A few years ago, we realized that our 50th anniversary was approaching and wondered what we should do, if anything. It is an achievement of sorts, but not really one for which we should receive too much credit. We were pretty compatible from the outset and have grown closer over the years. The strength that we draw from each other has allowed us to have independent careers, beliefs, and interests. We know that we are very lucky, but it seems pretentious to celebrate good luck. So why in the world are we celebrating our 50th anniversary?
Our motivation is to “connect the dots of our lives”—all the people (at least the living) who have made us who we are. In spite of our modest origins in Ohio and Tennessee, we have had an extraordinary life that has far exceeded even our wildest expectations. Growing up in mid-20th century United States provided good fortune that allowed us to go to college and to assume that high ambitions and a sense of purpose were all that was needed to have a meaningful life. Our youthful idealism and a sense of adventure led us to volunteer for the Peace Corps where we met in December 1965. The major lesson from our Peace Corps experience—and relearned many times since then—is that all the seemingly important differences in nationality, religion, and customs are relatively minor compared to the shared values of most people in every culture. These values include appreciation for the gift of family and friends, the understanding that generosity is its own reward, a sense of civic responsibility, the love of learning, and the welcoming of strangers.
We learned these values from the examples of family members, teachers, colleagues, mentors, students, and friends who have welcomed us into their lives, homes, and families, even when we were strangers in other lands. Our hope is that our 50th anniversary celebration will be an opportunity for all of you to get to know each other, discover our shared and interdependent lives, and renew our responsibilities to care for each other and our fragile planet.
