Time froze the minute their eyes met. The wind in the trees became still as the universe came to a screeching halt. Fifty-eight years of love and marriage that resembles two newlyweds will do that to an unsuspecting onlooker. Photographing these two has to be one of my favorite sessions to date. They were so engulfed with each other, smiling and having so much fun together. I was just there to document their love story, and wow, is it a good one!

If we were to look at their life through a lens of numbers, it breaks down like this:

• 58 years of marriage
• 5 children (both working full time too!)
• 19 grandchildren
• 4 great grandchildren

I had these two lovebirds all to myself for a whole hour, uninterrupted, to ask all life’s questions when it comes to love. The first thing I asked was what their secret to 58 years of marriage was, and their answers were:

Bill: “Marilyn is ALWAYS right.”

Marilyn: “I make sure I’m always right.”

After a few laughs, they wholeheartedly told me what the not so secret, secrets are:

• Communication is key
• Marriage and your husband/wife is not perfect – mistakes will be made
• Forgive and forget
• Most importantly, they are your numrber 1

Bill and Marilyn were there for each other, through the good and the bad, and the most powerful message I received from my short time with them is that marriage (and life) isn’t perfect and to have as much fun as you can. As I continue on my journey in life, these two will always be a reminder of what love can be like after 50+ years.