A couple has been awarded the Guinness Book of Records award for the longest existing marriage on record — 84 years! Kudos to Herbert and Zelmyra! “Not much to look at, but sweet and kind,” is how Zelmyra describes her husband. He ain’t talkin’. Wise man! Here’s the link to the article: 84 Years and Counting. My thanks to Professor Odeana Neal, of the University of Baltimore School of Law for posting this article on her Facebook page.

Puts me in mind of a joke told by the Honorable John C. Fader, Jr., of Baltimore County (from my evidence class at the University of Baltimore School of Law). We were talking about proving adultery and this delightful man told the following story. I don’t know if it originated with him or not, but I’ll never forget it. It went something like this:

“An old man was being interviewed by a young journalist in a small town. The old guy and his wife had the longest marriage in town. The young reporter asked him for the secret of his long and happy marriage.

“Well, son,” said the old guy, “It all goes back to my honeymoon. I took my bride to the Grand Canyon and we decided to ride mules down to the canyon floor. About a third of the way down, the mule my bride was riding stumbled. “Hmmph,” she said. “That’s once.” We continued on. We hadn’t quite reached the canyon floor when the mule my bride rode stumbled again. “Hmmph,” she said, “That’s twice.” We continued on and before long, we’d reached the canyon floor. Just as my bride was about to dismount, the mule she rode stumbled again. My bride jumped off the mule, pulled out the shotgun she carried on the poor beast’s back, and shot the mule between the eyes. “That’s three times,” she said.

I began to chide her for her cruelty to the poor beast and she looked me square in the eyes and said, “That’s once.”

I have never argued with her from that day to this.”

I just LOVE that story! It’s my favorite “marriage” joke.