Opinion: Pure gold: McAdoos celebrate 50th anniversary

Sticking with anything for half a century is pretty phenomenal; two people sticking together is, well, really phenomenal.

She and I were friends in high school (she is quick to point out that I am a year older), but we never actually dated. We met up later when I was so recently separated from the Navy that I was still fighting the impulse to salute anyone who looked important. I was awash with plans to finance my college via the GI Bill of Rights and attend a school far away from my hometown in Kansas.

Quite by accident, I became reacquainted with high school friend Sidney Martin, my wife-to-be. It wasn’t exactly a “Some Enchanted Evening” moment of song where from across a crowded room I knew at once she was the one for me. Frankly, it threw a monkey wrench into my plans.

Let’s just say that Kansas began to seem more exotic by the moment. The blueprint for pursuing higher education, fame and fortune out west escaped like air from a hot air balloon with a spear run through it.

Someone named Mignon McLaughlin once said, “A successful marriage is one in which you fall in love many times, always with the same person.” I know nothing about McLaughlin; however, his succinct remark comes awfully close to capturing the practicality of a successful marriage.

I’m not one to give advice. However, I can say that long-term marriages require couples to reaffirm their love for each other, not necessarily by words, but by deeds. Unforeseen events of all sorts can create bumps in the road of life.

Sidestepping the bumps requires couples to reaffirm the love for each other that first drew them together. That’s what it’s all about.

By pure luck, good fortune or a godsend, I found the “love of my life.” Spending most of my adult life with my love is the best thing that ever happened to me. I wish a similar destiny for everyone.

I once read that Frank Sinatra, who was married four times, always felt the love of his life had been actress Ava Gardner, his second wife. I wondered how the fourth wife felt about that. Well, in celebration of his 80th birthday, Sinatra appeared in a special live concert. On the back of the CD from the concert, he wrote the following: “The beautiful music on this album is dedicated to my wife Barbara, the love of my life.” It took him awhile, but he finally found the one. Good for him.

With the approach of our anniversary, I know why it’s called the golden anniversary. The memories are pure gold.

My wife endured a lot from me. She got me through more college degrees than she expected. She typed term papers, essays, a thesis and a dissertation for me.

She found time to do the lion’s share of guiding two children into adulthood and to watch over me – not a simple chore.

She also had a career as a partner in a successful insurance business.

From a chance meeting of a couple of former high school friends back in 1957 have come two grown children, their mates and three grandchildren. Surely, this is the stuff of which life is made.

I’m sure thankful that my original grandiose plans fell apart. I’m where I belong.

Joe McAdoo is former chairman of the communication department at Drury University.[[In-content Ad]]