True Abiding Love

My father's brother and my mother's sister got married about five weeks after I was born. Now my aunt may have thought my uncle was a good catch since he graduated from college at a time when friends and family she knew hadn't even attended college. I'm not sure that made any difference to her. The couple seem made for each other.

Since my uncle was a college graduate, they started off a little better off than others in both families. They lived in a brick home, not wooden like the rest. They had a bigger boat. They bought new cars more often. I never saw any difference as a kid or as an adult in how they acted or were treated by the family.

All my aunts and uncles seemed to have happy marriages, so I grew up expecting husband and wives to enjoy each other. As I grew older, I realized that this wasn't as common as it should be. Throughout the years, even after my double uncle retired, that loving spark remained. When people talk about losing the romance, I think of my aunt and uncle. Romance can be maintained. They've done it. When visiting my parents, if my uncle left to go somewhere, he'd give my aunt a kiss. When he returned, whether he was gone 30 minutes or 3 hours, my aunt would get up and greet him with a kiss. They clearly like and love each other.

They do most things together. When it was time to find a place to sit for our Thanksgiving Day dinner, they chose to sit at the same table. (we had 3) My aunt walked every morning for her health. When he retired, my uncle joined her. They are both physically fit, looking more like they are entering their 70s instead of just turned 81 and 79. My uncle has a full head of hair. They still do quite a bit of traveling.

So one of the things I was grateful for this Thanksgiving is the example they've shown us all. After 61 years of marriage, their romance continues. I can only pray that my children follow that path in their future spouses and can keep their romance alive.