Yes…it's 35 years. Today.

My husband and I were married July 24, 1976 at Zion’s Lutheran Church, Old Zionsville by the Rev. Sherwood Dieter. I was 19 and Earl was 20. 

Gosh, that sounds so young. We didn’t have any gray hair then…or the aches and pains.

It was our country’s 200^th birthday that year – the Bicentennial.  A year full of celebrations and fireworks – and we were literally a part of that.   

And, of course, it was “mandatory” to have something red, white and blue – especially in July. So, I had red roses, white lily-of-the-valley and blue lavender in my bouquet.

In that period of time, our family grew to include three sons, two daughters-in-law, two grandsons and two granddaughters. Our children live in various areas – Emmaus, Longswamp Township and Cambridge, Mass.

We only moved twice in 35 years…plenty for me. When we were married, our apartment was located at 7^th and Washington Streets in Allentown. Not a real good place for two people from the country to live. Nearly every night, the police were at the bar across the street breaking up fights. And when it snowed…well…I think the city forgot about our street.

After two years there, we moved to a townhouse in Shepherd Hills. It was a lot quieter there – so quiet, at first, that we couldn’t sleep. No police sirens. And we had a yard!

Ten years later, we came to Upper Milford Township, and have been here since.

In 35 years, we have owned 11 cars between the two us. We’ve driven Fords, Chevys, Oldsmobiles, Plymouths, Dodges and probably a few other makes.

Our pets over the years have included tropical fish, gold fish, five cats and two turtles. 

There was almost one snake, but I put my foot down on that one! I told my son, when he gets a place of his own, he may have as many as he wants. His wife doesn’t want snakes, either.

And to think – in 1976 there were no cell phones, no CDs, no home computers. We had no wifi, nor the Internet, nor HD-TV. 

A lot has happened in those 35 years.

We have seen our oldest son receive his Eagle Award, Boy Scouts’ highest achievement; and he quit smoking. Our second son survived a near fatal car accident and went on to become a truck driver. Our youngest son graduated college and moved to Massachusetts, where he is teaching fife and traveling the world.

Earl saw the death of both his parents, and I the death of my maternal grandparents.

There have been job changes, car accidents, illnesses, hospitalizations, and a bout with cancer. Earl nearly had his arm amputated in a work accident, but recovered with 97 percent mobility back in his hand; and he returned to his job in three months.

We have made it through a lot, and will continue to muddle through “until death do us part.”