Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

In twenty-twenty-six, we are celebrating three major anniversaries. The first is on July fourth. It is not the first in the year, but without the Declaration of Independence, this country would not exist, and probably neither of the other two.

We all know that in July of 1776, the founding document of this nation was first signed. My wife and I have been counting the years since the bicentennial in 1976. We are that old. Those of you who are twenty years younger than us do not recall that nationwide celebration.

That was before laptop computers, flying cars, and cell phones. Oh, that’s right, we still do not have flying cars, even if they were predicted by 2015. The Cubs have won the World Series; we have had three children; our parents have gone to Jesus; our girls and their husbands have given us twelve grandchildren.

Jesus still has not returned for all His children. As I said before, He has come back for some of our family and friends. This great country of ours is still great, even though some thought we needed to be made great again. Gas and other prices have continued to increase, as have our wages, but not at the same rates.

We have driven sections of the US highway for over half of the time they have existed. That is the one hundred years in the title. Many of our travels have been along routes 60, 65, 13, 160, and many more. Maybe in another twenty years, we will celebrate the Interstate system.

You’ve heard of those first two, but I want to tell you about one that will arrive at the end of May. You can attend these celebrations at little or no cost in many locations around our country. The fifty-year event I am talking about is by invitation only.

Cindy and I will have been married for half a century this year. I told you that we have been around long enough to remember the bicentennial at that time. What this means for us is that, unlike some of our contemporaries, we are still alive. That may not seem like an accomplishment to you. I heard a man who had reached his one-hundredth birthday a few years ago tell a reporter that the key to living that long was not to die.

We can give you a few other tips about staying together this long. The main one is to love each other. For those of you who follow me, you know that love is not something you fall into or an emotion; it is a commitment to a lifelong relationship that you are willing to work to keep alive.

The chief attribute you need to succeed is a willingness to cooperate and compromise with your spouse. Love and tolerance are needed to reach the fiftieth anniversary as Cindy and I will this year. Stay tuned for more about our lives and love together.

©Copyright 2026 by Charles Kensinger