COUPLES CELEBRATE PROMISES KEPT.Byline: DENNIS McCARTHY Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
NORTHRIDGE - A couple of the guys recalled Thursday the time an interviewer asked the Rev. Billy Graham's wife, Ruth, how it was to be married to the famous TV evangelist evangelist (ĭvăn`jəlĭst) [Gr.,=Gospel], title given to saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The four evangelists are often symbolized respectively by a man, a lion, an ox, and an eagle, on the basis of Rev. 4.6–10. . ``Tough because he's gone so much,'' Ruth answered. Did she ever think of divorcing him, the interviewer asked? ``Murder, maybe, but never divorce,'' she quipped. The line got a big laugh from the 24 couples having lunch Thursday over at the Macaroni Grill Macaroni Grill (also known as Romano's Macaroni Grill) is a chain of Italian food casual dining restaurants in the US and Canada. The chain and brand name is owned by Brinker International. in Northridge. They had all been married at least 50 years, many of them more than 60 years. A few had tied the knot knot In cording, the interlacement of parts of one or more ropes, cords, or other pliable materials, commonly used to bind objects together. Knots have existed from the time humans first used vines and cordlike fibers to bind stone heads to wood in primitive axes, and were during FDR's first term in the early '30s, but most of their marriages were from the Truman administration. Their friends who got hitched when Ike was in the White House during the '50s weren't invited. Their marriages hadn't stood the test of time. All these couples understood exactly what Ruth Graham Ruth Bell Graham (June 10 1920 – June 14 2007), wife of Evangelist Billy Graham, was born at Qingjiang, Kiangsu, China as Ruth McCue Bell, the second of five children. Her parents, Dr. and Mrs. L. was saying - not that any of them had ever contemplated murdering their spouses, they were quick to add. That part was obviously a joke. The divorce part wasn't. ``We made a promise, that's the important thing,'' said Mardel Abrams, who married her husband, Ken, in 1950 at Reseda Baptist Church - the church all these couples belong to. A promise. They all said they meant it back at their weddings when they promised to hang in there for better or for worse. It wasn't just some flowery flow·er·y adj. flow·er·i·er, flow·er·i·est 1. Of, relating to, or suggestive of flowers: a flowery perfume. 2. Abounding in or covered with flowers. 3. words. Today, it's become too easy to break promises, they said. All you have to do is look at the divorce rate. Almost half of all marriages hit the rocks when that worse part comes along. ``For a marriage to last and remain strong, there must be a true, loving concern for one another,'' said Cecil Smidderks, who married his childhood sweetheart, Ora, back in 1933. He met her on his paper route, making her house the last stop on the block so he could hand-deliver her parents' newspaper and chat awhile a·while adv. For a short time. Usage Note: Awhile, an adverb, is never preceded by a preposition such as for, but the two-word form a while may be preceded by a preposition. . ``I knew right away he had eyes for me,'' Ora said. Cecil swears he still does, 68 years later. Once you get past the promises and loving concern - the bedrock of a lasting marriage, these couples say - you get down to the real day-in, day-out, nitty-gritty of why some marriages last and others don't, said Mike Cryder and Jim Pyle. Husbands just don't listen hard enough. ``You must learn to always say, 'Yes, dear,' very politely po·lite adj. po·lit·er, po·lit·est 1. Marked by or showing consideration for others, tact, and observance of accepted social usage. 2. Refined; elegant: polite society. to your wife about everything,'' said Jim, who has been married to his wife, Dorothy, for 55 years. Mike, who has been married to his wife, Ruth, since 1949, agreed. ``She goes her way and I go her way,'' he said. The two women in the corner shaking their heads were Dorothy and Ruth. They weren't buying any of it. ``What's the party for?'' a young woman having lunch with some friends in the main dining area of the grill Grill may refer to: In food:
They had heard all the laughing coming from the banquet room banquet room n. A large room, as in a restaurant, suitable for banquets. , and noticed the old wedding pictures hanging on a bulletin board by the door. ``They've all been married for over 50 years, and they're celebrating,'' I said. The women sighed. The guys just shook their heads. Fifty years, an eternity. ``What's their secret?'' a couple of the single women wanted to know. Keeping a promise, and caring about one another, I said. And, of course, hanging tough when the worst comes. Murder, maybe, but never divorce. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Mardel and Ken Abrams look at wedding photos taken 50 years ago or more during a celebration Thursday for couples who've gone the distance together Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer |
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