Rant #1,595: 60

The number 60 is a pretty good number.

It is 6 x 10, or 5 x 12, or 4 x 15, or 3 x 20, or 2 x 30, or even 1 x 60, so it is divisible by the first six numbers of the number sequence 1 to 6.

But today, I am going to look at it as 60 is equal to two, because today is a great day in my family ...

Today, January 22, 2016, is the 60th wedding anniversary of my parents.

Way back in 1956, they got hitched on this day, and through the many decades that followed, they stayed together, through thick and thin.

It was an unlikely pairing to say the least.

My father was originally from Manhattan, grew up on the gritty and very ethnic Lower East Side, was a Marine who served during the Korean War period, and was a New York Yankees fan.

My mother was from Brooklyn, grew up on upscale Ocean Parkway, and was a Brooklyn Dodger fan.

Through some quirky situations, these two somehow got together, and the rest is history.

All these years later, they are the leaders of our family, the matriarch and patriarch of our small clan which numbers two children, the spouses of their children, and five grandchildren, four boys and one girl.

No, it is not a large family, but whatever the case, it all started with my mother and father.

They were opposites, but they shared the same faith and the same dreams, and they made those things work for themselves and later, for my sister and I.

They made sure we had a solid home environment, which was predicated on education, hard work, and the family.

I learned very early on that without family, you have nothing.

Both my mother and father were great role models, and still are, not just to myself and my sister, but to their five grandkids.

They are always there, always around, always open to help.

They are both 84, and sure, they have their aches and pains, but overall, they are perhaps the most healthy octogenarians on this planet. Nothing stops them from doing what they want to do, and I wish I can be that active when I reach their age.

They really couldn't have been better parents, and as grandparents, they are really second to none.

What more can I say about my parents?

On Sunday, rain or shine, snow or no snow, they are throwing their own 60th anniversary party, and they invited various friends and relatives to be with them on their special day.

I will hopefully have time to make a little speech on that day, and I will post my speech right here on Monday.

You will find that I have a lot more to say about my parents than what you are reading here today.

So right now, I just want to wish them the happiest 60th anniversary possible.

They deserve all the accolades they are going to receive during their party, and then some.

If God asked me to choose my parents, I could not have done better.

Best wishes to them for at least 60 more years of happiness, and I will speak to you again on Monday.

(P.S.: This morning, due to the coming snow, the party was postponed until February 27.)