The Survivors

On the Monday after our son was married, we met some friends of ours for lunch. Bob and Jenny.  Kim and James. We haven't seen Bob and Jenny since George Bush was President. The first one. Bob and Jenny have been everywhere, man, and now they are in Indiana to keep an eye on Jenny's Dad.

Kim and James live in the area, but lives have taken us into different directions. We haven't seen them for about 20 some odd years either. They have three grown children.

We livened up The Marietta Diner that afternoon. It was like we saw each other last week. We caught  up with them and then we do what people our age do: go over our medical histories. That's when you know you are old-you talk about your medical problems.

Bob and Jenny were married when Reagan was President. That's just like yesterday until you look at the calendar.

This past Sunday, we met Marvin and Sharon for lunch.  I'm pretty sure the first George Bush was President when we last saw them too.

Bob and Jenny, Kim and James, Marvin and Sharon, Lori and Alan were all part of a couples Bible study at our church. Every Friday night we met and went through a book to learn how to be a married couple.

I must admit, some nights, we really did intensive Biblical study. On other nights, we kind of rushed through the study to watch "Dirty Dancing" on a VCR. Hey, that was Kim's idea.

One Labor Day Weekend, we decided to go to the mountains and have a camp out. Bob, Jenny, Kim, James and Marvin were the campers in the group. I always could take it or leave it.  Lori did not like to camp because she has "hair issues". Sharon had never been camping. She has never been since.

It was truly a memorable weekend. It was one of those weekends that only those that have experienced it can comment and laugh about. There's a picture of us posted on Facebook.  All of us are much, much younger looking and all of us looked very much in love.

My biggest memory though was going into town with Marvin and Sharon. Back then, The Miss America Pageant was held on Labor Day Weekend. Lori and Sharon began talking about it.

Sharon said, "When I was a little girl, I used to pray that if God would let me win The Miss America Pageant, I would witness for him and give him all of the glory".  Being the sensitive spiritual person I am, I laughed.

I could just see God saying, "Hmmm, you drive a hard bargain, Sharon, but, what the hey, sure I'll let you win The Miss America Pageant."

Our lunch with Marvin and Sharon was like our lunch with Bob and Jenny, Kim and James. It was like we just saw each other last week.

In 2010, Marvin was hit by a truck while out jogging one morning. One month later, Lori was diagnosed with breast cancer. Two separate incidents, obviously, but with one thing in common: they both survived.

When I was thinking about our friends, I was thinking it is neat to point out that we are all still married to our original spouses. I know a lot of folks, unfortunately, that are not.

But that doesn't make us better. I like what Roger Miller said: "A woman and a man, a man and a woman. Some can and some can't. And some can".  It just means we were one of those who could, that's all.

We are survivors.