Ashley and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary last month. We were lucky ducks to be able to be with our sons, daughter-in-law, and five grandchildren in Maine for a whole week.

We have many bright memories of time in Maine. Both Ashley and I spent summers in Maine during our childhoods. We were married in Maine under a great white pine on a misty day above Monsweag Bay. We took our sons to Maine every summer until they were young teens to spend two weeks with my parents. Then, we went with Ashley’s family for family reunions during our sons’ teenage years.

Grandchildren on the pebble beach at sunset

The fragrance of the salt air, the Ragosa rose, the mists and fog, the sparkling water, the islands, the bracing swims, the rocky hikes and vistas, the blueberries and lobsters. All this has become a part of our family and our shared, treasured memories.

Fifty years is a long time. That goes without saying. Yesterday I read a friend’s post… “Every beautiful image comes with a back story of many ups and downs, a shared stash of patience, and knowing you’ve always got the right backup.” Which is true. We are grateful for the whole kit and kaboodle. We know how fortunate we are…”how lucky we are to be alive right now,” as Angelica, Eliza and Peggy sing in the musical Hamilton.

Ashley and I have lived in rural Vermont, the city of St. Louis, and the town of Reggio Emilia, Italy. We’ve raised two sons. We are both educators. We founded and ran an educational consulting business, Cadwell Collaborative. We share a love of travel, of museums, of music, of poetry, of the natural world, of sketching and drawing and keeping a sketchbook, and of our children and grandchildren, our extended family, and our friends.

Today is a rainy, chilly day in Vermont. We just attended a friend’s memorial service under a tent in his front yard. From listening to the stories, the throughline of Tim’s life was joy and adventure, kindness and friendliness. Tim was kind to everyone. I thought, what better legacy to leave? There isn’t one really. Ashley’s brother, Michael Cadwell , who played his guitar at our wedding on his birthday, died August 9, 2026. He left a legacy of kindness and goodness, of beautiful designs and beautiful words. After 50 years, after a life well lived, what do we want to leave behind?

In the last weeks, we have lost not only dear friends and family members, but also heroes in Dolly Parton, Gloria Steinem, Wendell Berry, and Annie Dillard, who each gave so much to the public good in big hearted, wise, and generous ways.

I am inspired by all these people and their legacies. I am grateful for Ashley and for our children and grandchildren, who now teach us how to be adventurous and joyful, kind and undaunted, creative and of service.

This world needs us to forge ahead with these qualities…to share with everyone and to offer to our communities in whatever ways we find.

May we all find ways to live with joy and to be of service. Amen.

Throughlines

Ode to Michael