Throwback Thursday # 30: Things Built to Last

"And here's to the twinkle in old married eyes, still there after fifty years pass. Here's to the maker of things built to last." ~"Things Built to Last" by Heartland

As you will read about in several upcoming blogs, last weekend my Dad's side of the family gathered in Caprock, New Mexico for the 100 year celebrataion of our family's ranch. I'll give you lots of details on the ranch and all of that tomorrow.

But today is about one of my favorite parts of the weekend involving my Great Uncle, Great Aunt, and the Love Tree.

Once the family had all gathered at the ranch on Friday evening, we congregated in the front yard around Great Uncle. He got to telling stories of his childhood and the beginnings of the ranch back in the 1920's and 30's. Then, he started talking about his proposal to my Great Aunt.

In 1950, they saddled up two horses and went for a ride around the ranch to check the cattle. At the end of the ride, he took her to a tree next to the tank on the ranch. And then he proposed by telling her that he talked to his sister (who was my grandma who happened to be getting married in the next couple of months to my grandpa) and she said that it would be okay by her if Great Uncle and Great Aunt wanted to make it a double ring ceremony. Great Aunt said no.

But that was just to the double wedding---she said that my grandparents should have their day, and Great Aunt and Great Uncle should have theirs. In April of 1950, my grandparents were married. In May of 1950, my Great Aunt and Great Uncle were too.

So there we were, 60 years later, getting ready to go on a hayride to the tank where the proposal happened. Turns out, that same tree is still standing. So, Great Uncle decided he wanted to take Great Aunt back to the "Love Tree" as he called it. We got them situated, and he said, "You know, if we had a preacher here, we would just renew our vows right here." (I'm not sure they make men like him anymore!)

So what do we learn from this? Well, his proposal wasn't fancy. The ring wasn't flashy and there was no expensive dinner or roses or candles. But her loved her. The marriage has lasted for 60 years and counting. Some things are built to last. Here's hoping that one day I'll be taking a picture on my 60th wedding anniversary at that Love Tree.