A favorite writer, Beth Ashley, writes a column in my local paper.  At age 83, and many years of being a widow & then divorcee, she recently married a childhood sweetheart that she knew 70 years ago.  With maturity behind them, she and her hubby can “wiggle through” small differences.  The bigger stuff? He likes Bill O’Reilly and she’s an ardent democrat.  They are both collectors but he’s messy, she’s neat.  He enjoys the more expensive things in life, after years of financial struggle, she’s frugal.  Do they argue? Yes.  Do they laugh? Even more.  Which is in my opinion, the secret to a lasting, happy marriage.

Here’s a poem she published in her column:

Love has given us the courage to venture boldly into the sacred country of marriage, admitting our wrinkles, we allow them to show themselves bravely and our bones to show the weight of the years. Yet we dare face down the loneliness and embrace the uplifting communion found in a good marriage. Maya Angelou