Surprise 61st Anniversary Party

It's difficult for me to fathom, but Gunko and Granny have been married for a whopping 61 years!!! That's more than double the time I've been on this planet! To celebrate this truly momentous occasion, we all got together for a surprise anniversary party at their house.



The theme for the celebration was a sushi-rolling party, where guests could prepare, roll and eat their own sushi. As you can see, my mom and Aunty Kimi went all out to prepare for the party by arranging settings for everybody, complete with their own shamoji (rice paddle) and bamboo sushi roller. It was fantastic.



They even got these beautiful floral centerpieces and sprinkled the tables with little hearts. No detail was spared.



Knowing Gunko and Granny wouldn't want to have any celebration for themselves, mom had the great idea of disguising the party as an engagement party for Ingrid and me. So Ingrid and I took the spotlight and thanked everyone for coming and then revealed that the party wasn't for us, but that it was really to celebrate Gunko and Granny's 61st anniversary!



It took a minute or two to register for them, but after repeated explanation from all of us that they party was actually for them, both Gunko and Granny were delighted.



They got this amazing cake with a picture of them from 61 years ago etched on it. Both Granny and Gunko look sharp and stunning.



As I said before, my mom and Aunti Kimi left no stone unturned and even had party favors for everyone, which were mini champagne bottles with the same picture from the cake printed on them.



And if the sushi wasn't enough, there was plenty more food for everyone to enjoy. Spencer steak, miso cod, broccoli salad, shrimp cocktail, cookies and other delicacies, including a wonderful fruit arrangement.



Let's all raise our glasses and toast to Gunko and Granny's 61st wedding anniversary! Banzai!!!



Before we all got rolling on our sushi preparation, mom gave us a demonstration of how to roll. Aunty Kimi there next to my mom was so hungry she got started before the end of the demo. Mmmm. This really brings back some tasty memories.



Dawn has a particular affinity for maguro sashimi, so people made sure she had her own bowl to enjoy. It's the blue bowl there filled with the red sashimi.



There's nothing like sushi to bring the family together. I think Bruce had about 5 or 6 rolls that were so stuffed with rice and fish that they looked more like fat nori (seaweed) tacos.



Dustin clearly loved the sushi as well, but I later learned that he fell in love with the miso cod, just like Ingrid.



Everyone enjoyed the sushi rolling and appreciated all of my mom's and Aunty Kimi's hard work in preparing for the party, as well as Gunko's and Granny's hard work in their marriage.



After the sushi, we all (including the three sisters) enjoyed cake for dessert.



Eventually it came time to open gifts. We presented Granny with her first gift, which was basically Gunko with a big bow on his head. What a lucky lady!



As Granny unwrapped her gift, Gunko explained (and demonstrated) that he was blinded by love when he first laid eyes on Granny... or at least half-blinded by love... the other eye had its sight set squarely on Granny's beauty.



Ingrid and I gave them a framed picture of the entire family that was taken last Christmas. I can only hope that I'll be alive 61 years from now, still happily married.



The others got together and gave Gunko and Granny some gift certificates and a very sweet card.



Granny was so touched, she couldn't hold back the tears.



Congratulations Gunko and Granny on your 61st wedding anniversary! We love you so much! You can see the love on our faces!