“Five months ago we had gone for a ride and were at a stop sign sitting still and a 16-year old going 80-100 miles an hour hit us and totaled my husband’s truck. We are so blessed. Instead of being at Providence Hospital, we could have been at Radney’s Funeral home. It messed up my leg. I had two surgeries and just had my last visit with the surgeon and I am so happy about that. My husband is retired and I am still working. Most of the people at the office see me as their mother or grandmother. We had convenience stores and service stations and we sold them all. I also had a Budget truck rental business for 18 years. I want to work. My cardiologist says you stay healthier if you have something you have to get up and do. We have a good life. Our church is very important to us. We have nine children and we had to be workaholics to take care of them. When our youngest went off to college in Tennessee, it was different not to have any around. They are all successful and good to their families and get along with each other. We have been married for 46 years next month. It was our second marriage. We did it right the second time.”

“Darlin.’ we have been blessed in ways you wouldn’t believe.”

“What is the secret of your marriage?

“If we have a difference of opinion, we don’t argue, we talk about it. If I thought he was wrong about something with the children, I didn’t say something about it in front of them. He is my very best friend. If I needed a friend, I went to him.”

“If there is a matter that pertains to her, we talk about it and she makes the decision. If there is a matter that pertains to me, we talk about it and she won’t let me make the decision.”

“That’s not true.”

“Money is a big issue. Material things don’t mean much. Those pants she has on are over 20 years old. In the evening, I have dinner ready for us when she gets home. After dinner, we get in our recliner and talk and that is the height of our day. There were 200 boat trailers on the Causeway today, but I don’t want to go fishing, I want to be with her. She held my hand the whole way over here. We get up every morning at 5:00 and pray for 30 minutes. She gets ready as fast as a man can. We have a good life together.”