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thePeorian.com
T
here was a time when liv-
ing to 100 was enough of
a rarity that it was news.
he same was true for couples
reaching their golden anniversary
or beyond.
The reason these accomplish-
ments were rare was because
people didn’t stay healthy
enough to live to 100 or to reach
50
years or more of marriage.
According to the Centers for
Disease Control the average life
expectancy in the United States
increased more than 30 percent
during the 20th century; the num-
ber of people 100 years old or
more has more than doubled the
last 25 years.
The reasons for that, of course,
are improvements in medicine
along with better diet and more
exercise.
But has the number of mar-
riages reaching 50 or more years
kept pace, statistically speaking?
That’s a tough question to answer
because of the many factors
involved. For example, the U.S.
Census Bureau reports people
are waiting to marry until a later
age than ever before and more
couples choose to live together
without marriage.
The Census Bureau further
reports that about 5 percent of all
marriages reach 50 years or more,
but the chances are that will
increase as time goes on because,
again, we’re living longer. And
while it is true the divorce rate is
much higher than it was 50 years
ago, that has started to change
over the past 20 years.
Still, there is little question that
reaching 50 years of marriage or
more is still a rarity. The secrets
to longevity vary per couple, but
there are some common ones.
They include respecting each
other, trying never to go to bed
angry with one another, being of
strong faith and being able to say
the magic words, “I’m sorry.”
The Peorian
interviewed three
couples for this issue that have
long marriages in common. All
reached milestones within the
past year. Let’s meet them.
‘
THEY SAY THAT FALLING
IN LOVE IS WONDERFUL;
WONDERFUL, SO THEY SAY’
The recipe for long-term marital
success starts with love but other
ingredients just as important
by Paul Gordon
“
To keep your marriage brimming
With love in the marriage cup,
Whenever you’re wrong, admit it,
Whenever you’re right, shut up.” – Nash
