There are moments when being the oldest of the Benson clan has its perks. I wouldn't classify now as one of those moments. Instead of coasting until our parents' 50th anniversary party, I have been elected to not only make a speech for the big toast, but I must also write a dedication for the program. Can't I just focus on what I'm going to wear and show up the day of the party to help set up, like the rest of my brothers and sisters?

No matter. I love my parents dearly, so I don't mind saying a few good words about the happy couple. I guess the problem I'm having is that I can't choose from the hundreds (literally, hundreds) of stories that I have locked away in my memory. It shouldn't be so hard to write something nice about my mom and dad, but I don't just want to write something "nice." I want to write something that fully embodies them as a couple: fun, caring, loving, supportive, and just inherently good. They deserve at least that much.

I could tell one of the many stories our mom told us growing up. We were constantly entertained with stories from the lively days of their major internet show, their many schemes with Uncle Spencer, Aunt Sam, and Uncle Gibby, and their courting days. The problem with that, though, is that most of the people coming to the party were there for many of those moments and I probably wouldn't do them justice. Besides, a lot of the stories Mom likes to tell are adorable to the point of nausea (honestly, the tale of "cukey" made me feel a little pukey).

Maybe I could talk about how little our dad has changed since meeting our mom. He's still a perfect gentleman, opening doors and pulling out chairs for her, and he was adamant about instilling those same mannerisms in my brothers and I because he wanted us to be "worthy enough" to marry women like our mother. To this day you can still catch him staring at our mother with such awe that it sometimes brings tears to my eyes. However, while it's all very touching, I think I want to talk about how they work as a couple, rather than how much one loves the other.

I could definitely talk about how incredibly supportive they are as a unit. A good example would be the time I decided to come out to them. When I told them that I was gay, the first thing they did was, wordlessly, stand up and enveloped me between them in a big group hug. My mother kissed my forehead and told me that she and Dad loved me more than anything and would continue to do so as long as they lived. I turned to my dad and he looked at me with that damn smirk of his and said, half-jokingly, "Now, don't think that this excuses you from acting like a gentleman, like I taught you, Eric, Carter. I'm expecting you to bring a respectable young man home to meet us and you can't manage that by acting like a slob!" My mom gently scolded him while he laughed and kissed my cheek. My heart still bursts with love for them whenever I think about that story. When I told it to my partner some years ago, he thought that it was the perfect story to tell on a day like their golden anniversary…but the day is about them, not me.

Thinking about them, I instantly think about how much they inspire my me and my siblings to love each other and our own families with everything we've got. I think of how the growing trend of divorce has almost made golden anniversaries an endangered occasion, yet here Freddie and Carly Benson stand, hand in hand, showing the world that sticking by your one true love and loving them unconditionally isn't nearly as hard as society makes it seem. I'm continually amazed at how their love has spread like a wildfire amongst our family, inspiring us to branch out and dare to find true love on our own, resulting in a gaggle of nieces and nephews and my own two children.

So many amazing, tender moments to choose from. How am I possible going to be able to narrow it down? What is the image of them that I'm trying to convey?

As I continue to plow through my writer's block, I step onto the back porch where I find the happy couple, asleep and cuddled closely on the porch swing. At 74-years-old they both look as young as they dare, only foiled by their silver-streaked hair. My father has an arm wrapped around my mother's shoulders while her head rests on his chest. His other hand is intertwined with hers as a hint of a smile plays on both of their lips. I adore how much their love for each other shines so brightly, even as they sleep…like it takes no effort at all.

That's it.

I rush back to my father's old home office and immediately start writing before I forget the dedication that has practically written itself. With my pen poised, I begin to write.

50 Year of Love: Golden and Effortless

For Fredward and Carly Benson

By: Fredward A. Benson, Jr.

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this installment! I want to thank sockstar for suggesting the colors that inspired this story! Thanks to those who have read, reviewed, and added this story to their favorites!

Warning: the next drabble or ficlet will be the final one for this collection! Just thought I'd give you all a heads up. It should be posted tomorrow!

I love you all! Please don't forget to review!

Hollaatchyagirl,

Phunky