This beautiful couple eloped on his 21st birthday on August 21st. She was 16. They stayed married until death did them part when she was 62. In between that time a son was born two years later and a daughter nine years after that. In this picture my beloved parents resided in Seattle where they remained for most of their lives, where I was born.
These two were always spiffy dressers even when money didn't come easy for them. Dad was a self-made man, the son of immigrants, worked in the mines in Butte, Montana, when Butte was a hard, hard place. He had a junior high school education – or part of one – and worked himself up to be an executive VP of a retail chain from which he retired comfortably. They lived and loved the American Dream. I learned a deep-seated love for and appreciation of America from my dad. He tried to enlist during WW2, but his feet kept him out.
His love for me was never changing, constant, even when I chose to do the things I knew were wrong. He never gave up on me, bragged about me, loved that I wrote things – even read a short piece I wrote at one of his business meetings. He was the best and was well-loved. Alzheimer's caught him in his 80s, but he never stopped being kind and thoughtful. A stroke claimed him at 89.
There are no words big enough to proclaim how much I loved and respected my parents. It was never them I rebelled against – it was being unhappy. I later learned the reason for that unhappiness wasn't external but internal. Jesus claimed me at the age of 30 and set things straight for me with His love and forgiveness. My parents were the first gift God gave me along with being born in the USA. I had the best of the best. I didn't deserve either, but God is a gracious, benevolent, and amazing Father, and I don't know why He has blessed me so greatly. All I know is that I'm so thankful I can't even begin to express how much.
Happy Birthday, Dad! I love you! Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! Love you forever!
Jesus, please hug and kiss them for me today. Thank you so much for them. No words wonderful enough to express my gratitude for them. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
Into the Fire 
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