My great uncle and great aunt Lester and Virginia Yonkers of Lake Odessa, Michigan just recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Aug. 18th, 2009!! I remember as a kid going to my grandparents 50th wedding anniversary, and I think they ultimately made it past the 60th anniversary before they passed away. But 70. wow. I hope they make it to 75. Who in your family has had the longest wedding anniversary and what was their secret?
My parents will celebrate their 68th Anniversary this and my sister will celebrate her 40th this December. Their secrets are commitment, common goals, and always willing to compromise on minor issues. They haven't had any major issues yet! I've only been married 27 years (this time), so I'm still trying to learn the ropes.
My grandparents made it to 65, my uncle will hit 42 this year. Basically the ability to keep living seems to be the number one factor here.
Not my family, but interesting and topical: http://current.com/items/90839090_husband-in-longest-marriage-dies.htm
My paternal grandparents celebrated their 70th while they were still living together independently. Shortly after, my grandma had a stroke and she was never the same; she lived in a nursing home after that, and they both held on for a few more years. They didn't quite make it to 75. But 70 years together, still taking care of themselves and each other--that's pretty damn good. Honestly, I don't know if they had a 'secret' other than getting married young and living long lives.
Well, I'll stay married to my wife as long as I'm alive and as long as she'll have me. It will be 29 years next year. My mom is still alive at 81 and my dad died at 69 so I suppose we can probably get to 50 years at least. God willing....
I'm wondering if a wedding's anniversary longevity depends on the guy's ability to keep on living. My parents are on their way to their 52nd. In another six weeks my wife and I will reach number 32. I fully expect her to outlive me. Hate to imagine what my kidney currently looks like (while taking another sip of vodka on a Friday eve. . .)
On my dad's side, his father, uncle, and grandfather all outlived their wives. Which reminds me of a morbid joke: q: Why do husbands die first? a: They want to.
My mum and dad had their diamond, (60th), a couple of years back and we had a big 'do' to celebrate. They had their 62nd couple of weeks back. They were married when my dad was 19 and my mum 17. The 'trick', if there is one, is that my mum has the patience of a bloody saint