Shades readers, today we want to tell you a story about love, friendship and coincidence.* 

In 1968, two couples got married.  Jeanne got married to Lester and Vivian got married to Richard.  Jeanne and Lester had a daughter and Vanessa and Richard had a son in 1969.   Both couples spent the early 70s building their lives in Toronto.  Vanessa and Richard's would go on to have two more children. 

Both families were from the same community and so they ran in the same social circles, attending house parties and bbqs together.   Their children would spend that time playing together as young kids do. 

As time went on, they were not in contact as much.  The kids became adults and started carving out their own lives, working and planning for their own future. 

Both couples’ first-born kids ended up working at the same place, though they had no recollection that as kids, their families had spent time together.  The discovery of their childhood connection made everyone shake their heads at how funny life can be sometimes. 

Jeanne and Lester’s daughter and Vanessa and Richard’s son got married in 2005 and now have two beautiful boys. 

Fast forward to present day – 2018

Both couples recently celebrated 50 years of marriage at a wonderful event, surrounded by their family and friends who have been on different parts of their journey with them.   The music was great, the food was delicious and the photo booth was a crowd pleaser! 

Through trials and tribulations, in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, both couples have persevered. 

We at Shades want to congratulate both couples on this amazing milestone and we wish for them even more love and happiness!