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The year was 1959.

The top song on the charts was Mack the Knife by Bobby Darrin and top rated models of cars that were all the rage included the Buick Electra 225 dicast model and the Edsel Concept cars.

During that summer, as in countless other summers before and many since, couples fell in love and got married. Some of them are still married, and therefore this year are celebrating the golden jubilee of that most important day.

Some people love parties, and would relish the opportunity to mark such a momentus occasion surrounded with friends and family as well as acquaintences who they have known over the years, but perhaps don't have much cause for seeing too often otherwise. For others there is no need for fanfare, because the truth is that if a marriage is based on faith and love, it endures because the two who exchanged their vows have learned ... ehem ... are still learning perhaps, the value of seeing their partner as the best gift that God could ever have given them.

The older we get, the more we realize that life is really too short, and that all such moments should be celebrated with gusto, with love and in the company of friends. Life is meant to be lived, to be celebrated and shared. Sure, it comes with it's share of challenges (we all have them), but moments such as anniversaries and other joyous occasions often come along only once. Celebrating them may have very little to do with the people who are being fetted, and more to do with the ones who are throwing the party. It's one way that others can celebrate us ... so don't stand in their way. Instead, join the party and unpack the blessings that await.