A Golden Anniversary

On August 27, 2022, at the Wyoming Civic Center, I heard the most beautiful love story shared among family and friends. Everyone in attendance sat on the edge of the chairs and listened intently as Aunt Sharon and Uncle Ray shared their remarks. The couple held one another tightly. Their voices trembled with emotion. They gazed into one another’s eyes. Uncle Ray shared that evening, a statistic he heard. He shared that most couples met the love of their lives by age 15. I couldn’t resist looking around the room and reading everyone’s reaction as this statistic was shared. The question I had asked myself, is how many of us could say that we met our spouse by the age of 14, like this couple? As I reflected on my question, I could think of a few couples. Although all couples who came to my mind share in their uniqueness, this couple holds a special place in my heart!

Uncle Ray shared that in high school, Aunt Sharon always sat in the front row of the class. If I could go back in time and be a fly on the wall, I would describe Aunt Sharon as focused, studious, and prepared. Uncle Ray mention that he typically sat in the back. I would characterize Uncle Ray as quiet, meticulous, and intrigued as Aunt Sharon caught his attention. Uncle Ray used to ask Aunt Sharon for paper, as he knew she was always prepared. She shared that his continual ask for the paper was irritating, but he didn't care. Picking her thoughts and using her paper was Uncle Ray’s strategy to get closer to Aunt Sharon. He was quite persistent. Eventually, Aunt Sharon's irritation grew to infatuation and her infatuation grew to 50 years of marriage, 18,263 days and counting of love, 2,609 weeks of commitment, 600 months of faithfulness, and 5 plus decades of cherished memories.

Aunt Sharon and Uncle Ray,

Your love for one another is tangible and felt by everyone who encounters you! I am thankful for your transparency, guidance, mentorship, and love! You two are leaders due to your preparation, steadfastness, and intentionality in love and life. Reflections of your love have inspired my marriage. You have taught us to be patient, creative, forgiving, spontaneous, and communicative. Your love is one of a kind! May your marriage shine brighter than any precious gold for many more decades to come. Thank you for trusting me to capture memories of one of the largest milestones, such as this.

I love you and am beyond grateful to be a part of your story.

Happy Golden Anniversary, Aunt Sharon and Uncle Ray!

-Iesha