BritChick Paris: I'm 38 and Want a Baby - Is it Too Late?
Lisa Bloom: The Most Honest Commencement Speech You'll Never Hear
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:
Add a comment
Friday 21 August
By a;hf;aSLDFh
I agree with Evelyn, the writer's comment about the donut - that's not what a woman wants. In fact it makes us wonder about the person who wrote the article. Their love is real, and the husband who gives his wife a rose everyday, it shows that he's thinking of her, and that he cares. That's what a woman wants- the gesture however small keeps love alive.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By gary
Well that is a great way to start everyday. I wish I would hae read this about 6-12 months ago and I may still be married. My wife Cathy and I divorced about 2 months ago. Now I see this was a mistake of a life time. Though we both agreed to split I wish I had fought like hell to stay married instead of just giving up. If any one knows Cathy from UM lung tranplant please let her I love her. Also for anyone thinking of divorce please trying everything you can think then at least try to seperate first. If we had done this I believe we would still be married and have a much better understanding of what we had with each other.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By K
60 is not that long.......
My Aunt and Uncle will be celebrating their 70th Anniversary in November.
It is a cute story though.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By wjonwhit
My loving husband and I just celebrated our 21st wedding anniversary on June 12th. For 21 years he has always given me flowers. No particular day or any special reason, but simply put our every day is special. I always have fresh flowers on the table. It's not the flowers but the love that prompts the gift. By the way, I was a cougar before the name ever applied to an older woman. I'm 26 years his senior and we are every bit in love today as we were those 23 years ago. It just grows deeper. We are a very happy couple, and deeply in love. I'd give up every single petal for 21 more years of our life together.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By bobswife
60 isn't that long?
You are truly an idiot. Who cares if you know someone married LONGER than that. 60 is still a long time to be married. Only a jerk would say something like "60 isn't that long". Moron.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By lildove804
My parents just celebrated 59 years of marriage this month and are truly a love story. They met as teenagers then Dad went into the Army/Air Corps. While stationed in Alaska before his unit was to go to Korea he came home and proposed to Mom. They hurriedly put together a wedding and reception prior to his needing to rejoin his unit in Alaska. After a honeymoon in Canada he went back to his base and found he was to stay there then go to Wyoming, luckily missing going to Korea. 9 months and 6 days to the day of their wedding my older sister was born. They have had a great love affair all this time, the only person each other has ever been with. We all hope and pray that they will reach their 60th anniversary next August but a recent diagnosis of cancer for our Dad may prevent that. This is where that "for better or worse, in sickness and in health" comes in, and our Mother has been there with him through it all and will be right up to the end. No one is guaranteed anything so be sure to tell those you love how you feel every day; don't put off telling someone you love them because you don't think it's a good idea; cherish those family moments.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Hedy Collett
Obviously there is more to it than just the rose. I think they are talking about going above and beyond the day to day routine to make that person feel special. Any couple not committed to each other wouldn't have lasted 60 years.
Reply
Saturday 22 August
By Marimay
This a beautiful story! I do like the rose part. I do get roses on special occasions, but that is not what has kept us together for almost 46 years. Love, respect and learning to live with each other's faults help.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By John I. 3
All the negative comments by women are disturbing for many reasons.
This is a great story. For them, the rose could many things. People need to get over their stupid little pet peeves. If you love someone, you put those aside, ie table manners, the garbage, leaving the seat up, etc.. etc..
If you cant get over that stuff, then you dont really love someone. My partner and I have been in a committed relationship for 24 years ( yes.. my partner is a he). Gay people can have long term committed relationships as well. We met in college and never turned back. We are in our early 40s now.
Life isnt perfect. We dont leave roses for one another, but our hearts have never been stronger. We have our fights like any other couple but I cant imagine life with anyone else despite his faults and depsite mine as well.
Life was meant to be a bed of roses. We are each meant to face challenges in life and how we handle them is what defines us as a person. Get over you trivial problems and see the grand picture. If you arent happy with yourself, dont fault your mate; fix what is wrong with you!
Congrats to all the couples that have been together over 50 years. I am sure my partner and I will be there one day as well.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Diana
Beautiful Couple! Beautiful Story.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By dasmtn
Look at how they are leaning in towards each other - who does that? It is adorable. To me, I can tell that they genuinely care for each other. Whatever they are doing, it works for THEM and that is all that matters. Nice to see. Cheers.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Nikki Smith
I think it is so sweet. I have always wanted a relationship where I grow old with someone and to have them feel the same way they felt the day you met sixty years ago and lay a rose on your pillow every morning is beyond any girls fantasies of prince charming. Disney can have it's fairytale, I'll take a rose on my pillow every morning for the rest of my life !
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Marcie
I think this is a wonderful, inspiring story of true love. The roses and the kisses are a symbolic way of keeping each other and their marriage as a major priority. And that's what it takes. So many people just suck the life out of their relationship or marriage for their own benefit and never give anything back. That can't work. Congrats to the happy couple!
Reply
Friday 21 August
By msbetzi
Finally a news story that's positive!
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Dane
Letting people get close to you can only end in disappointment. No such thing as friend or love.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Gai
No matter how romantic a marriage is, there has to be a strong commitment. I think this couple has both. Before I married my husband, I told him that I wanted to model our marriage after my parents' in that every day, no matter what was happening or what disagreement was in the air, they kissed in the morning before leaving for work, the minute the met again after work and at bedtime. Those three kisses a day are the glue that has held us together when we wanted to strangle each other. Ritualistic kissing, don't sell it short.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By G.L. Garrison
To be married 60 years, and be happy you have to be able to work in a factory putting on the same part for 40 years, and still like your job!!!!!!
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Teresa
This is so sweet. I gave my guy a frame with my picture in it to put on his desk here at home. It says, Always Kiss Me Good Night. He loves it. We always kiss good night and good morning, and tell each other I love you. That is so important.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By bunny
It's not the rose that kept them together, it's the kind man who thought enough of his wife to make that little gesture each and every day, and that sweet woman who knew enough to appreciate his gesture. Too often we women take things for granted. Once a man realizes that those little things go unnoticed, they stop, and that's when the romance dies.
Reply
Friday 21 August
By Rosie
We've been married for 25 years, lots of ups and downs, but we were able to get through them. I've learned that each partner has to have the other's best interest at heart. Also learned to get over myself and develop kindness toward my husband verbally, through action and especially in thought. He was there a long time ago and I was astute enough to see that these virtues are what matter in life.
The rose is symbollic of consideration and gratitude, which has to be expressed in some way to your partner daily.
It's easy to be a jerk, screaming and yelling and throwing nasty words around, but it's not going to anything but hurt you and the people around you. Make a decsion as to how you need to make life better for yourself and your loved ones.
Reply