"Ain't Life Grand?"

  "It was 60 years ago already!" "Yep, it sure was, I can hardly believe it. It seems like yesterday." "I had my birthday on February 25th, and the next day we got married" "On the 26th." "Sixty years Ms Opal and I have been married" "And we're still together!" "That's right, Ms Opal Willard and me. I was born on February the twenty fifth in nineteen and twenty three and she was born on September the 14th in nineteen and twenty nine." "And I had my twenty first birthday on the 25th and married the next day, on the 26th".

These were words lovingly uttered by Mr. H. A. Praesel as he spoke of his upcoming wedding anniversary to be shared with friends and family this month.

This is a man who continually projects an attitude of being excited to be alive and overjoyed to be celebrating something he never thought possible. Eighty healthy years of living and sixty to the wife of his dreams. He says he realizes he has been blessed in his marriage to Ms Opal, noting these "young whipper snappers today see it as an accomplishment to come through 60 years and still be with the same woman".  "Why 80 years from now, If the Lord tarries and things keep going the way they are, they will think it an accomplishment to be married at all".

"But, its hard to believe how fast it has gone by," he contemplated. "And ain't life grand?" he says. (Remember the old saying "time flies when you¹re having fun!" ) Well, It is no wonder that time would fly by for Mr. Praesel. He IS having fun. This is a guy that at 80 years of age knows the meaning of "doing something useful with his own hands that he might have something to share with those in need." Eph.4:28b He has not let the years, or age slow him down one bit. Most every day his neighbors will observe him working either in his garden or in the neighborhood somewhere. Now don¹t get me wrong, he does take a break to sit and have a cup of coffee, or hang out a while at McVoys visiting with the boys. (For those of you not familiar with Rockdale, it is the local feed and supply store downtown). But, he really seems happiest when he is busy working on a project that needs a hoe.

Born to a large family in Gay Hill February 25, 1923 Henry Alvin Praesel learned early about farming, and ranching. One would believe he would have been a farmer or rancher his whole life, the way he loves growing a garden today. However, his life took a different turn when he and Ms. Opal decided to move to Rockdale and take a job at Alcoa back in '65. And the family has been in Rockdale ever since. Of course Mr. Praesel has been retired for some time from the "work force", but that doesn't mean much of anything from what this writer can see. He loves to work with his hands.

When asked why he is "out and about" working on the neighborhood, he answers, "the Lord told me to do it". "He said, 'Alvin, you have a lot of work left in you, and there is a lot of work left to do, so get up and go do it'!." "The Bible I read says we are to help one another and I want to help others." Praesel, who attends Rockdale Full Gospel Church says he believes that to keep our health we must get exercise and exercise means work. "Work is good for ya"! "And that is something I can give". " I can volunteer and do for my neighbors some of the things they don't have the time to do, or can't do for themselves.". "I can sow seed in my garden and watch it grow and share it, and sell it, and I can sow seed in my neighborhood." "It will all come back just like the Bible says." "You sow and you reap".

So, when the garden is tended he may be weeding sticker burrs, or raking the easement, or just plane ole cleaning up what some of us may not have gotten to on the block. The call of The Lord, can come to any of us at any time in our lives and who knows what he may ask of us. There is no retirement from listening and it is our responsibility to answer and be obedient no matter our age. It is never too late.

Those of us who live in the neighborhood, are blessed and thankful. Happy anniversary you two, and Ms. Opal, you have quite a handful in this young man of yours. You must be a happy lady. God Bless you both.