Hi Pamela..........
I am Richard, .... and my wife Lily, a regular member on this site, dragged me over to the computer to confess.......after 48 years of marriage - ten kids - making love at least three times a week (she`s Polish - and they are definetly the most beautiful women in the world, and she has her fingers around my neck....!)..........we, as Catholics, have been true to our vows and each other......
I will publically say, it has much to do with our religious beliefs and taking our marriage vows seriously. We have taken the `we` approach to our marriage rather than the `me` - 100% - 100% rather than 50-50, and often over the years, our crosses, either singularly or together, have been heavy......
Our strong Polish roots - from Detroit - another big reason for `grinning and bearing it`.....you live near the Ford Foundry all your life, and live in a mentality of `marching` to a different drum (morals - values - spirituality - the will to live - preciousness of life - bust your [censored] for your family, community and ALMIGHTY GOD)....it sort of has an impression on a child, especially when all the children in the neighborhood are experiencing the same thing. .
If there has been a weak link.......it would be me. Lily is a saint, a Godly woman, a wonderful mother of ten children and thousands of other children, whose lives she has effected as a teacher of music. Me, I`m OK ....but a rascal.
Of course, she being Polish - me Italian, we have an understanding which she told me about years ago....you mess around, you die.......no divorce, ....you die, just like in Poland. And when Polish women speak....husbands usually bow in humble submission - or no toys at Christmas!~!
I didn`t mean to take up website time from the rest, but Lily insisted.
Richard
