Long Live Marriage!

I love to write about people who have accomplished some great things, like a long-standing marriage! Sadly, some marvelous marriages are lost through illness, and there is nothing we can do to salvage those years lost. But here and there we have found some marriages that have dodged illness and are still with us. I’d like to name a few I met this week, and this is only the frosting on the cake - I’m sure if I had time to call on a few people, I could find lots more. If you’d like to drop me a note to tell me how long you’ve been married, I’d like to include you in another column as well! Just write to me, Donna Fiala, in care of the Coastal Breeze News and I’ll respond! These people live close by in Terracina Grand, but used to live on Marco Island, Isles of Capri and East Naples: Richard and June have been married 74 years and still walk the halls holding hands, Bill and Ann Rosewald love to play blackjack and at one time lived in Los Vegas, Terry and Norma are a devoted couple for 64 years and truly enjoy being out and about, Jack and Lucy have been married for 55 years (and hardly look that old!) and George and Marie (George is an entertainer) live in East Naples and have been married for 60 years! I wish you could see these people! They are bright, cheerful, fun, sharp, quick witted and just really nice people. Then there are two ladies from New York City – Alice turned 99 years old yesterday, and Dottie is 105 years old and has a memory like an elephant and is as smart as can be! And she doesn’t forget anything, including your name! And these gals love to play blackjack! I see from this vantage point that if you stay involved and keep busy, you stay healthier. And that is what the good fairy seems to be saying. I know Joe and Maria Grande from San Marco Church have been married 57 years and have cute, delightful stories! Hopefully, stories pour in from people that I can share with you.

* East Naples Civic & Commerce Organization had planned on raising some dollars for the East Naples Community, and then the storm hit so their target has changed to help those people in the Bayshore area who lost so much or everything! (This includes employees at Alice Sweetwater’s who lost everything, including homes and cars). Of course we are a small group, but we hope to help everyone we can. (Even my son in law and granddaughter live in that area) This fundraiser will continue through December 31st. Winners will be drawn at the 2022 ENC&C Annual Banquet for everyone to see and hear and cheer, on January 19, 2023!