A husband and wife were celebrating 50 years together, and their three successful kids all agreed to gather for a Sunday dinner in their honor.
“Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!” exclaimed their eldest son, a surgeon. “I’m so sorry I’m running late; I had an emergency at the hospital. You know how it is—didn’t even have time to grab a gift!”
“Not to worry,” replied the father. “The important thing is that we’re all together today.”
Next, son number two, a lawyer, arrived and chimed in, “You both look great! I just flew in from Los Angeles between depositions, and I didn’t have a chance to shop for you.”
“It’s nothing,” the father assured him. “We’re just happy you made it.”
Finally, their daughter, a marketing executive, rushed in, saying, “Hello and Happy Anniversary! I’m sorry, but my boss is sending me out of town, and I was too busy packing to pick up a gift.”
After dessert, the father gathered everyone’s attention and said, “There’s something your mother and I have wanted to share for a long time. You see, we were very poor. Even so, we managed to send each of you to college. Throughout the years, your mother and I always knew we loved each other deeply, but we just never found the time to get married.”
The three children gasped in unison, “You mean we’re bastards?”
“Yep,” the father chuckled, “and cheap ones at that!”
Moral of the story
Life is full of surprises, and sometimes the biggest revelations come wrapped in laughter. While the children arrived with apologies and empty hands, it turns out the real gift was the love and humor that their parents have shared for half a century.
It’s a reminder that the best things in life aren’t always material—they’re the moments spent together, stories shared, and laughter that echoes around the dinner table. Whether it’s an anniversary or just a Sunday dinner, it’s the love and joy we bring to the table that truly counts—because at the end of the day, we’re all a little imperfect, and that’s what makes life beautifully entertaining.
