My Parents’ 60th Anniversary

That’s right, my parents have been married for 60th years.  I went to Zambia in May not only for my yearly visit, but to attend my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary.

Well, the story started in 1958 in Livingstone, Zambia (then Southern Rhodesia).  My mother was going home one day and a young man greeted her and introduced himself.  The next time she met him was when he escorted his friend to visit my mum’s brother-in-law (mum does not remember this part, but apparently this was a strategic move by my dad to see her again).  The third time is when my mum came home one day and found a delegation of elders meeting with her father.  The young man was there as well.  Mum was asked to join the meeting and was asked if she knew the young man.  She said she had met him once but didn’t really know him.  Grandpa informed her that the young man was interested in marrying him and asked for her response.

Though mum was caught unawares she agreed to get to know young man, as she  was impressed that the young man had respected her and her family.  Thus began a 60 year old journey and here we are today.

I took my parents to Lilayi Lodge, https://www.lilayi.com/, for a late lunch the Friday before the bash.  The Lodge is beautiful and the food was more than delicious, while the portions were huge.  Of course we took doggy bags.

See those portions?

I spent the night with them at Sandy’s Creation Lodge, https://www.sandyscreations.net/, in prep for the following day.  The party was on Saturday at Sandy’s and all their kids, grandkids and great-grandkids attended.  I was my parents’ matron-of-honor and I know I got more pleasure from the celebrations than they did.  Of course, we were busy informing everyone who seemed remotely interested in us on what was going on.  They clapped, ululated or said congratulatory words much to my parents’ delight.

The thing that touched me the most was my mother saying “I never in my wildest dreams ever thought that I would have a wedding in my old age”.  I almost cried.  My parents only had a traditional ceremony when they married, so this was a delayed wedding for them.

I am grateful that we still have our parents with us and that we were able to appreciate them.