Today’s True Hero

My wife and I went to Marathon, Florida earlier this year to get away from the cold winds of the north. Once there, you wake up to the sounds of Sea Gulls surfing the sky while you inhale deeply tasting the hint of salt in the air, reminding you of where you are. Later, still trying to awaken your other senses, you sit under your awning wiggling your toes in the cool sand with your first cup of coffee. Life is a postcard and we are in it. Nothing to spoil the dream…until I look over and spot someone wearing BLUE OVERALLS? Wait, that doesn’t fit into this postcard image! He’s approaching me now. But why? As he gets closer I see he is wearing a smile that seems to never leave his face. He is accompanied by a much taller fellow that I instantly recognize as my friend Jerry. Maybe Jerry is having some work done on his RV? Mr. “Overalls” extends his hand to introduce himself to me and in a soft spoken voice says, “Hello, I’m Jim. Jerry’s nephew.”
First impressions are everything and Jim showed me in those first few seconds a few of his characteristics. He loves to work which is obvious by the overalls. He can “modify” just about anything and make it run or perform its function better. Has a great sense of humor and not just because he laughs at all my jokes. He loves to polish his car and RV so much that I often wondered if it was possible to rub the paint right off. He also loves a cold beer and to play cards or board games. He’ll play his hand as well as the hand of anyone sitting next to him.
I met his wife Betty a day later as she likes to wake up a little later after everyone is busy on tasks and activities. Betty, is also soft spoken and always cautious as to what she says since Jerry and Jim are there to quickly twist her words into something funny. Soon, the friendship grew as evenings opened up to happy hours and turned into night caps. Many stories were told and retold accompanied by laughter and empty beer cans or wine bottles thrown on the grass. It was then that we were told that Jim and Betty would be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year. WOW, 50 years! My wife and I weren’t even born then! That got me thinking of what it was like 50 years ago. I typed in a few words in Google and was surprised to discover just how long ago 50 years was. Here is just a sample of things I discovered:

The cost of a gallon of Gas was only 25 cents.
You could go to the movies and pay only a $1.00 for a ticket.
The average Cost of a new car was only $2,200.00 while the average cost of new house was $12,400.00. Average Yearly Wages was $5,010.00 Alaska becomes the 49th State and Hawaii becomes the 50th State of the United States that year.
Lee Petty wins the first Daytona 500.The Grammy Music Awards got started that year
The musical from Rodgers and Hammerstein "The Sound of Music" opens on broadway
Some famous singers of the day included Doris Day, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
TV was around with Bonanza premiering on NBC as the first weekly television series broadcast completely in color. The Huckleberry Hound Show was also popular.

To just think that when these two got married all this was happening. These are things that I can only read about in history books or see at the Smithsonian Institute Museums today. They were part of history and have been part of all the other developments that have come along since then. Their married lives also moved forward along with a growing family. Today, they will talk about their kids and grandkids with a hint of pride in their voices. Only they know of the struggles that they endured and how it made them stronger. Who would have known that those two little words “I do” spoken 50 years ago would have lead to this great day.
50 years of Marriage?
Today, you can hear women say “The majority of husbands remind me of an orangutan trying to play the violin.” That’s our level of expectations? I once asked Jim what is the secret to celebrating the Golden Anniversary? He told me, over a cold beverage, that at least once a day he always makes sure to say to his bride those three words that have been displayed on cards and written in song, “Honey, you’re right!”
Marriage is a scary thing but I imagine it like being an earthquake, unpredictable, a few ups and downs, but when the hard part is over you realize how lucky you truly are.

Watching these two bike across the Pigeon Key Bridge was like watching two school kids cutting class while giggling to each other. It only makes you hope that one day you can also celebrate the Golden Nuptials. With the media today being quick to label someone as a hero they should look no further than these two and realize what an accomplishment their marriage and lives are. To spend 50 years of your life with someone and to come out productive, healthy and full of life and humor is what I call a true Hero.