Except for the years Sharon was a fulltime Mom raising our son and daughter, David and Diane, she has been my working partner and somehow has survived some stormy sessions at work, as well as many good times. Many have asked how it is that we have stayed married this long, working side by side most days, and many nights, too. It may seem a trite answer but I guess it's simply that we hung in there.

      Our honeymoon was a trip to Kansas City. We returned home battling a windy, wintry ice storm. We were to stay at Linden with our good friends, Jim and Mary Jones, but a death in their family prevented that, so we continued home.

      The bad weather delayed the arrival of our furniture for several days, so all we had in our apartment was a kitchen table, a few chairs and a bed.

      One of those first nights we decided to draw sketches of ourselves showing how we thought we would look on our 50th anniversary. I've always kidded that we looked like those caricatures by the time of our 25th.

      Sharon learned in a hurry that her husband had a temper because it was a long, long winter. I've never had my car stuck in snow more times than I did our first year of marriage.

      She also found out that I am a very practical person. For her birthday and at Christmas I always gave her something like an electric skillet, a waffle iron, an electric can opener or the like. Finally, after several years of that she finally said, "You're always so practical when it comes to gifts." From that day on, I've given her special items.

      It has been a wonderful 50 years. It would take a 500 page book to share all the memories, from purchasing The Reporter, buying our own home, raising two children and watching them receive college degrees that resulted in both pursuing their chosen fields. And what a thrill to walk a daughter down the aisle, to watch her active in social work and counseling and to watch a son teaching and being a key presenter at a national symposium.

      Perhaps Sharon and I being grandparents is the ultimate experience. Diane and Mark have two children, Justin, now in college with a deep interest in creative video productions, and Kaylyn, an eighth grader who loves volleyball, softball, singing and just growing up. David and Megan's son Vincent is a third grader, loves reading, art, turtles and being mischievious.

      There have been sad times, too. We have both lost parents and grandparents. I lost my brother James the week Diane was born. Sharon lost her sister Beverly and this year, her husband, Harold Godwin, died. Favorite aunts and uncles have also passed on. Neighbors, too.

      When we bought our house, we were the young kids on the block. Our house was lit up late into the night, something that hadn't occurred in years. Then there were children. Now we are the "old folks".

      There has always been a strong bond among our families. The many cousins are very close as are our sisters and brothers, Kay (Raynold Johnson), Pat Lundahl, Rua Vander Linden, and Ronald and Carla Alban.

      We never gave serious thought about leaving Ogden. The community has been very good to us. It has been a joy covering the positive stories of so many families and events.

      Sharon is my best friend. She builds me up. She makes me laugh. She cooks my meals. She maintains a wonderful home and she's the world's best caregiver during times I'm having health problems. All that in addition to working and being involved in many activities. I marvel at her energy.

      Every night at bedtime, I ask her, "Is it true that you're my tweetie pie?" She always answers, "Yes, and you're my tweetie pie, too."

      All that after 50 years! Wow!

      Thanks for listenin'