My sister Debby and her husband Russell celebrated their 50th anniversary a few days ago. Initially, I was going to attend the celebration, but the 2020 pandemic changed that. Their son (my nephew) asked family members to submit stories about his parents that he could read at the party. This was my submission.
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In my youth, I often wasn’t ready for change. Of course, my world changed with time, but it wasn’t always apparent to my young mind.
When I was maybe 13, my sister Debby began bringing home a young man named Russell. Let’s be honest; when they were together, she was in constant Goo-Goo eyes mode. Russell was quiet and cool. He was a little older than her and acted serious most of the time. These visits were a big change for our family and were a surprise for me.
I realize now; this was the start of something big. Make that huge. At the time, Russell was just a new guy hanging around. I didn’t see the big picture yet. I suspect Debby and Russell saw the big picture very quickly.
For a while, I just watched from a distance. Now and then, I’d try to talk with Debby and Russell, but I was a kid and didn’t know what to say. I wondered, is this how people acted when they fell in love? It was odd yet interesting to me.
I’ll leave out the details where our parents went mental over my 15-year-old sister dating an older man. I guess he was about 18. I watched this drama from the sidelines and quickly figured out that Debby was going to win this war (and she did).
Fast-forward about four years. It was the fall of 1970, and I was an usher at Debby and Russell’s wedding. By then, I’d figured out that Russell was a good guy and I liked him very much. Debby was 19, which seems far too young now, but I didn’t have a problem with it at the time (what did I know, I was 16). They were married on 9/11 (a date that’s been stolen from them). They’re celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. I guess Debby wasn’t too young to get married.
Over the years, Debby and Russell have set good examples for me. They had college degrees (War Eagle!), a loving relationship, and a happy Christian family. They put each other first, which was a good lesson for me to learn. Over the years, Debby counseled me when I had relationship problems, while Russell discussed career possibilities when I received my bachelor’s degree. They both pointed me in the right direction when I enrolled in college in the fall of 1972.
Debby and Russell have always been generous with their home and life. I wish them another 50 happy years (it could happen) in their wonderful marriage.