If you’re new to the Insider and saw our handsome mugs on page 2, we must inform you that we’re both happily married.
We know it’s hard to accept, but we have both found the ones we want to spend the rest of our lives with.
Don’t worry, you’ll find that special someone one day – we’re sure of it.
I have been married for just over five years, while Jon is spending his first Valentine’s Day as a married man this week, after proposing on the love holiday just a year ago.
But what we’ve been able to accomplish in married life is nowhere near the longevity achieved by Christopher and Catharine Dornin of Concord and Janet and Norton Stokes of Penacook.
In 2017, both couples celebrated some pretty impressive milestones. The Stokeses hit 60 years on June 5, while the Dornins are a decade behind after making it to the 50-year mark on Nov. 24.
Both are truly impressive, and the kind of long-lasting love that we (and all of you) are striving for.
And since Valentine’s Day is this week, we figured why not see if we can pick up some tips for a successful marriage, and pass them along to you.
So we recently checked in with the two happy couples to see if there really are any secrets to decades upon decades of love.
The DorninsChristopher and Catharine met in February of 1966.
Catharine was the college roommate of Christopher’s sister and she had gone home with her for a school break.
Both felt an immediate connection, but with Catharine going to Oberlin College in Ohio and Christopher attending Williams College in Massachusetts, neither gave too much thought about a relationship.
“I figured I wouldn’t hear from him,” Catharine said.
Boy was she wrong, because soon they started dating long distance and then more seriously over a summer together.
They were married a little over a year and half after they first met on Nov. 24, 1967, while both were still in college. Catharine ended up finishing her degree at Williams.
Within the first year of being married, they welcomed their first child and would add four more over the years. And now, some of their children are having kids, making them grandparents to three.
To celebrate their marriage milestone, Christopher and Catharine renewed their vows in November, like they did after 35 years.
“It felt like getting married all over again,” Christopher said.
“If you make it to 50 years, you should do something special,” Catharine added.
But between raising a large family and everything that comes with being married, the Dornins have weathered a few storms along the way.
“We’ve had some very challenging times as well,” Catharine said. “But it’s such a wonderful bond that married couple share after all these years.”
One thing is clear: when it comes to the Dornins, their love is still as strong today as when they first got married.
“When you’re taking your marriage vows… you’re vowing before God and he’s a partner in your relationship,” Catharine said.
When it comes to Valentine’s Day, there’s no big plans. A nice dinner out, maybe some chocolates and flowers.
Probably by this time, you’ve done just about everything.
The Stokeses
Like the Dornins, Janet and Norton met in college.
“I got a kick out of her Mass. accent,” Norton said.
Both are 82 years old and celebrated their six decades of marriage this summer with a celebration involving family and friends, and it all came as a big surprise for the happy couple.
“We were stunned, let’s put it that way,” Norton said.
They have lived in Penacook for a little more than 30 years, and have quite the family. They, too, raised five children, and now have 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren – that must be a busy get-together around the holidays.
Their religious beliefs have played a big role in their married life.
“We entered into a Christian marriage and our vows were made to each other before God,” Norton said. “And we’ve stuck to that so we had to get along.”
Very funny, Norton.
But before they got married, Norton had quite the story.
When he made the plan to propose to Janet, he asked his roommate at the time to hide in the bushes nearby and take a picture of the moment.
“It didn’t work out,” Norton admits.
While 60 years is a long time, it can seem like a blink of the eye when you look back on it, Norton said.
As for any big plans for this year for Valentine’s Day, the Stokeses just plan on staying home and enjoying each other’s company.
“We’re just going to hang out and try and stay above water,” he said.
Maybe there will be some chocolates, flowers or little gifts, but no cooking for the man of the house.
“You don’t want that,” he said.
Valentine’s Day
Now in case you haven’t looked at the calendar lately, Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. Last week’s Valentine’s Day Issue should have been the first clue.
And whether you’ve been married for less than a year (like Jon), half a decade (like me), multiple decades like the aforementioned couples or not married yet, it’s always a good day to show that special someone you love them.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on doing something crazy extravagant to get the point across.
Just make sure you do something, because even if it’s a couple pieces of chocolate, a single red rose or a home-cooked meal, it all goes a long way.
And who knows, maybe you’ll be looking back one day at the years that have passed by and remembering those special love holidays with that certain someone.
We sure hope to make it to 50 years of marriage (and then 60), so we’re going to keep doing all those great things that our wives really like.
