Happy 60th, Aunt Ginny & Uncle Allan

Aunt Ginny with her birthday cake

Uncle Allan and Aunt Ginny

The happy couple 60 years ago!

Uncle Allan donned his Navy hat for me.

Lorna, my first cousin once removed, modeled Aunt Ginny's wedding dress.

Row 1: Aunt Ginny & Uncle Allan

Row 2: Dave, Linda, Diane, and John

Happy Anniversary!

This past weekend Aunt Liz, Pat, Janet, Jerry and I drove to Indiana to celebrate my Aunt Ginny's 80th birthday and her and Uncle Allan's 60th wedding anniversary! This event was hosted by their kids Dave, Linda, Diane and John.

Aunt Ginny and Uncle Allan have been an important part of my life. Aunt Ginny is my mother's youngest sister. The summer after my 4th grade, I was privileged to ride with them from Minnesota to their home on Long Island, New York. It was a trip I'll never forget, because I had never been that far away from home before. I stayed with them two weeks. The second week my mom, dad, brother and sister arrived. During that time we got to go to several places: toured the UN building; stood outside the window of the Today Show; went to the Ed Sullivan Show; went to the top of the Chrysler Building, toured the Statue of Liberty; rode on the Staten Island Ferry; swam in the Atlantic Ocean at Rockaway Beach; and spent lots of fun days playing with my cousins.

The summer after my dad died, I spent the month of June with them. They lived in the Chicago area at that time. Again, I had fun playing with my cousins. They are very special to me.

At the anniversary celebration on Saturday, my four cousins paid tribute to their parents. Their remarks are impossible for me to record here, but let me say, they were touching and memorable. From one of them I learned only 2% of married couples make it to 60 years of marriage. Aunt Ginny and Uncle Allan attributed their long marriage to the commitment they made years ago. They have been wonderful role models for us. Once again, Happy Anniversary Aunt Ginny and Uncle Allan!