Golden Wedding Anniversary
Trust— Formula
for Married Bliss
"We got
married on 25/- a week, but don't call it 'the good old days.' They were 'bad'
old when we were married."
Such was the
chorused reply from Mr. and Mrs. Richard Proctor, yesterday, In answer to the
question: "Is it harder for young people starting married life today than
In your day ?"
And Mr. and
Mrs. Proctor should know, for today they are celebrating their golden wedding
anniversary.
“But,"
said Mrs. Proctor, "we’ve had plenty of arguments and little cross words, and all
this stuff about 'never an argument in 50 years' is nonsense."
"There is
a way, though, to a long and happy married life" said Mr. Proctor, "and it's
mutual trust and no secrets. I've never had any secrets from my wife. Honey, here,
has always managed the house, and
she still does; I've never interfered.”…
Mrs. Proctor
has known her husband, who is nine years her senior, for 58 years. Mr. Proctor was
born in Collingwood, and Mrs. Proctor (Jean Mary Allan), a cousin of a former State
Premier, the late John Allan, was born in Fitzroy.
Mr. Proctor was
a builder for most of his working life, which ended 10 years ago. He built the
house in which they have lived for the past 34 years, and in his young days helped
build the late Dame Nellie Melba's famous house, Coombe Cottage, at Coldstream.
Mr. and Mrs.
Proctor have four children and eight grandchildren. "No wonder we're so
happy." said
Mrs. Proctor. "With our children and grandchildren around us we have no
worries.”
They are both
teetotallers, but Mr. Proctor is a prodigious pipe smoker. "Must have
smoked a ton or two in my time," said Mr. Proctor, "but I never could
take cigarettes. Why, when I was away with the
A.I.F. in the first war I used to give my ration away."
"See you
in 20 years," called this happy man as he and his equally happy wife waved
good-bye from the sunny verandah of their Surrey Hills home.
"Don't
be silly, dear," said his wife.
"Aw you never know, honey, we may. be around,"
he answered.
And, if happiness
keeps the old young, then maybe they will.
No comments:
Post a Comment