Are We Walking to Alaska

Are We Walking to Alaska
Are We Walking to Alaska - A True Story

Sunday, September 24, 2017

A 53 Year Trip Down Memory Lane

I was 17, working in a drug store the summer before my senior year in high school.  He was 19 and had come to Alaska with his buddy, to work in the newly opened pulp mill to earn money for his sophomore year in college.

It was love at first sight - for both of us.  And now, 54 years later, we are celebrating our life together - our 53rd anniversary.  We have had adventures, learned a lot from each other, moved back and forth across the country, watched our wonderful kids grow up, gone on vacations, celebrated events, welcomed 3 great in-laws into our family and been blessed with three grandsons.  It has been the easiest thing we've ever done - these 53 years of marriage.


 We've lived in several states, in many houses.  I have pictures of most of them.



There's a bit of gypsy in us and we've loved all the houses we've lived in - but we love our current (and last) home the very best. 


We even have a house cookie jar.
We've enjoyed every stage of our kids growing up 
With birthday parties and grandkids along the way
We've moved in, and moved out
And been sung funny songs to by our friends who laughed during their performance for us at our going-away dinner - and cried when we moved on.
We've celebrated holidays and events
Cheered at graduations - and cried a little too.
 Halloween was a fun time for pumpkins and funny costumes


 Our 25th anniversary - celebrated with family and friends
With matching sweatshirts to wear on the train trip back to Wisconsin (the trip was a gift from our kids - the sweatshirts were a surprise from Don)
We've gone on vacations - near and far - with family, friends and the occasional bear
These two pictures were taken the same day - one on vacation in the mountains, where there was still snow - and the other back at home in the desert - where there were roses blooming
We've danced in the rain
Celebrated Halloween as only our youngest daughter can!

Welcomed in the new year with fun and silliness.

Visited the old jail in Yuma, Arizona 
Baked a few pies (oops)
And enjoyed ourselves royally!
Hurray!
Don and our grandson Jahn-Zyel - in a 5K Run/Walk - one year to the day after Don's open heart surgery to repair the mitral valve.

It's been a grand trip - with more adventures and celebrations to come.

53 years and counting!!







21 comments:

Gillena Cox said...

Happy Mosaic Monday

much love...

Rajesh said...

Beautiful recap of the moments of life.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Happy Anniversary. What wonderful memories you have shared. I have the photos too and need to get them all scanned one day when I have time to do so...I wish that I had the photos of the places we have lived, but alas I don't. Great times it looks like and happy that you shared them with us~

Kim said...

Oh, what a beautiful post looking at all your memorable photos and strolling down the years of your lives together. You have had the best of fun, haven't you. My, you have lived in gorgeous homes! I cannot believe you have called so many home.....you are both gypsies, me thinks. =) Congratulations on your 53 years, lovely JoAnn and here's to many more! It seems you are both soul mates.

Maggie said...

What a fabulous post, loved seeing your lives unfold through your wonderful collection of mosaics. What fun you must have had collating all those photos, scanning, editing, laughing and shedding a few tears too I guess?
Thank you for letting the MM crowd celebrate your anniversary with you both.
M

Maggie said...

Thank you for such a lovely peep into your family albums. Congratulations on so many happy years. Lovely pictures of you both. I would be great to see one today of you alongside it.

Tom said...

...wonderful love story, we are four years behind you.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, beautiful photos from the past and present. Happy Anniversary to you and Don! Happy Monday, enjoy your day and new week!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

Happy Anniversary to the sweetest couple! Aren't you glad we've taken lots of photos over the years...helps to remember and enjoy the moments! What a good life you have, filled with happiness and love. Sweet hugs to you both, Diane

The Tea Lady's Journal said...

Happy Anniversary! Such a wonderful life with so many memories...

J said...

What an adventure! This is a collection that well deserves its place in family history. You haven't missed a moment!
I love the way your love story began - when you think of the complications, it was truly meant to be!

Pondside said...

Happy Anniversary! That retrospective was priceless! May you go on as you have for the last many, wonderful years!

CraveCute said...

Your cute "Vintage" photo caught my eye today. I haven't been on blogger much in the past year and finally updated my reading list! This is such a sweet post with wonderful memories shared in your images. Congratulations and may you have many more happy years together!

Snap said...

Happy Anniversary! Beautiful tribute to your life together. Loved seeing all these beautiful images. Happy Friday!

Anonymous said...

Wonderful memories. Happy anniversary.

The Furry Gnome said...

What a wonderful review of your life! Congrats!

Lorrie said...

What a wonderful celebratory post! Congratulations on your 53 years of marriage - truly a milestone! I enjoyed seeing the photos through the years - it's amazing how culture has changed, isn't it?

Julie Fukuda said...

Absolutely a lovely post!!! What wonderful pictures too. This would have been our 54th anniversary and it was a bit lonely as only facebook remembered.

Candy S said...

Congratulations on your wedding anniversary! Thank you for sharing your photo memories of a life well lived. I have a it of a tear in my eyes after seeing your lovely memories. I have had the honor of watching your sweet grands as they have grown over the past few years, so many adventures and so much fun too!

Hugs,
Candy

Angie said...

Happy Anniversary! What a significant milestone! And thanks for letting us peek into your life - it looks like you have had many adventures and fun times. I can imagine it took a while to put that together - just because you pause and reminisce as you are doing it!!!!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Congratulations to both of you -- thanks for sharing all the fun family memories ....what fun. We're about seven years ahead of you and I kind of feel the same as you do about it being the easiest (and for sure the best) thing we've ever done. Wonderful memories and, as you say, they're still happening!

You've been so much better at documenting all the special family occasions though ... Nobody in our whole extended family is very good at taking people photos ... we have the memories though!