Teetering precariously on the thin precipice between sweet and sappy, today comes a story about a British man who has put a rose at his wife's bedside every day for 60 years. Tom and Joan Shovelton claim the floral gesture is one of the secrets to their happy marriage, along with kissing each other good morning and good night every single day.
The couple met a a New Year's Eve party when he was a young farmer and she was a member of the Women's Land Army. The lovers wed in 1949 and raised five children, and are celebrating their diamond wedding anniversary today.
The "real-life Romeo" (without the whole suicide part) says of his wife, "I love her to bits -- I have done since the day we met."
Joan adds, "We've had a happy 60 years together. I wouldn't have changed a thing."
What's your verdict on this happily-ever-after story? Sickly saccharine, or does it renew your faith that Prince Charmings don't just exist at Disneyworld?
We're happy for the Shoveltons but we (and Dorothy Parker) do have a note to all future suitors. If you're dating us, replace the rose by the bedside with a big, fat, sprinkled donut. Now that'll make us a happy woman.
More heroes on Lemondrop:
Limbless dancer performs at Juilliard.
Newlywed survives annoying husband.
Model flaunts a real body.
Breast-feeding moms take over NYC subways.
Comments:
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Friday 21 August
By Evelyn
I'd much prefer the rose or any other flower or little note than a sticky gooey donut. Much prefer. I'd feel very unloved if I was given the donut. Figure he'd be trying to make me fat or clog my arteries. The note or flower would mean love and joy.
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Friday 21 August
By geomcd
A rose a day is nice, but if that's all you have, your marriage won't last. My husband and I will have been married 57 years in December. Our marriage has lasted because we made a commitment when we married and we have stayed with our vows.
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Friday 21 August
By kenjet1
Obviously what u dont have in ur marriage is romance, that was a terrible comment on a sweet story
Friday 21 August
By cherokkewoman
well it lasted for them and it could work for someone else a good strong marriage depends on the will of the couple now days people are weak and either give in to lust adultry or just flat out dont care anymore our society today has no morals they dont know what love is or what it means to be married or what faithful loyal and true is..........
Friday 21 August
By mary
what would you call being married for 60 years then?
Friday 21 August
By Dori
Congradulations on 57 yrs. I don't think they meant the "rose a day" is what made thier marriage last, just an extra added loving thing to do.
Friday 21 August
By Terri
I plan to forward the "Rose a Day" to my husbands computer right away!!!!
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Friday 21 August
By Bern
I did the same!
Friday 21 August
By Anna
Dear Terri....I hope your husband has a positive response....but what I've learned is that if they aren't going to bring you flowers or say and do kind things for you because they want to from their heart, you can forward stories, tell them about other couples, etc. and it won't change them. I don't mean to be downing your hopes, but it begins deep within his heart and mind how he percieves you and thinks about you...when you're not around and he thinks about you, does he smile? I watched this movie once...can't even tell you the name, but I took a quote from it and I truely feel in my heart. Here it is: "I want to be the kind of woman whose absence a man would mourn forever." Hopefully your husband will treat you like a queen, cherish and value you above all other women. Blessings,
Anna
Friday 21 August
By Gina
My parents just celebrated 60 years Aug. 20 congradulations
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Friday 21 August
By none
Yeah, a rose every day is definitely not going to do it for me. BUT - that simple gesture probably means there are a lot more loving things involved too. Things like hygiene, table manners, not being a know-it-all, not blaming the wife for everything that goes wrong. The list goes on and on. You could give me a whole garden of orchids every day and it wouldn't make up for things like "well where did YOU put it?" or "I didn't think that was a good idea YOU had but I didn't say anything". Nope - much more involved.
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Friday 21 August
By unhappily married
Unless a couple really, really wish to be parents, marriage today should be avoided. For those pondering about whether or not to enter matrimonial bliss, make sure both parties are financially secure, with a house, and even working vehicles.........good luck
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Friday 21 August
By Dayna
Oh, that is so sad. And Shallow. And materialistic. And pessimistic. I hope you find some kind of true happiness.
Friday 21 August
By kathy
just because you are unhappily married don't mean you have to spoil it for everyone else considering. There is more to marriage than material things. When my husband and I met neither of us had much. Just working and in love. Together we have changed that and have alot of material things now. However, we still love each other and still would if we didn't have our material things. You are a shallow person and will always be disappointed if you base your feelings on material things. People won't want to be with you if that is the depth of your feelings. I feel sorry for you but if you are that unhappy you should get out of it and go try to figure out how to make yourself happy again.
Friday 21 August
By unhappily married
I certainly am not talking about material things. I'm talking about the necessary things that are required to exist, married or not.. Material objects consist of expensive cell phones, any type of media merchandise, fancy cars, etc....What everyone under the age of 40 needs to realize, is that back in the day men didn't touch women. Courting was a wonderful, innocent, and yes, loving experience. The word marriage was a permenant committment based on mutual respect, and women stayed home to raise the children...
I am not a bitter person, nor am I materialistic. Look at the stats for marriages today... I have a successful husband that I don't ever see.......who taught the kids baseball, football, reading, writing, etc. etc....mommy did....Do I love my husband that is a total stranger to me? Absolutely...even though I saw him kiss another woman in front of me many years ago...are we still married? Yes, because it's a committment forever, isn't it? Been down the road of newlywed bliss, and after 10, 20, 30, years of marriage, both sides can change, especially when finances change, health issues, and yes, extra marital affairs. Certainly do not mean to sound shallow, just realistic.. Good luck to future bride and grooms, and like I said, a house is needed for survival, such is a working vehicle. Forget the plasma televisions and state-of-the-art stereo equipment...sound like a deal?
Friday 21 August
By babycaks23
Just because you are unhappily married does not mean others cannot be married without children. We are happily married and do not plan on having children. He has a daughter with his ex wife but we do not plan on having any more and feel blessed to have each other every day. Its all a matter of thinking of the other person on both parties part. Compromise trust and respect and communication
Friday 21 August
By YASMIN
Well when you are dating someone those are the things you have to consider and if your dating a looser why would you even bother to MARRY the LOOSER!!! I feel sorry for you because you probably had all the warning signs in front of you and you still married him.
Friday 21 August
By Didi
Devotion is sappy? Gentle and romantic gestures are like aspartame? It depends on the consciousness of who is observing. In my view, it's the sweetest (in a positive sense) love story I have ever heard of. During cynical times like ours, when multi-dating, multi-divorces, and multi-affairs are the norm, this story made my day!
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Friday 21 August
By Fran Vohnoutka
It is a Very nice from the heart Real life Story ---- and you have to add Your own Sadistic Donut Crap Comment on the end to Screw it up
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Friday 21 August
By aboona
well said!