WESTLAKE, Ohio — Romance, as depicted in the movies, tends to be, well, very romantic: The characters fall fast and hard, the relationships are torrid and exciting, and everyone always has the perfect line at the right time.
But of course, movie relationships are very different from those in real life, which are not all roses candy and which tend to last longer than a neat two-hour run time, in some cases much longer. Take this lovely couple, current residents of Brookdale Senior Living in Westlake.
Jean and Martin Linn were married more than 70 years ago in 1953, when Dwight Eisenhower had just been elected President, color television was just on the horizon, and we still only had 48 states.
Rather than being brought together by romantic fate, Jean says it was simple proximity — they were neighbors and she simply waved hello. She recalls that their first date didn't go smoothly.
"He was working a long shift and he fell asleep," she says, "so our first date didn't go through."
And while Jean doesn’t exactly remember sparks flying, they clearly had a connection. They went on to get married in 1953, and their wedding day had a few hiccups, as well.
"We had a band and they didn't show up," Jean recalled, with a smile.
The resilient Linns say they've had many ups and downs since that day, but that the time has flown by. This seems like a good time to point out just what an impressive anomaly Jean and Martin really are in their matrimonial endurance.
According to the most recent census data, the U.S. marriage rate recently hit an all time low, and while the national divorce rate has slightly improved, the median duration of current marriages in the U.S. is still just 19.8 years. That equates to roughly 28% of Martin and Jean’' tenure.
So, what's the secret? The Linns say there are a few keys to long lasting love.
"Well, you have to have a lot of patience," Jean noted, "because things don't always work the way you think they should."
They also say shared interests are important. For the Linns, that was camping, a hobby they shared for 50 years.
It's also clear that maintaining humor has aided in the couple's success. When asked if he was happy in his marriage, Marty replied "I have to be," with a laugh.
The romantic leads in Hollywood movies have it easy. In the end, they kiss, the credits roll, and they get to remain there — frozen in our memories, forever ever young and in love.
But that's cheating, and it's not how love works. Love is fireworks and roses, but it's also laundry and arguing. Love is accommodation in exchange for good company.
It's easy to fall in love; the accomplishment is staying that way. Some manage to fare better than others.
Whether you're celebrating or out there hating tonight, Happy Valentine's Day.