Couple celebrates six decades of love
‘I believe that what we have is true love’
“For us, it is just a great blessing to have been able to be spared for each other, to walk the road together,” said 78-year-old Rose Walker.
She and her husband, 83-year-old Don, will be celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on 12 April, and they still only have eyes for each other.
But, it was not always an easy road, and they both agreed that love was the fundamental element to their recipe for success. “We have a lot of respect for each other, we have never gone to bed angry and we even played some sport together. And, more importantly, there has always been a lot of love and humour,” Rose said with a twinkle in her eye.
Don and Rose met at a dance session in 1958, and for Don it was love at first sight. “Rose was there with her brother, but I did not know that, and thought he was her boyfriend. But, I did not let that stop me, and I went up to them, tapped her brother on his shoulder and asked him if he would mind if I danced with his girlfriend. They both laughed at me, and, after telling me they were family, she agreed, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
He added that they were together for about six months before he proposed, but Rose’s mother was not too keen on the idea. “Her oldest brother stepped in and came up with a suggestion. He said that we should be allowed to get engaged, and, if we could stay engaged for a year, we would be allowed to get married. Well, I have never been one to shy away from a challenge, and, here we are, 60 years later,” said a smiling Don.
The couple has five children (two daughters and three sons), seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, and for them it is a great privilege to not have only seen their own children grow up, but also be able to be part of their grandchildren’s and great-grandchildren’s lives.
They both agreed that it has been a long – and sometimes hard – journey, but Don said, “If you learn to laugh together, cry together and forgive each other, you cannot go wrong. It has been a good journey, and I would not change it for the world.”
Don and Rose believe that they will be leaving a big legacy for their children, as well as an example of just how two people, who are complete opposites, can work together, do things together and stay together, through good and bad.
“I have always said that I must be the first one to go, as I would not be able to cope without the love of my life,” Rose concluded.
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