Wednesday

I went to Wifey's grandparent's 65th wedding anniversary last night. It was a surprise party and they were very taken aback and suitably surprised. It really is amazing to see two people who, despite their differences obviously love each other.

The grandmother had a brush with death not 3 months ago and is currently recovering from open heart surgery followed by pneumonia. Such things put your own life in to perspective. They still enjoy life in their 80's and find so much joy in their children, grandchildren and now a growing brood of great grandchildren.

The pair of them can be a royal pain in the bum at times but the family wouldn't be without them and everyone laments the time they will surely pass away.

I wonder if Wifey and I will may it to 65 years of wedded bliss?

Is any marriage wedded bliss or a suitable tolerance level sustained because the pair of you know you are better together than apart?

Also seeing this couple in their 80's also, perversly, reminded me of how fragile life can be. The grandfather survived a significant amount of actice service in African during WWII. He has only ever talked about his expeiances once in all that time. ONe of his great grand children was learning about WWII at school. He went in and, in a very dignified maner, told the children of his experiences and why war is such a bad thing. All the children were very moved and I hope it is a tale that they will always be able to recall whenever they need too. Apparently he was never the same after the war. In many respects her was a broken man with areas of his persona that remain broken to this day. I sincerely believe he has found peace after many decades.

I also saw two very serious road accidents on an extended journey home. One where a car had just collided with a tractor on a dual carriageway. The driver didn't look in a good way. As a first adier I usuallt stop, but this was on the other side of a very fast road and now where to pull over. To stop would have endagered other lives and there was also people who looked like they knew what they were doing at the scene.

The other was accident was just being cleared up as I went past. A wreked car being lifted out of a river on the side of another dual carriageway. The car didn't look good and Wifey had told me the road had been closed for some time earlier in the day. I don't know how either casualty faired but it didn't look too good from the seat of my car.

Fragile lives.......