Columbus Day is here again.  For most of us, it is typically a blip on the radar screen called our calendars.  Honestly, will you give much thought to Christopher and the three ships he sailed – the Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria?

My guess is you will be inundated with Columbus Day sales ads galore.

Have you ever thought of the amount of past due commission that might be owed to Chris for all the stuff that has been marketed and sold under the banner of Columbus Day?  I would think that whatever the amount it might make a dent in the National Debt.

Whatever the case, part of our heritage of living in North America can be traced to the voyage he once took resulting in the discovery of this land.  For that, I am grateful.

I annually observe Columbus Day in my own journey.  I made a decision on October 12, 1975 to allow my view of God to migrate from a religious tradition filled with “do’s and don’ts” to one of establishing a personal and ongoing relationship with a Father who is wild about me and loves me unconditionally.  From the time I accepted Christ into my life, it has been a constant journey of discovery.  For this too, I am deeply grateful.

However, on this particular Columbus Day I would like to introduce to you a special couple, Joan and Bob Willoughby.  Today is their 50^th wedding anniversary and they, much like Columbus, have spent a lifetime learning the art of discovery – of each other and all that life has brought to their stage.

I first came to know Joan and Bob (she refers to him as Rob) as “Jackie’s sister and her husband”.  I met them in the fall of 1975 when Jackie and I began to date.

Over the years the label has changed to “my sister-in-law” and “my brother-in-law”.

The sentiment has long since shifted to that of them being my friends, my family, and the occasional ear(s) I have bent as I navigated certain waters.

They simply are great people and to them life has a party sort of feel.  Not the kind of party where you don’t remember your name afterwards and perhaps wonder how you got from Point A to Point B.

Rather, the kind of party where each moment is cherished and enjoyed, especially for the human connections to them and them to others.

They are the most “even Steven” people I know.  Nothing seems to take them too far off course – at least they don’t let on if it does.

Their respective family roots are grounded in Pennsylvania soil – Joan’s from Pittsburgh and Rob’s from Wilkes-Barre.

In the course of people meeting each other there always seems to be a divine connection and destiny at work.  Such is the case with these two.

Fifty something years ago, Rob attended the University of Pittsburgh while working on his master’s degree.  Joan was attending nursing school at place now called Carlow College.

The story goes something like this – Rob and a friend were traveling somewhere when they came across an attractive young lady whose car had a flat tire.  They decided to stop to give the damsel in distress the help she needed.  History, at least Rob and Joan’s, began to unfold like stage curtains being pulled back before the opening act.

Rob, being perceptive and the opportunist that he is, decided to hands the reigns of flat tire repair duties to his friend while he engaged Joan in conversation.

Did he think his friend was looking for a future as an AAA roadside service technician?

This scene ultimately led to the first date and a life he most likely never imagined when he woke up that morning.  You gotta love it!

Talk about going out to do one thing in the course of the day and winding up hitting the proverbial, as well as actual, jackpot that Joan is to him!

Life Lesson – one never knows what surprises are around the next bend. Always be expectant and in ready to receive mode!

They have resided in many places found on the U.S. map.  As previously mentioned, their journey began in Pennsylvania.  Minneapolis and Golden Valley, Minnesota were stops along the way.  From what I can gather, the bus also stopped in Amherst, Massachusetts and North Carolina.  Chapel Hill, I believe.

I first came to know them when they resided in Charlottesville, Virginia.  I loved going their home in Cavalier country.  My own family has many fond memories when they lived there (thinking family holiday gatherings and Christmas night at the Boar’s Head Inn doing English folk dancing, what a hoot!).

They now reside a few hours west of Denver, Colorado and from their home they peer across the valley at the ski resort where they work as volunteers.  When not at home, they are traveling to wherever their camper might take them along the western frontier.

I envision Joan painting and Rob fly-fishing and the two of them sharing a campfire meal with the day’s catch.

They have been blessed with three wonderful children (and their respective spouses) – sons, Bob and Scott, as well as daughter, Robyn.

Joan and Rob have spent a lifetime learning the art of discovery of each of them and explored their role as parents.  They were not and are not perfect parents. Such a status in my opinion does not exist.

However, they were and are loving, committed parents who invested much time into their family.  The mosaic of their parenthood has many colorful pieces, which include:

• Ballgames, dance recitals, Smith Mountain Lake, and doctor appointments.
• Camping, vacations, and toddler temper tantrums.
• Homework, lunches to be made, and laundry up to their ears.
• Their careers as clinical psychologist and psychiatric nurse (the family still has free benefits which get used often as many of us are not wrapped too tight!).
• Teenage mood swings, good decisions, and not so good decisions by their kids.

The have partaken of the stuff of life, normal ingredients in the soup of living life as they learned to discover parenthood.

The fruit is on the family tree in each of their now grown children – all raising their own families and holding responsible stations in life.

They have an almost six pack of grandkids – Bobby, Kristen, Riley, Sage, and Brooke.  These are precious branches on the family tree for them to enjoy (and enjoy they do!) and to watch the branches to future generations spread forth from the roots of the Willoughby tree.

• They are active in their church and community, investing their life experiences into others.
• They are fun to be with.
• They are wise.
• They have laughed and cried.
• Rumor has it they may have had an argument or two.
• They are generous to a fault.
• They enjoy a good glass of wine and love to travel.
• They seem to be on frequent adventures near and far.
• Their lives take on the persona of a fine bottle of wine that time has aged and perfected.
• They are a sweet bouquet to be savored.

Fifty years together is a wonderful milestone!

Given that I am a math nerd – that’s 18,264 days, 438,336 hours, 26,300,160 minutes, 1,578,009, 600 seconds – TOGETHER!

In today’s math, many don’t make 10% of those numbers!  They are in it for the long haul.

We would be naïve to think that the journey, much like their introduction to each other, has been free of “flat tires”.

They have weathered storms, enjoyed some mountain tops, have had lean times and times of plenty.

To get to the turn in the road they now experience, forgiveness most assuredly has played a major role – two imperfect people being perfected through time.  It is a process.

Knowing the two of them, it goes without saying that God and their relationship with Him, has been the cornerstone of their union.  Apart from His vine they admittedly would be nothing.

Joan and Rob – this day, we as family and friends, as well as those who read my blog posts, celebrate with you and honor you for being such a fine example of staying the course no matter the cost.

Your lives, to those that know you, are a testimony to a loving God and the journey of learning to love each other!

Only eternity will reveal the extent, but you have made an impact on many, many lives including my own.

I would even love to understand the impact you may have made on the young gal you treated and who declared, “Dr. Willoughby, you got bananas on your shorts!” Too funny!

Thank you for discovering each other.  We have been greatly blessed and enriched by knowing you and for the privilege of being a part of your lives!

Today, you are greatly in our thoughts and prayers.

Most importantly, you are loved by your children, your grandchildren, your family, friends, and many others!

May God richly bless you as you celebrate this time in your lives!

 Happy 50^th Anniversary…..and many more to come!

Check out the Music Video below this post in honor of your special day – I Will Be Here by Stephen Curtis Chapman

Thank you readers for allowing me to share a special moment in honor of Joan and Rob. 

For those of you that know them (and perhaps those of you that don’t), I would invite you to share this post via Facebook or Twitter (using the buttons associated with this post) to invite others who may know Joan and Rob to express their greetings!

Let’s keep their party going!