51 years ago

All the family smiled and remarked on the valentine's card my 86 year-old FIL gave to his wife of 62 years last February. The picture was of a washing line, strung with knickers and the wording stated' I still fancy the pants off you!' Brilliant! Hope DH and I are exchanging cards with the same sentiments in 20+ years time.

We met with in the RAF in 1981. I was running in my lunch break to keep fit and we shared some banter as I passed him on duty as he was patrolling the main gate. I later suggested we meet for a drink in the NAAFI. We were married in 1983 and celebrated our 34th wedding anniversary in August this year.

I agree imperfect. I count myself lucky that DH and I have 'grown up' in the same way.

We didn't give a lot of thought to the longevity of our marriage and it could so easily have gone wrong! We both have had a determination to maintain a happy family but it hasn't always been easy.

No smugness from me - just thankfulness that we have made it this far and we still like, love and fancy each other.

Sorry to introduce a 'down' note to what has indeed been a very lovely thread, but needs saying: IF first husband had not been an adulterous, selfish man, who abandoned his family we would now have been married for 33 years. I went into it for the long haul. Sadly he didn't.

Just sometimes, when people around me are celebrating their 30,40,50ths, I do feel there is an element of self-congratulatory smugness when really at times I think, you are simply very fortunate. I feel I brought all the elements that were needed to make marriage 1 work through the years. Some people who stay married do not. Some people stay married for decades and are extremely miserable - my parents were not good for each other, but chalked up the years and of course, we celebrated the milestones with them.

But some of us, for all sorts of circumstances, are never going to have a long marriage.

I am very blessed in my second marriage. I don't wish away my first marriage and the four beautiful people we created, but I am sad it took me so many years to find someone who really does love me. Maybe we will be fortunate enough to make our 25th - maybe. We don't take anything for granted. But I think it is the quality of the years, not the quantity of them that matters most.

There, got that off my chest. And now - please do keep telling these wonderful stories ...

I married my driving instructor 47 years ago!

We first met in 1986 in a nightclub in Birmingham, he came over to ask me how I got into my dress, I fancied him like mad, but we got separated, and I thought well, that's that, but in 1991 I was working in London, and he started at the same firm as me, it was a complete coincidence, he remembered me, as I did him, and we started going out, we married 4 weeks later! We are still going strong, and are blissfully happy, I count myself lucky he walked into my life.

Coming up on 51 years next month. We met on a blind date in April and H proposed to me on the 2nd date. He was in the USAF so we didn't see each other very often. We married the following October. Lived on base and the following May moved to Brandon, Suffolk. He hitchhiked to RAF Lakenheath for two years. Very kindhearted motorists. Our daughter was born while we lived in Brandon. Many happy memories of England. I was 19 and he was 20. We were on our own bringing up a newborn with no one to give us any advice, but we managed ok.
Since then we have lived in many places, lived on a sailboat, and also a tugboat. Now live in the mountains. Wouldn't change anything if had to do it all over again.
Congratulations to all of you who are in it for the long haul {flowers}

Congratulations Silverlining48! Have a wonderful holiday.
The thing that I notice from many posts is that so many people who met around 50 years ago decided to get married very soon after they met and did so within a year.
By contrast neither of my children (both over 40) are married though one has 2 children and is happily 'partnered' and the other has had several long term relationships but hasn't made a commitment to anyone yet. This seems far more usual nowadays.

I was twice divorced & back at College as a Mature Student with an 8 year old DD. One of my College friends had moved to London & married for the 2nd time. My DD & I were going to stay for Easter, so my friend arranged for her DH's workmate (recently divorced) to join us on a night out.

Love at first sight although we lived 250 miles apart, within 3 months my DD & I had moved to the outskirts of London, we married 2 years later & almost made 21 years before he sadly died.

My 3rd Marriage, his 2nd & whilst not always blissfully happy a good Marriage. I've been widowed 4 1/2 years & still miss him.

What lovely stories have been told of true love.
We are told marriages don't last now, but certainly 30/40/50 years ago they did.
I am truly inspired by how steadfast so many of us have been, even through difficult times, but love has survived.
Both my C have broken marriages, it is a great sorrow to me.

We met through the dating ads. He had described himself as though he was a second-hand car for sale. I thought he must have a sense of humour and left a message. When he rang he had a lovely voice. We chatted on the phone for a few weeks before we met and it all went on from there. We have been together for over 21 years and there have been highs and lows. We split up 3 years and a year later met up again just after he had been diagnosed with PTSD . We got back together and love each other more than ever and enjoying life more than we ever have.

We met at a dance in 1964 when we were both 18 and he asked if he could take me home. Naturally I asked the magic words "do you have a car?" And he did! We got into the ancient Ford Popular and the orange street light turned his strawberry blond hair, eyelashes and the he hairs on the back of his hands to gold. He wore a gold coloured watch and ring. We drove home and were married at 20. Silly thing to say but I feel I have been riding in that car with that golden boy ever since, and the journey has been, and still is, amazing.

Cousin's wife asked me to call round to her step-family to pick up some Christmas presents. I was spoken for and she was rather young. A few years later, we met up at a wedding where her father was marrying my cousins mother-in-law!

We have just celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary! Very interesting relationship through the family!

We met on holiday 48 years ago and celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary last month. Like many others we've had our ups and downs.
After all these years he still doesn't realise that I am ALWAYS right and apparently I'm a bit of a nag! Shock horror!

In 1969 I was sitting in a pub with my mate when his brother Ray walked in with his new girlfriend. I went up to her shook her hand and said I am going to marry you whilst still holding my hand she became tearful and said "I know you will." We walked out of the pub hand in hand. Ray looked on in a daze.
That spark of deep deep instant love has never dimmed in 48 years (46 years married) she is the only girlfriend I have ever had and I thank God for her ever second of the day. A wonderful mother grandmother lover and person.

We met at a friend's 21st birthday party! There were two houses that were lived in by myself and other physio students in Tottenham (the houses are still there!) and, with us all being of similar age, there were a lot of 21st's! His old school friends knew one of my house mates and one of them (housemate) had recently split from one of said school friends. My DH was brought along for moral support. We married in '81 and spent the next 20 years in Hong Kong! Now back in UK and up to 36 years of marriage, 3 children and 2 grandchildren

Absolutely, shock horror cuba, living together? !!!Oh my!
Actually i suggested we do that too, but my husband to be would not countenance it.

Well mazza and katy, that makes three of us in a row married 48 years. Dud you get your medals? Still waiting fir mine.?

We met at work in 1967. I was 18, he was 21. We celebrated 48 years of marriage last week

We met in 1968 as he was a fireman and my friend worked in control as a fire woman in those days. She told me to come and have a look at this new fireman who'd been sent there, I didn't like him and he didn't even see me! Unknown to me he saw me out with another boy and thought he's not good enough for her. We eventually went out, got engaged six weeks later, married within a year and been married now for 48 years! We argue every day without fail, are the opposite in everything but wouldn't like to be without each other. I've had a good life.

We met at work in the engineering stores department - our eyes met above the nuts and bolts, tins of paints and batteries, etc, etc. Romantic? No, but we saw something in each other. We had a great deal in common and were married for around 30 years until his untimely death. Lots of good memories.

Met hubby at a dance when his pal picked my pal. They had one dance we're still together. Asked me to marry him six weeks later,I was still at school! We eloped 18 months later & have been married 50 years last April. We celebrated big style with a trip to India as we'd never had a honeymoon.

My now husband and I were best friends at the church youth group when we were both teenagers. We first met in 1964. After we left our respective schools, we went our separate ways, got married, had children and just kept in touch with a card and a bit of news each Christmas. In 1984 my first husband died very suddenly and a few years later I heard that my friend's wife had left him. My children and I were going to be holidaying in the area where he lived and so I wrote to see if we could call and see him. No, he replied, come for the weekend! So, 20 years or so since we had last seen each other, we re-met, spent hours reminiscing, our friendship turned into love, and we married 5 years later. Having 5 teenagers between us at the time was a challenge, but they now all get on well together and we have been a happy blended family for 21 years.

A blind date through his Mother. Although later on I think she was sorry as she wanted to keep her boys home with a lot longer.

And lived together from the outset, shock horror in those days!!