Thank You

Thank you is nowhere near enough for your unconditional love, support and wisdom. Your 60 years of marriage has been an extraordinary journey and your inner strength, strong work ethic and dedication to everything you set your minds to, is truly admirable and created a wonderful life for us.

You have shared so much of yourselves in so many ways with both your immediate and extended family, and with those who were not actual relatives. I have a vague recollection that 40 years is roughly how long you had other people living with you throughout your married life (either in the bungalow or in your house)!

Dad, you built a magnificent home for us and our tree house was the envy of all my friends. I loved the fact that you could just about make anything I asked you to. You even changed the engine in my first car! Your multitude of skills never ceased to amaze me. Nothing seemed impossible! Thank you also for being such a willing taxi driver on so many occasions when I am quite sure you would have preferred getting on with other things. You had little time at home as it was with work commitments taking priority so you could provide a better life for us. Camping was fun and going for a swim in the river straight after work on those hot summer days are fond memories. You both wanted us to have a much easier life than you experienced and for that I am most grateful.

It was such a special privilege travelling through Yugoslavia with you, meeting more relatives and seeing all your stories I had grown up with come to life. I will never forget those moments in your country of birth that we were able to share.

Mum, I had a very happy childhood growing up in our beautiful clean home which you lovingly took much pride in and rightly so. Your sewing skills ensured I was always impeccably dressed. Every meal was absolutely scrumptious — except for tripe! We didn’t need to go out for a meal — we had our own resident chef right at home! It was a pleasure to bring friends home — you had a special way in making people feel comfortable and of course they would never want for food!

Somehow you both provided for us in ways I am sure were near impossible and I don’t know how you managed. Allowing me to have a horse must have really tested your financial juggling skills and I was very much aware of the huge sacrifice you made to enable me to have this luxury — thank you!

You are the most hard working, caring, thoughtful, devoted, generous parents (even though at times in the past I may have thought and behaved otherwise). Deep down, my love for you has remained constant.

Thank you for being such outstanding role models in my life. You have taught me valuable lessons in areas such as: love, honour, respect, trust, loyalty, humility, thoughtfulness, kindness, generosity, punctuality, reliability, gratitude and unselfishness. Gifts in life I will always deeply treasure and I remain truly thankful to you both for such wise and loving guidance.

Congratulations Mum and Dad on reaching such a unique milestone of 60 years of Marriage — a truly  worthy celebration for our most deserving parents and I am very proud of you both.