An old time love story

By NADINE WILSON All Woman writer wilsonn@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, February 13, 2012

THEY admit that life has not always been perfect, but 78-year-old Eugenie Spence and her husband 82-year-old Rupert say they will never trade the 52 years they spent married to each other for anything this world has to offer.

It was Eugenie's God-fearing nature that first attracted Rupert to his betrothed over 50 years ago. Both were at a tent crusade at the Moravian church in Kilmarnock, St Elizabeth worshipping, but while Eugenie's mind was focused on God, Rupert's eyes were affixed to the "nice Christian girl" who through her very act of worship captivated his heart.

"I just looked at her and my mind go for her," he said.

Eugenie, however, was very cautious as by this time, she already had two children and had just settled her mind to wait on God for the perfect husband. Even though they were from the same district, she wasn't about to trust her heart to just about anyone.

"He tried to talk to me, but it never worked and he tried again," she recalled.

The couple dated for about a year, before Rupert had a chance to secure her hand in marriage.

"We weren't living together or nothing during that time, because I am a Moravian," she said.

"I sent him to my father and my father gave him the rules. He talked to him and told him what he was expecting of him and what he was not expecting," she said.

In addition to Eugenie's two children, Rupert also brought two children into the marriage. Together they produced six children, five of whom are currently educators.

While Rupert farmed, Eugenie sold the produce that was reaped on their farm in the market so they could take care of their family.

"Sometimes it was good, sometimes it was rough, but we worked together," said Rupert.

His willingness to work hard to support his family is one of the things Eugenie said she loves about her husband; that and the fact that he is jovial and a Christian.

"I am not saying that sometimes things nuh pretty, you know, sometimes I could have packed up and gone, but I told myself that I would never cheat and I told myself I would never get a divorce, so we just learn to go through thick and thin," said the matriarch.

"We never leave one another to go and sleep at another somebody house till now. As old people say, tongue and teeth will meet, but you have to know how to thrash it out," she said.

The couple gets up at five every morning to have their daily discussion. The time is used to focus on their plans for the day ahead and to affirm their love for each other. While Eugenie is a lay pastor for their church, Rupert is a lay preacher and so both also spend a lot of time in Bible study and prayer.

"A lot of people take us as an example and treat us with respect and we encourage them and they usually listen to what we have to say," said Rupert.

"You must love each other, you must have trust and you must know that you can depend on each other," was his advice to couples who are married or are planning to get married.

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An old time love story