Seventy years of love

OLGA LIVSHIN

On March 17, 2008, Anne and Lou Corrin celebrated their platinum anniversary – 70 years since they got married. The dining room at the Weinberg Residence where they live was decorated with colorful balloons, musicians Dan Propp and Johnny Forester sang lovely songs in their honor, and a huge cake was served to all their friends at the residence.

At a time when many marriages don't reach their second anniversary, and in a country where as many as half of all marriages end in divorce, a platinum anniversary is not a common occurrence. The Independent visited the Corrins to find out the secret of their longevity – in both life and love.

Their beginning resembled a fairy tale. They were both born in Winnipeg at the same hospital, although Anne was a year older. They went to the same school, but didn't meet until later.

"She was always rushing ahead to the next grade," Lou joked. "I could never catch up. Finally, I met her on a beach. It was 1936."

Lou enjoys telling the story of their first encounter. One Saturday, he drove his car to Winnipeg Beach and stopped along the way to make some adjustments. He saw Anne walking along the lakeshore. "I knew right away she was the girl for me," he said, brimming with excitement even after 70 years of marriage to that "girl."

He followed her into a shop – times were different and he needed an introduction in order to meet her. Once the shopkeeper had introduced them and they exchanged a few words, she left the shop, obviously not as dazzled as Lou.

In desperation, Lou searched the entire town, but couldn't find her and finally went to see her mother. Unlike her daughter, the mother was impressed by the young man's determination and his boyish good looks. She explained that Anne had left for Winnipeg and gave Lou the address of their home in the city.

"He was a very ardent suitor," Anne reminisced. "We met in 1936, and every day afterward, for 72 years, I didn't have time for friends or anyone."

Lou picked up the narrative: "I missed a day. She wanted to spent time with her girlfriends, so I gave her one day. When I came back, she asked where I had been. I said, 'What if I never came back?' She said, 'I'd go after you.'"

They exchanged a loving glance of understanding.

The couple married in Winnipeg in 1938, two weeks after the wedding of one of Lou's brothers, who also celebrated his 70th wedding anniversary recently. After that, their life was filled with love, work and raising children. Lou managed a clothing manufacturer, and Anne was a factory worker for many years, before she became a director of a golden age club in Winnipeg. The highlight of her career happened in 1971, when the Queen visited Winnipeg and the club – Anne shook the Queen's hand and exchanged a few words with Her Majesty.

"What is their secret?" I asked their daughter-in-law Karen. "Anne's sunny disposition and Lou's sense of humor," she said. "And Anne knows when to dig her heels in."

Anne just smiled, while Lou watched with bemused, loving eyes. They moved to the Weinberg only a year ago, at Anne's insistence, because Anne wanted to be among fellow Jews.

"We have been so lucky," Anne said. "We still are. We are together."

Olga Livshin is a Vancouver freelance writer.

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