My maternal grandparents were married for a remarkable 65 years, remaining devoted to each other through good times and bad until, as many marital vows state: death did they part.
Was their marriage perfect? Not at all. My grandmother was born in Sicily, where passionate, fiery tempers are common. My grandfather had Calabrian roots – his family was from a region in Southern Italy where people are also known for being hot-tempered and stubborn (as my grandmother informed me on numerous occasions when my grandfather had gotten in trouble with her yet again). Needless to say, there were plenty of animated arguments between them over the years.
Despite both having passionate Italian temperaments, their love endured for decades, and much can be gleaned from their marriage. My grandfather in particular was always doling out advice. Chief among his tips was always treating each other with respect and respecting the institution of marriage.
English (US)