Love

My grandparents were married for 70 years. That's a life span for some. My grandfather once said to me: "Grandbaby I hope you meet someone and have the joy of what I've had in my marriage." They were married at 19 and 15, and by the time we had our conversation I was extending my college career well into my mid twenties. I respected what they shared. I saw that they respected one another. They had ten kids and moved eight times before calling a small town in northern Florida home. They were unselfish, loving, hard-working and faithful. He called her "sister" and she called him by his first name, Tommie. When I see older couples holding hands, sitting closely in the park, or helping each other onto the train - I'm reminded of how beautiful love is. I don't think love has to fade when you get older, like most things it adapts with time and situation. Love doesn't have to be defined on certainty, I think true love is measured on how you weather the uncertainty. My grandparents were friends. And I have always believed that a strong relationship is based on a good friendship...you really do have to like each other. Love is not enough. I ask this question of people often: Is marriage unrealistic or are people unrealistic? The overwhelming majority has answered - people are unrealistic. And marriage doesn't equal love, plenty of people live together in bliss without going through an official ceremony. After all, it's all about the years in between. What my grandparents shared brought joy to those around them. Love has a way of doing that.