The Gunters

I was privileged to attend a 50th wedding anniversary celebration for David and Trudy Gunter yesterday afternoon. 

I can hardly remember a time that the Gunters were not in my life. Trudy and my mother met when Mama joined the Newcomer's Club shortly after we moved to Vicksburg in 1968. David became our vet and took care of many of the Nelson dogs over the years. I remember babysitting their children, sometimes being treated to pre-performances of the girl's dance recitals or terrorized with some fake, but real looking bug by Tony. 

The Gunters have stuck by each other and my family through thick and thin. They stayed in the ICU waiting room with us the Christmas that my Mama died. They were there for my Daddy when he was dealing with his final illness. Dr. David was the one who came to the house and talked with my husband when he was facing surgery for lung cancer. Friends like this are rare and to be cherished. 

The Gunters also have three terrific kids, who are bright, accomplished, and have hearts not only for themselves and their immediate families, but for the wider world as well. They learned this from their parents, who are always helping people. 

The world needs more Gunters. May they have many more anniversaries. 

 

 





 

57

On October 12th, I will be 57 years old and I am perfectly OK with that. I am alive. I have a home and family who loves me. I have enough money for my needs and some of my "wants." I have some pretty awesome friends. I can sing and I can paint. I have my faith. I try to remember to be thankful every day for the things I have and the people in my life. 

My birthdays are always a little bittersweet. I miss my parents most on my birthday. I miss the phone calls from Daddy singing his version of Happy Birthday to me. I miss Mama making me my favorite birthday supper of hot biscuits, tomato gravy, and lemon meringue pie. 

This birthday is a particularly sobering reminder that life can be short. At 57, I will be the same age that my mother, my grandfather, and my aunt all were when they died. Although I deal with some chronic illnesses, I have the advantage of having NEVER been a smoker. They all were. 

I am planning to make this a really good year. If all goes as hoped, I want to go to Virginia and find some of my Nelson roots. I am finally going to get rid of some of the stuff that is weighing me down and cluttering my house. I have actually hired a professional organizer to help me with this and we begin this weekend. I want to learn some new songs and new art techniques. I hope to actually go out occasionally as a lay speaker for the United Methodist Church.  

Most of all, I hope to see 58!