthdays, Bob turning 81 and I hit that benchmark of 80 years. Son Rob and grandsons Ben and BobKat came up to help us celebrate this very momentous occasion.

I can remember when my grandma Coleman died at the age of 62 and I thought she was absolutely ancient. Then three years later my grandpa Coleman died at the age of 65, again, I thought I will never get old like that.

Not only did I get old like that, but have outlived them by 18 and 15 years, respectively. Back then, 62 and 65 were considered old. Now we are 80 and 81 and we are still going strong. (I use the word strong loosely).

They arrived on Friday evening, it wasn't long before the two grandsons headed off to bed, and Rob, Bob and I visited for quite a long time, catching up on all the latest news. Saturday morning, I fixed a big breakfast of link sausages, scrambled eggs, hash browns, juice and coffee. We sat around and visited, and before long it was time to make a second pot of coffee. Then it was time to put a ham in the oven, by the time the ham and all the fixins' were done it was nigh on to 1 p.m. It seems like all we did the whole weekend was eat. After the meal was over and the dishes done and put away, we, or rather the grandsons, decided it was time to play a game of "are you smarter than a fifth grader?" Bob, Rob, BobKat and I played and Ben asked the questions. Well ... turning 80 must have done something to my brain; do you think I could answer the fifth grade questions or the first, second, third of fourth grade questions? Nope. My brain seemed to have turned to mush. Even BobKat, who isn't quite 9, answered more than I did. Everyone was "way ahead of me." Then it was time for the million dollar question. "Who was the writer that said "go west young man, go west?" I jumped up and yelled, "I know the answer, its Horace Greeley."And how did I know the answer to this million dollar question, easy. I remember when my Mama subscribed to the Grit paper back when I was a kid, and one day she was reading along in her Grit paper and said Marilyn do you know who said "go west young man, go west?" And I said no Mama I don't think I know, and she said why Horace Greeley. Well folks that stuck in my mind better than if some teacher had told me. All I had gotten right up to that question was six. Rob had l3 and I beat him. I jumped up again and hollered, and let me tell you it didn't go over too well. If I could only learn to keep my trap shut. And now I am a millionaire.

Back to our celebration. Sunday morning Rob fixed a breakfast of ham omelets and English muffins. We went to church and then drove to Marshfield, Wis., to a café called Melody Garden.

I am sure the waitress was glad when we finally made our choices. We had a delightful dinner and then headed for home.

Rob and boys got packed up and headed back home to Madison. It sure seemed quiet around here after they left.