Lovebirds still playful after 55 years together

Still deeply in love with his wife Eulie, who he has been married to for more than half a century, former police officer Herman Westcarr decided to mark the occasion in February by getting her a 55th wedding anniversary gift card. However, to his surprise, after visiting several plazas, he couldn't find one on any shelf.

"When I spoke to one of the store clerks, she was surprised and told me that she doesn't normally get the cards for those years," said Herman. "What I had to do was to buy a regular card and use a pen and write in the 55 years on it."

Sitting in the STAR offices on Thursday, the couple playfully teased each other throughout the interview, with Eulie being the leader. Every now and again, with a mischievous look on her face, she would playfully jeer her husband, who just laughed at the jests.

On February 22, the senior citizens celebrated 55 years of marital bliss and, to celebrate it, they decided to spend time travelling to various locations around the island. Their stops included the Blue Mountains, Frenchman's Cove and a stay at Decameron Hotel in Montego Bay.

According to Herman, his wish is that, by telling their story of forever love, it might inspire and encourage other couples to stay together and not break their union.

"For you to reach 55 years of marriage, the trust and understanding have to start at the beginning," said Herman. "The first seven years are going to be rough, and it might happen for another seven years, but after that things will go smoothlya. My wife is somewhat the boss, but not fully the boss, but I give her leverage and I respect her views."

"Marriage is challenging as there can be distraction, but trust is very important. It's quite a lot when there are bills, children and other responsibilities, but you have sit down and come together and make it work. Just try and make it. Marriage can be a test of faith, but make it work," interjected Eulie.

Herman met Eulie in the 1960s at a shop/bar. As his love for her developed, he informed his superiors at the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) that he wanted to marry her, and asked them to do a background check on her.

"In those days, you couldn't just get up and married like that. I had to submit the name of the spouse that I intend to marry, and a background check would be done. They did their investigations to see if I was making the right choice. The police force was very disciplined at that time," said Herman.

Deciding the time had come for them to share the same space, Herman and Eulie moved in together at Roxborough Avenue, Kingston 3, in December 1968. Three months later, they were married by Reverend Cleve Grant at the Constant Spring Church of God, St Andrew. In 1979, the couple relocated to their present address in Stony Hill, St Andrew, where they raised three children.

Like other couples, Herman and Eulie have had their fair share of challenges. Eulie admitted that her husband had been unfaithful in the past, but that was now water under the bridge. Their bond has grown even tighter and, according to Herman, his love has grown stronger over the past five years.

"Now that we are pensioners and we are no longer working, we spend a lot of time together and I find myself loving my wife so much more and I am understanding her more. We go out a lot and we just enjoy ourselves and each other," said Herman. "We don't see where this time went. My wife and I have been checking from 1969 and we still wondering how it went so fast. The most important thing is that we are still together."