In response to the article, Still smiling at 101, week ending 4 September:
Congratulations to Solly Jossel, a resident of Killarney who has not only celebrated his 101st birthday this year but also commemorated 71 years with his beautiful wife, Sylvia.
We are now living in an increasingly egotistic and narcissistic world where some couples can’t make it to 71 days, let alone 71 years together. To be married 71 years to one man or woman is the ultimate of what love must and should be about.
For better, for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. To love, honour and cherish till death do us part. I’m fairly certain they have experienced it all, and I would pay to sit with them and listen to their life story – the things they’ve seen and experienced in such a long lifetime.
I am sure they had their days when it would have been easier to just walk out the door, but no, this couple did (and are still doing) what they’re supposed to do. It’s called effort. It’s called selflessness. Sometimes you have a job to do, a duty, a responsibility to your wife, to your husband, to your kids, to humanity and to God.
This is an awesome kind of love story and there is a lot the young can learn from this amazing couple, such as commitment and compromise.
There is hope in the world if people can be married this long and still love and care for each other.
Their children must be so proud and grateful for such a heritage. I hope their family has recorded their life stories, their experiences and memories of the past 100 years to pass on to the next generation.
Congratulations to the rare jewels once more, and may God bless their hearts and minds that they can continue smiling at each other.
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