It was in 1997 that Mom and Dad traveled to London, Paris, Normandy, Belgium, and the North Sea with me and husband Allan.  It was a wonderful trip, a window of opportunity, a treasured two weeks for the four of us from beginning to end.  We captured much of it on video.  Seems a dream.

In this first decade of the new millen-nium, great grandchildren continue to be born and four generations often show up for Mom's home cooked meals - both in their Texas and their Minnesota homes.  My parents remain strong in mind and pretty good in body, too.  Mom has a pacemaker because her heart beats too slow sometimes.  Dad's heart sometimes beats too fast and has to be slowed down.
The heat in Mexico, Copper Canyon, Guadalajara, and Mazatlan was good for them in the winter, and so was the cool fresh Canadian air in the spring.  As a matter of fact, Dad bought a bigger fish-ing boat in 2000.  "But the fish stopped biting in 2002," said Mom.  "Now we have lots of tomatoes instead of fish."  Dad's garden is very productive.

We've already celebrated their 60^th wedding anniversary on Sunday, May 20^th.  The gathering this time was out at their farm, the home place, where they've lived for 60 years, where all seven of us kids were raised up like corn and soybeans and wheat. 
That turf is vast and green.  It includes a grove of tall trees that were growing 60 years ago and many other trees and stately evergreens they've planted and watered throughout these past 60 years, sort of like the family.
A couple miles from the end of their driveway is the farm where Dad grew up.  A mile in the other direction is the farm where Mom grew up.  Lots of life and memories lie within a very small radius out there in Lyon County.

I asked Dad to tell me, in his own words, about some of Mom's good qualities.   "She is irresistible when she wants to be," he said.  "She is an unbelievably hard worker.  She is an excellent mother."
About Dad's good qualities, Mom says, "He's much more helpful with things I want done, like putting up a bird house and making the pole higher for the birdfeeders."
What is one of the most memorable gifts from Dad?  "My diamond that I received for our 50^th anniversary," said Mom.
Replied Dad, "An appreciative hug now and then."
Is there a decade they'd like to live over again?  Said Mom, "The decade from 1980 to 1990.  I never got tired then and I felt the best.  Now I get tired quicker, but I hate to let it get the best of me."
Dad's favorite decade?  "My answer to that question always seems to be, the last one."
What advice would they give their great grandchildren for a long and happy marriage?  Said Mom, "You got to have stick-to-it-tiveness and forgive and forget."  Said Dad, "The word love pops into my mind.  You've got to love."
Added Mom, "It's a great life if you don't weaken."

And so life goes on, one day after the other until it becomes one decade after the other and you can hardly believe where the time has gone and you can't hold it still for even a moment.