It’s every bride’s and groom’s dream on their wedding day to have a long and happy marriage. You picture yourselves raising a family, sharing adventures and celebrating future milestones together. It’s certainly the ideal, so when I recently learned about a couple who have been married for over 60 years I decided to reach out to them to get some marital advice to share with you. This wonderful couple, Dr. Titus Plomaritis, who has written an autobiography aptly named Titus, and his wife, Claire happily obliged.
Dr. Plomaritis, a retired chiropractor, also served as President of the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. He met Claire, former representative of the New Hampshire House of Representatives, in 1948. It was love at first sight for Titus, so he began his “relentless pursuit to win her over.” As Titus states in his book dedication to Claire, “She is the love of my life and best friend.”
Lowell High School Senior Prom in 1949
Wedding date: December 1, 1951
Today, they are the parents of four grown children and the proud grandparents of eight. Here’s a snippet of my conversation with them.
Q. Were there rough spots during your married life? If so, how did you overcome them?
A. Yes, we had arguments and disagreements, but we overcame them by never going to bed angry.
Q. What are some of the best things about being married?
A. Sharing, as parents, the growth and development of our children, as well as sharing the disciplining component of good guy/bad guy. We also enjoy Saturday night dates and joint tax returns!
Q. For newlyweds today, what is your one bit of advice for a successful marriage?
A, Respect one another’s opinion, and never go to bed mad.
Q. Does marriage get even better with age?
A. In our case, yes! Our children live all across the U.S.A. from Cape Cod to Alaska, so we share time with all of them and reminisce, which is always refreshing. Claire and I always walk away holding hands with smiles on our faces and achievement in our hearts.
Q. What do you love most about Claire?
A. Her love and affection and always giving of herself.
Q. What do you love most about Titus?
A. His tolerance and willingness to compromise.
The couple also shared their top ten tips for newlyweds:
1. Be honest with one another
2. Be faithful to one another
3. Be respectful
4. Be unselfish
5. Be helpful
6. Avoid criticizing each other
7. Avoid blaming each other
8. Avoid nagging
9. Avoid demeaning each other
10. Following an argument: a kiss, a hug and “I’m sorry.”
Happy 61st anniversary, Titus and Claire! You are an inspiration for all of us, and we hope you enjoy many more anniversaries.
—Diane Forden
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