I decided that I would attempt to do The Gallery at Tara’s site. I’ve been a lurker on The Gallery and have seen some amazing photos posted on it. They were so great that for the longest time I was intimidated to even try to post any photo on there because…well, I’m not a photographer. I know nothing about compostion, lighening, or anything else that goes into producing a great photograph. I think that although my photos may not be great they will be family snap-shots and a little peek into my life - and who knows, if I continue I may one day actually take a great photograph

For those of you that don’t know what the gallery is - well, you can read all about it here

This picture is a snap-shot taken at my Uncle Tony (yeah, my uncle’s name is Tony) and my Aunt Petra’s 45^th wedding anniversary. They decided to renew their wedding vows - originaly they were going to wait until their 50^th wedding anniversary to celebrate, but that year my aunt had some serious health problems. She was sent into the hospital with severe chest pains and they had to do emergency open heart surgery on her. It was touch and go for awhile there, so instead of waiting for their 50^th wedding anniversary they decided to celebrate on their 45^th year.

The story I’ve heard about my Aunt Petra and Uncle Tony is that when they were young my Aunt Petra used to live close to my uncle and my mom, so she was always at their house playing with my mom and my mom's sisters. They all grew up together. As a kid my aunt had a crush on my uncle but my uncle didn’t pay too much attention to her because she “just a kid” even though he was pretty much a kid himself. When my aunt turned fourteen something happened and my uncle ran away with her and got married. Depending on who you ask in the family but most would agree that my aunt’s father was upset about the whole thing and that he hated my uncle. I guess I would feel the same way too.

When her father saw how much my uncle did love her he had a change of heart. As the years progressed her father came to love my uncle like he was one his own sons.

My Aunt Petra and Uncle Tony have a love that is rare. When I look at them today I could still see that love they shared as kids starting a new life together. I can only imagine what it must have been like for them to be so much in love that they were willing to give up everything just to be together. The thing that makes them special is that not only do they love each other, but their loves seems to touch all those around them. They have raised an amazing faimly and are now surrounded by the love of their children, grandchildren, extended family and so many friends.

If I ever fell in love I’d hope that it would be the kind of love that my Uncle Tony and Aunt Petra share.