On Valentine’s Day the longest married couple (80 YEARS!) did a few Q&A’s on Twitter. I thought it was worth sharing. At 11 years of marriage, we’re probably clueless, but I added a few reactions under a few of them.
Q1 @AdrienneAtSlu What made you realize that you could spend the rest of your lives together? Were you scared at all?
A1 With each day that passed, our relationship was more solid and secure.Divorce was NEVER an option – or even a thought
Yes! We’re tracking with this. I don’t even like to say the D word around here!
Q2 @jessbess77 How did you know your spouse was the right one for you?
A2 We grew up together & were best friends before we married. A friend is for life – our marriage has lasted a lifetime
Q3 @SeanCPow Is there anything you would do differently after more than 80 years of marriage?
A3 We wouldn’t change a thing.There’s no secret to our marriage, we just did what was needed for each other & our family
Q4 @LaurenHuston What is your advice to someone who is trying to keep the faith that Mr. Right is really out there?
A4 Zelmyra: Mine was just around the corner!He is never too far away, so keep the faith – when you meet him, you’ll know
Totally agree…you just know.
Q5 @caresseaudra What was the best piece of marriage advice you ever received?
A5 Respect, support & communicate with each other.Be faithful, honest & true.Love each other with ALL of your heart
Honesty!!! Communicate!!! Respect!!! Yes to all of these!
Q6 @Miss_Ink What are the most important attributes of a good spouse?
A6 A hard worker & good provider.The 1920s were hard,but Herbert wanted & provided the best for us.I married a good man!
I agree! I have a hard worker and good provider too!
Q7 @MJordanD What is your best Valentine’s Day memory?
A7 Z I cook dinner EVERY day.Herbert left work early & surprised me – he cooked dinner for me! He is a VERY good cook!
A7 H: I said that I was going to cook dinner for her & she could relax – the look on her face & clean plate made my day!
Q8 @LidiaAnain You got married very young – how did u both manage to grow as individuals yet not grow apart as a couple?
A8 “Everyone who plants a seed & harvests the crop celebrates together” We are individuals, but accomplish more together
I love this. Turn “me” into “we”!
Q9 @twishart What is your fondest memory of your 85-year marriage?
A9 Our legacy: 5 children, 10 grandchildren, 9 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild.
Interesting to think about as we are just starting this legacy!
Q10 @MidwestPhoto Does communicating get easier with time? How do you keep your patience?
A10 The children are grown, so we talk more now. We can enjoy our time on the porch or our rocking chairs – together.
Q11 @ingwtg How did you cope when you had to be physically separated for long periods of time?
A11 H: We were apart for 2 months when Z was hospitalized with our 5th child. It was the most difficult time of my life
A11 contd: Zelmyra’s mother helped me with the house and the other children, otherwise I would have lost my mind.
Q12 @KindraTaylor At the end of bad relationship day, what is the most important thing to remind yourselves?
A12 Remember marriage is not a contest – never keep a score. God has put the two of you together on the same team to win
Forgiveness is key!
Q13 @jar556 Is fighting important?
A13 NEVER physically! Agree that it’s okay to disagree, & fight for what really matters. Learn to bend – not break!
Q14 @thewordwire What’s the one thing you have in common that transcends everything else?
A14 We are both Christians & believe in God.Marriage is a commitment to the Lord.We pray with & for each other every day
Amen and amen!
Amy, first of all I love the new website. The pic of you is beautiful.
Thanks for posting this. I loved their answers. My great grandparents met when they were 3(GGM) and 6(GGF)and Nanny moved in next door. Pop always said he was gonna marry her and the day she turned 13 he did. They never argued, raised 3 children, one of whom died in WW2 and never spent a day apart. Pop continued to run his family business and Nanny stayed home. The key to their marriage they said was, don’t fight, never go to bed mad, eat dinner every night together as a family, pray together and go to Church every Sunday. Even when they could no longer drive the 2 blocks to go to Church, Father came to them weekly. Shortly after their 75 anniversary Nanny died at home with Pop by her side. 9 months to the day Pop called all of us to come see him at 7p, then he said “His Margaret needed him still” that he had spent 85 years with her and he didn’t know any other way to live. So, he told us lived a good life, loved us all and that it was time to go see “His Margaret”, closed his eyes and passed away with his entire family beside him. It was exactly 9 months to the day and time that Nanny had passed.
People say its a fairy tale, but we can see fairy tales do come true.
Shannon, first, thank you!
I love what Nanny and Pop said! And they are almost like the Notebook! Such a great love story!
It is funny you mention The Notebook, if you met my Grandparents, their son and his wife ( Honey and Griz) you would truly see The Notebook in them, all the way until the end when Honey passed away 1 1/2 years ago. She had Alzheimer’s so bad, she in the end though he was her father. When Honey moved into a home, Griz gave up their 3000 sq ft home to move into a tiny little apt at the assistan living center connected to the Nursing home just to be with her every day. She had 20 strokes, her mind was gone and that man loved her and saw her every day until the end, 2 months shy of their 60 anniversary.
I feel very blessed to always have been surrounded by such strong people in their faith and marriage. My parents just celebrated their 40th anniversary last month.
I hope you and Scott will be blessed in the same way.