Meet Mary & Joel from Massachusetts

They met at a Halloween party 43 years ago! Mary went to the party dressed as Rosie Ruiz; a fraudster marathon runner that was declared the female winner of the 1980 Boston Marathon, only to be stripped of the title 8 days later due to her cheating by riding the subway being exposed! At the time, Joel was in a band. He decided to attend the party in exact outfit that he preformed in; which was a blue brocade tuxedo with a ruffled tux shirt and a big black velvet bow tie. Joel‘s brother gave him a hard time saying that he was being lazy by not coming up with a creative costume. Joel only happened to notice Mary because she was the only woman at the party that was not drinking wine. She was having a beer. Funny thing is, that’s the only beer in her life that Mary has ever had to this day! She doesn’t even like beer! The two had a wonderful conversation and decided to go on a date to see The Venturas, the band that wrote the famous Hawaii Five-O theme song. Eventually, they went on to get married and build a beautiful life together. Throughout their marriage they never worked the same shift. Mary worked as a Dietitian for the VA and Joel worked as leadership for the printing company that once printed the Howe Caverns brochures!

They jokingly said that the secret to a long, happy, and healthy marriage is working opposite shifts and having their individual independence while coming together as a couple, and still being the best of friends. They said that all marriages have their ups and downs. Their favorite quote that hangs in their home in a cross-stitch picture reads:

“Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.” -Khalil Gibran The one thing they want to tell the world is, “Tough times don’t last forever. Tough couples do!” Thank you so very much for visiting AND Happy day of meeting anniversary tomorrow!