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What happened to the man I met 52 years ago

(36 Posts)
kittylester Sun 14-Nov-21 19:56:06

He was just out of university where, despite coming out with 2 degrees, he had had a rip roaring student experience. grin

Prior to going to university he had led his (public) school out on strike, been on numerous student marches and was often in trouble at school much to his parents' despair.

Last night, he happily drank 'tea' made by an 8 year old, listened to a 10 year old read a story she had written, having already taken them to the pizza shop to choose a take away and then he cooked me a curry.

He has matured quite well.

Rosina Fri 19-Nov-21 17:23:32

So lovely to read this - the poetry of love and faithfulness over so many years. I disliked my OH on first sight; he looked arrogant, bored and distant, and doesn't remember me from the early days, but we met again years later and have been together ever since. It's not been an easy ride, there have been a lot of storms and we have come close to parting several times but we are still here together, certainly in it to the end now, and he can make me laugh like nobody else.

ShazzaKanazza Fri 19-Nov-21 17:15:10

This thread has been so heartwarming
to read. Xx

grannydarkhair Mon 15-Nov-21 18:43:56

I’m without a man in my life, the father of my children and I parted company many, many years ago. This is a lovely thread, it’s wonderful to hear of such long lived happy relationships.

dragonfly46 Mon 15-Nov-21 15:50:22

Sorry kitty but mine hasn't really changed that much.

Amberone Mon 15-Nov-21 15:45:16

I thought this was going to be another 'I'm married to an irritating old bu**er' thread and nearly didn't bother with it -but it was a lovely OP to read ?

My OH and I are like chalk and cheese in many ways but over the years we've both compromised and tried to make sure the other was happy. Although at the moment we are both getting over flu and he's sniffing a lot and it's true I would quite like to pull a blanket over his head ? I'd better go and sort the dishwasher out instead.

V3ra Mon 15-Nov-21 10:54:40

BlueSky

“We are all in the same storm different boat” (or the other way round) as they say. Those of us who are lucky to still have our partners are both grateful and fearful.

BlueSky that's how I feel too ?

kittylester Mon 15-Nov-21 10:48:23

When I started this thread I was really just reflecting on the difference between the fairly bolshie man I met and the softie he has become.

I hadn't mean it as a celebration of our dhs but it is lovely to read all your stories.

BlueSky Mon 15-Nov-21 10:03:43

“We are all in the same storm different boat” (or the other way round) as they say. Those of us who are lucky to still have our partners are both grateful and fearful.

dragonfly46 Mon 15-Nov-21 07:55:39

We have been together since I was 19. We met at uni and married soon after as he was in Scotland and I was in Yorkshire.
We struggled for money but we were happy. He was still studying and I was teaching.

Our greatest joy was when our DD was born as we waited a long time for her. He absolutely doted on her and still does.

He is kind, gentle and thoughtful and loved by all who know him.
He will do anything for anyone.
We have had the best life and I feel so lucky to have found him.
Although skinny as a rake when I met him he has doubled in size ?

Beechnut Mon 15-Nov-21 07:36:42

Shinamae

Urmstongran

What a lovely thread kitty..

I’ve known Himself 50 years. When we met I was 17y and he was 19y. Babies really, looking back.

Yesterday he made a huge pan of chilli to save both me and our daughter having to cook Sunday lunch as today would have been my mum’s 90th birthday. Almost four years on we all miss the matriarch of the family and although ‘next up’ I’m only doing my best.

Plus it was lovely listening to his kindness yesterday. He set up ‘Mousetrap’ (who on earth has the patience for those fiddly plastic pieces?’) to amuse L’il Miss. Then half an hour later our Boy Wonder wandered in saying ‘can we play chess grandad?’.

My heart melts.
This is the person who, in 1972 had platform shoes, long hair and sideboards (think ‘Slade’) and chewed gum (ugh!).

Every now and again when I awake I look over to his pillow and think ‘who is this old bugger lying next to me?’.

He must think the same. We are no longer young with dreams and plans.

And then I remember.
He’s the man I love. Who puts us all first. Who shows his love not in words but by being a provider. Dependable and true, over those years. My sweetheart.

Who irritates the life out of me sometimes.
As I’m sure I do him.

That is so lovely ?

And brought tears to my eyes.
Happy tears.

Kandinsky Mon 15-Nov-21 07:29:09

I met my husband in 1980 when we were both just 17. Both so young & full of hopes & dreams. We went on to have 4 children & he’d carry them all up to bed on his back, pretending to be a lion. They absolutely loved it! he was so strong he even told me to jump on once!
I can still hear their laughter.
Now he can barely walk up the stairs on his own without getting out of breath.

It’s already sad.

kittylester Mon 15-Nov-21 06:29:32

Oh, it so does kate.

Kate1949 Mon 15-Nov-21 00:23:53

He sounds lovely kitty. I have a similar one. I am both grateful and
fearful if that makes sense.

Bluebellwould Sun 14-Nov-21 23:24:43

You didn’t upset me at all Kitty. It is so lovely to have a nice thread for a change and a chance to read about all the lovely husbands out there. Just because mine and many others have gone doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy reading about other lovely people. At the end of the day the only thing that matters is love.

Luckylegs Sun 14-Nov-21 22:59:51

Never had a row? Oh if only…… we’ve been married for 52 years as well and barely a day goes by without us having ‘words’, if not a full blown row! He is soooo irritating, awkward, contrary, argumentative, boorish sometimes and an absolute pig! Many friends laugh at this description but they end up agreeing if they spend any length of time in his company!

I am of course, equally irritating, argumentative etc etc and we barely agree about anything - vote opposite in any and everything, can argue the hind leg off anyone, and all that and yet, I love him more now than I have ever done and would be lost without him, literally, because I seem to be losing my marbles and memory quite quickly!

harrigran Sun 14-Nov-21 22:56:46

What a lovely story kitty.

Nannytopsy Sun 14-Nov-21 22:45:16

GN was double posting this morning. Still happening I see!
What a lovely thread kitty!
He had hair - quite long hair when we met 47 years ago. There was a thin patch on top, we he assured me was due to pressure from his motorcycle helmet. And I believed him!!
Now we have a son who looks just like his Dad and is also balding! We have a daughter who looks just like her mother and only looks at food to put on weight!
We are so easy together and I can honestly say we have never had a row.
Please may it last until we are very old.

kittylester Sun 14-Nov-21 22:22:24

I am so sorry if this thread has upset you bluebellwould

I was really just reflecting on how the rebel I married turned into a great big softie. Not that I thought about what he might be like in the future- I was in lust.

kittylester Sun 14-Nov-21 22:22:23

I am so sorry if this thread has upset you bluebellwould

I was really just reflecting on how the rebel I married turned into a great big softie. Not that I thought about what he might be like in the future- I was in lust.

Luckygirl Sun 14-Nov-21 22:22:22

It is lovely to read these stories.

Makes me sob ..... my quiet, witty, intelligent, musical man was lost to Parkinsons - the wonderful mature man he might have become turned into a sick and mad person for several years before he went. Unrecognisable.

Treasure what you have.

Luckygirl Sun 14-Nov-21 22:19:15

It is lovely to read these stories.

Makes me sob ..... my quiet, witty, intelligent, musical man was lost to Parkinsons - the wonderful mature man he might have become turned into a sick and mad person for several years before he went. Unrecognisable.

Treasure what you have.

BigBertha1 Sun 14-Nov-21 22:16:49

DH has spent almost 43 years coping with my paranoia, neuroses, obesity and generalised strangeness whilst encouraging my career and mopping up my various health problems. He says it's an adventure. Nice man.

BigBertha1 Sun 14-Nov-21 22:13:32

I've met kittylesters DH and can confirm he was quite a catch. Lovely family.

nanna8 Sun 14-Nov-21 22:10:15

I was 15 when I met my husband and 19 when we married. We had 4 children and now have many grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was an academic engineer until he retired and I was a teacher and then a social worker. We have been together more years than I can count, the 50 th is just a memory. We both changed over the years of course- like I grew up and found my way in life and so did he. We have had a wonderful life, couldn’t ask for more and travelled all over the place. Now we are content to discover our own country which is huge enough to keep us going forever. He has had a melanoma which would have killed him except that I nagged him and nagged him to get it looked at so they caught it before it spread. Sometimes nagging pays a!

denbylover Sun 14-Nov-21 22:09:59

It’s not really about roses on. Valentines day is it?, although if that is important to you so be it. We are 47years in, and the kind shy country boy I married is still a bit diffident but every single evening he comes in he’s smiling. He’s a doer a provider, not one for flowery comments, but he’s as open and honest as the days long. He’s respectful and true. Yes we’ve got the wrinkles and the grey hair but they’re nothing compared to what we do have. Thankful oh yes, very very much.

I love the line quoted above “grow old with me the best is yet to be” that’s beautiful.