“It’s Just Life, That’s What It Is. Just Life.”
The words of Ilda Ruth Southey reflecting on what wedding vows mean on the occasion of her 65th wedding anniversary - and also the occasion of her second, surprise Christmas Eve wedding to the same man, Francis Southey.
WATERFORD, Wis. - Some people get surprise birthday parties. Ilda Ruth Southey gets surprise weddings.
Twice in her life Southey was surprised with a wedding ceremony on Christmas Eve, both times to Francis Southey.
Her future husband planned their original wedding for Christmas Eve 1942 while he was stationed in Sherman, Texas, awaiting orders to ship off to Europe during World War II.
"I didn't know I was getting married, I just went to spend Christmas with him and I got down there, he had the wedding all arranged," said Ruth Southey, 85, who lives at the Waterford Senior Living facility.
On Monday, staff at the senior facility arranged the same surprise for their 65th anniversary. The couple renewed their vows in front of three generations of teary-eyed family and friends.
The first wedding almost didn't happen - Ilda Ruth had wanted a big wedding. But Francis convinced her to marry him anyway. And 65 years later they are still together. What a lovely story for Christmas. (Oddly enough, my wife and I were also married on Christmas Eve. I didn't surprise her with the wedding, but I did ambush her with the engagement ring shortly before we were married.)
By Maggie, Tuesday, 25 December , 2007 @ 9:37 am
My husband and I married just a couple months after my high school graduation (My parents had gotten their divorce in my senior year) … 31 yrs. ago. Staying together for this long in today’s “quick and easy” world takes a lot of work and patience. When asked how someone stays together for so long, especially after having been married at such an early age, I have NO answers. Out of my high school graduating class I have been married the longest (and to the same person) …
By Fausta, Tuesday, 25 December , 2007 @ 9:56 am
Merry Christmas!