Good morning, everyone...

Since we were discussing old loves and new at the close of last week, I figured why not start the new week with a picture of a touching marriage and speak of the enduring qualities of love.

In today's picture, Bernice Jenkins and Wallis "Rich" Richard, both 95, lean in for their first kiss as husband and wife at Pleasant Valley Bible Church in Camarillo, California. Each had been widowed after a marriage that lasted more than 60 years. (Ken Hively / Los Angeles Times)

It was a dead-heat race between this picture and one of the 65th wedding anniversary of a couple in Kansas, both of them well into their nineties, who announced they were still hopelessly in love. Alas, the picture quality was pretty rough, and thus it probably would have displayed poorly in this environment.

In your minds, what are the secrets to marital happiness?

If you were well up in years and widowed, and you met Mr./Mrs. right would you tie the knot again?

Or not?

Having spent quite a few years volunteering at a Senior Center here in the Spokane area, one of the most-enduring memories of that time were the number of married couples well up in their years who, to all appearances, still had most of the same arguments and relationship dysfunctions as the younger generation, but somehow persevered and were happy together. Perhaps later, if my hectic Monday allows, I will weave a few tales of those memories.

In the meantime, this will do nicely for your Monday early-morning Wild Card while we are praying for summer to arrive.

Dave

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