Wow, love is indeed a beautiful thing! This is the last challenge on love from #Dreemport for this month. This time, we were asked to find a couple that has been married for a long time, interview them for hive, ask them to share their marriage journey with us so far, get some advice, memories, tips, etc.

I was privileged to have an interesting interview with this couple yesterday.

They have been together for 35 years and are still counting. Their journey so far has been a lesson to both intending couples and newly married couples.
So this couple has been like a family friend to me. The husband, Engr. Cletus Egbuzie, was my former boss at Wece Petroleum, Engineering Works, and Service Limited. A private oil and firm company owned by him after his retirement as the MD of ExxonMobil Working for him, I was observant enough to learn a few things about him and his wife. Whenever his grown-up children (adults with their respective families) visit the office, they treat us as staff with the utmost respect; they never behave as if the company is owned by their father. I don't think I can explain better how well trained these children of this man are. His wife's visits each time were always an experience. I watched this old man respect his wife like anything you can think of; he treats her like a queen, almost to the point of licking her skin. That's the only way I could explain this kind of love and respect.

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This little observation of mine between this couple made me choose them for this interview. I thought that this would be an opportunity for me to hear about their journey so far and what has kept them bonded so much even at this age. It's been two years since I stopped working for him, but we still keep in touch every now and then. For this interview, I called him to inform him about my visit and the purpose of my visit, and he said it's never a problem at all, and he knows that his madam wouldn't have a problem either. I got there pretty late yesterday, almost at night, due to the heavy traffic I encountered on the road. However, they still gave me some time for the interaction, but not as much as I wanted.

The interview

What got you attracted to each other?

The husband: I saw Rosemary as an ambitious woman, so bold, social, kind, neat, etc., and she still is to date. The qualities I wanted in a woman at my youthful age are in her, and she completes me.
The wife: Cletus is an intelligent man,so smart, kind, and caring to anyone around him. I wanted to be influenced by his caring and kind character as I lacked it initially. This was the major thing that got me attracted to him, including his handsomeness, and today, I am a better woman.

Can you share your fun stories as a couple with me?

Both smiled at each other and couldn't stop laughing, both remembering different memories of the past, but the fun one they agreed to share together was their days before the kids started coming. According to them,they had all chores done together in love, cooking and playing love in the kitchen. Along the line, they remembered how their chicken got burned when they were carried away with love. Haha, it was fun indeed, and I enjoyed that part.

How do you settle conflicts?

We all have our differences because we were raised in different families and we are different individuals coming together to live under one roof, so conflicts are inevitable, but no matter the degree of the dispute, we do not allow it to encroach the next day before sorting out the problems, and we have never invited family members or friends to come and intervene in our issues.

Has money been an issue between you both before?

Never! This is because we made financial plans at the beginning of our marriage. Both of us have different businesses, investments, and shares, including a joint account where some percentage of the money is being thrown there monthly for family expenses. _{Wow, what a nice idea I got from them}.

What advice can you give to a new couple?

Respect, trust, love, and communication are essential attributes to possess. Support each other's dreams, forgive when needed, overlook some things, and keep going because no one can be perfect at all times. Celebrate each other on any achievement, including birthdays, marriage anniversary, awards, etc.Learn to sacrifice for each other and occasionally present a surprising gift 🎁.

*Wow, what a short interview and value added. I have been married for 8 years now, but personally, I learned a lot from this couple, and hopefully I should implement it in my own marriage as well.

This is my response to the Dreemport Love Month Challenge.

Please note that the couple gave me permission to use this image of them in a hive for this post.