Sixty-Four

Years ago today, my folks tied the knot. They were very young.....just kids really....starting out together in the fast-changing and exciting world after World War Two.

They started a family quickly....me first....and began an epic journey that would take them from here to Scotland and many other bits of Europe, chasing down Montgomery lore and tracing family roots, from Indian village archaeological digs to clan tents at Scottish games, from mineral collecting expeditions in Canada and all over the Northeast to digging gold in the Carolinas just a couple of years ago.

After the memories of birthday parties downstairs where Grandma and Grandpa Montgomery lived when I was tiny....I swear I remember my first one...and homemade French Fries and spaghetti in Grandma's kitchen, as their large family gathered around...came memories of the antique store on Main Street in Fonda.

I always thought of it by its full name...Montgomery's Antiques, bought and sold. They started it when we were just little kids and Dad's collection outgrew their apartment. Then came the book store, Tryon County Books, which was right next door and is still in business.

Then we moved to the farm house just down the road from here, where this city-born country girl got the first taste of rural life.....btw I liked it....I remember having just moved in and discovering Barn Swallows....still one of my favorite birds....and Barn Owls and Bobwhites, in the barn and in the fields....oooh, that was an exciting place.

Dad carved wood well enough to exhibit at national shows, Mom painted wonderful portraits, they made jewelry with handmade settings with stones they collected, cut and polished themselves. It was always fun, but it was always business too...there were livings to be made.

They were always deeply involved in something fascinating, besides running the businesses and Mom having high responsibility jobs for various companies, including one multi-national one.

Along the way they raised us....which is of course, an incredible accomplishment. I won't say there weren't hard times, because of course there were...everyone has them and we had our share.

However, when I look back on growing up in such an interesting atmosphere, I can't help but thank them for teaching us passion and an abiding love of learning. We all have it....they taught us well.

So Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad. Keep up the good work.