Friends for over fifty years

By Roy Sanford, Freelance Writer

Vincent and Delsita Longshaw. - Contributed

Western Bureau

IF destiny plays a role in bringing two persons together, then one could say that is the case of Delsita and Vincent Longshaw. The two fell in love more than fifty years ago and they are still very much in love today. As a matter of fact, they say they have been in love for as long as they can remember.

"You see, we grew up together," Mrs. Longshaw said with a broad smile, as she recalled long-ago days that seem like yesterday to her. "He used to be at 118 Barnett Street in Montego Bay and I was at 116. We knew each other from since we were small and we just knew that we were in love," she said.

They remember vividly when their love was beginning to blossom into something serious. "We used to hold hands and walk," Mrs. Longshaw recollected, as Mr. Longshaw nodded in agreement. "And that used to feel good, man. One night we were sitting on a wall close together talking and a 40-leg bit him," she laughed.

The two giggle like two teenagers as they recall the incident. "But I killed him," Mr. Longshaw noted, pausing to take a breath between laughs.

The two decided to marry because they felt that was the only way they could express the immense love they had for each other. So, on September 16, 1951, the two tied the knot in a small ceremony at the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay. The bride was 22 years-old and the groom 25. "That was 50 years ago you know," Mrs. Longshaw, the more talkative partner, pointed out. "But if we had to do it all over again, we would."

The two say that through the years they have grown so close that if one becomes ill, so does the other. "If I am sick and I tell him to go get me a cup of tea he would say, 'but baby I cannot go because I'm sick too'," Mrs. Longshaw stated. She pauses, then adds: "He likes calling me 'baby,' you know" - and Mr. Longshaw blushes deeply.

The two agree that there are three key ingredients to their relationship - communication, humility and prayer. They say it is important to share thoughts and feelings and not keep them hidden. A married couple should never go to bed with a problem and wake up with the same problem, they say.

The two, who are faithful Anglicans, emphasised that God has been an important aspect of their lives and relationship. We never do anything without praying first," they said.

Humility allows them to share whatever they have with friends and neighbors without thinking twice.

The two are proud parents of five children and Mr. Longshaw remembers fondly when the first was born. "I stayed in the room all the time when the baby was being delivered," he reminisced. "And I was the first to hold the baby. I felt like a man, you see," he said.

Although their children brought them great joy, one of them also brought the greatest crisis the two had to face. "We had a son who went overseas and he got shot," Mrs. Longshaw explained. "We don't know what happened, but he got killed."

The two fell silent as they recalled the most painful episode in their 50 years of marriage.

Although it was difficult, the immeasurable love they had for each other got them through. "We love each other so much that we knew whatever came our way we could go through it together," Mrs. Longshaw said, her husband agreeing vigorously.

These days, the Longshaws like relaxing on their verandah while they talk about the wonderful life they have had together, or visiting their daughter in Coral Gardens to spend time with their numerous grandchildren. They also love visiting the friends who have been supporting them through the years. "There are people like Rev. Justin Lemard, Mr. Jeff Roach and Mrs. Sybil Piert and many more," Mrs. Longshaw said.

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