(Spoiler Alert: If you're my Mom, don't read this until after the FedEx man comes.)
Today is the 50th Wedding Anniversary of my parents. Happy Anniversary Mommy and Daddy!
It doesn't seem entirely possible, for a number of reasons - probably first on the list is that they just don't seem that old. If you ask me, they're in their late 50s or early 60s...then I do the math and guess that must not be right. Secondly, people just don't stay married that long anymore - you don't hear about "Golden Anniversaries" that much. And we marry later...my parents were barely out of their teens when they tied the knot. But, I suppose they've been married as long as I've known them and that's
Last year, I wrote an abbreviated history of their marriage. This year, I commissioned a poster. Totally what everyone does right? Okay, so it's not typical. But I really love it and I hope they do, too.
My friend, the extremely talented Jonathan Scheele, is a master of travel posters and poster art. Since he is far and away the best illustrator I've ever met next to my Dad, I asked him to create a retro-looking poster honoring my parents. Now, I suppose that really it should be only about them, being all romantical or something - but some of the best memories of my childhood are my parents showing us the world around us on the open road. We got dirty and saw the natural wonders of our country, close to home and far away. And I love them for that. We ate berries that were probably poisonous. We took ungodly long hikes. We drank mineral water as it bubbled from rocks. We read every. single. roadside. marker. My sisters and I are masters of peeing outside. We spent hours whittling sticks with little souvenir shop pocket knives and roasted countless marshmallows. We were a family. And that is the greatest testament to them, and their marriage I think.
So - here's the poster that will be showing up on their doorstep via FedEx today. ( Mom. I said not to read it yet. Go unload the dishwasher or something.)
Jonathan did a beautiful job of representing our 1968 Plymouth Satellite and adorable Cardinal Camper that took us on our adventures.
I'm the one with ponytails.
Happy Anniversary, Parents. You're an awesome example and funny, good people who I'm proud to be related to. Sorry I can't be there to help you celebrate. Now go eat some cake or something.
Love, Penne.
PS - the frame will be there next week.
What a fantastic idea - I'm sure they'll love it.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to two fantastic people. Congratulations and happy anniversary Mr. and Mrs. H!
ReplyDeleteI have no idea why those two words are yellow.
ReplyDeleteThat's the coolest thing I've ever seen. Does this SCHEELE ROMANTICAL dude to commissions for people who don't know him?
ReplyDeleteWow, I feel like the biggest loser in the world. I usually just get my p's a card.
I love old poster art! That is truly one of the most creative and meaningful gifts I can imagine. What a great idea for a special anniversary!
ReplyDeleteThe poster arrived right on time during the rushing around finding party clothes welcoming the company with their champagne and going off to eat with a group of special friends who planned a beautiful gathering in our honor. There was plenty of cake to eat as the older sister of LGBG made two cakes--lovely and delicious, a lot of which we got to bring home and continue to eat all week-end. Therefore, the blog was not checked until late Sunday night. Thanks for all the kind words. Now, come help me find a spot on a wall for that poster--I may have to remodel the house!!
ReplyDelete