We walked into the dining room with all its splendour to behold. A large crystal chandelier hung from the centre of the three-story room with winding staircases.
Vance and I usually chose to dine alone on a cruise. There is another option…to eat with strangers. All of a sudden, we realized I had made a mistake somewhere along the way, and we were at a table each night of the eight-day cruise with three other couples.
Derrick and Crystal were a couple in their early thirties. Tom and Linda looked to be near fifty years old. The third couple was Deborah and Vic, who were in their eighties. (I have changed everyone’s names)
Deborah and Vic were celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary while they were on the cruise. They had told us Thursday was the big night. We started our journey on Sunday and Deborah talk about her celebration every night.
Her and Vic were the cutest couple. She loved to chitchat and Vic would just shake his head and agree with most of what she said.
Deborah was a spunky elderly lady who dressed like someone my age and always had her makeup done. She was a bubbly lady who shared all her travelling adventures with us. Her and Vic had been to many countries.
The first night, Derrick and Crystal listened to Deborah tell all her stories, along with Vance and I. She was quite entertaining with all her memories.
Thursday came around, and it was the big night. Deborah and Vic were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Vance and I were alone with the elderly couple on this evening.
We had a wonderful celebration, and Deborah asked me to take photos of her and Vic. The staff sang Happy Anniversary, and the couple blew out their candles. They waiter teased them about fifty more years, and Vic piped up, “I hope not!” We all laughed, and Deborah grinned.
The ship has a “Sexiest Man” contest by the pool each week. Deborah told Vance he would have won the contest hands down. I told Deborah it was a good thing she was eighty or I would have had to beat her up.
She was a charming and delightful lady.
When Vic had a stroke a couple of years ago, he couldn’t eat, walk or talk. Deborah stayed in the hospital with him till he recovered enough to come home. She had to reteach Vic everything he knew before the stoke. Vic made a full recovery. Other then a walker he pushes around but doesn’t really seem to need much, there was no sign of a stroke.
The medical staff at the hospital told the couple they believed Deborah’s love had caused Vic to recover from a stroke at age eighty-five. Vic agreed.
We were impressed with the devotion this couple had for each other. “For richer for poorer, in sickness and in health,” meant a lot to them. This elderly couple was carrying around precious gems all week. They didn’t keep them around their necks or on their fingers..they carried them in their hearts.
We desire to be married fifty years one day like Deborah and Vic. Having our dinner plans changed, and spending the week with this lovely couple was a blessing.
Vance and I witnessed the unconditional love of an elderly couple and all its splendour, the centre of a happy marriage…a priceless diamondđź’—
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – 1 Corinthians 13:7
