Sacrifice
By Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
United Kingdom
July 22, 2018 12:59pm CST
I remember my great grandfather as a very old man with a long white beard. He never had any time for us children, and on the odd occasion we were taken to visit him he never even spoke to us.
He'd been a widower for many years and was looked after by his spinster daughter, my great aunt Joan. He was rather a martinet, and seemed to treat Joan more like a servant than a daughter.
When he died in his nineties, to everyone's surprise Joan promptly got married. She was about 60 then, and it turned out that her suitor had been waiting for her for over 30 years.
What a sacrifice they both made in the name of duty.
Photo of one of my hanging baskets.
54 people like this
55 responses
@Daljinder (23233)
• Bangalore, India
22 Jul 18
That kind of love is hard to find anywhere or even that kind of sacrifice or commitment or loyalty. Truly! 8 people like this
@Juliaacv (48448)
• Canada
22 Jul 18
@jaboUK It depends on the family. Our son and his wife have made it very very clear that if the need be, they will look after us as long as they can. And although I find that admirable, but we only get 1 life and should live it to the fullest potential. They certainly do not think like most young people do today.
4 people like this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
22 Jul 18
Today they would probably have put him in an old folks home and got married anyway. In those days I don't even know if they had old people's homes, but maiden daughters were expected to look after their parents. I think people in your country still do this?
9 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104632)
• United States
22 Jul 18
What a beautiul story as well. How sweet the man was to wait for her all those years.
6 people like this
@garymarsh6 (23393)
• United Kingdom
22 Jul 18
Oh lordy for a moment there I thought you had joined some weird sect and done some kind of weird sacrificial slaughter. Your poor aunt I hope that she made up for all that lost time. A bit of a dark horse by the sounds of it eh!
3 people like this
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@annierose (18974)
• Philippines
23 Jul 18
Wow! It is true love then. Unfortunately, they can no longer have kids at that age. I think that they must be very happy now. Joan is such a patient person and her lover too.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul 18
@annierose She was what's called my great -aunt, my grandfather's sister.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130064)
• India
22 Jul 18
No one does that these days. The old are promptly consigned to old age homes. However there is one neighbour of mine who is devoted to her father and her husband supports her. . The couple have given up so much just to be with him since the last 18 years. He is bed ridden.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
22 Jul 18
Oh my, what a sacrificial that was, most of a lifetime. I doubt that would happen today.
2 people like this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
24 Jul 18
@jaboUK An amazing and unfair tradition.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40056)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jul 18
@jaboUK - Wow! That is an amazing story. It is hard to believe her suitor waited 30 years to marry her! Impressive.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
25 Jul 18
@DeborahDiane That's my aim too, though we don't have insurance for it. Hopefully we have enough saved to pay someone to look after us if necessary.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40056)
• Laguna Woods, California
24 Jul 18
@jaboUK - Yes, I felt sorry for her, too. My husband and I purchased long-term care insurance so we could afford caregivers or a good nursing home when we are very elderly. I told my husband that the kindest gift we could give our daughters is to NOT expect them to be our exclusive caregivers when we are very elderly.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
8 Aug 18
Wow! Her suiter waited a long time as did she. She was a very loyal daughter. I love your flowers. They are so bright and pretty.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11385)
• United States
9 Aug 18
@jaboUK What a daughter. They are beautiful.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79769)
• United States
23 Jul 18
That is quite a love story for your cousin Joan.
Beautiful flowers Janet...You certainly have a green thumb
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79769)
• United States
24 Jul 18
@jaboUK sorry for the mistake. My brain isn't functioning very well today
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Jul 18
That is amazing, Janet. When you titles this sacrifice I thought it was Grandpa and his behavior didn't speak it's sacrifice one bit. Amazing that her guy was willing to wait. I hope they were able to steal a little time alone together.
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 Jul 18
@jaboUK I agree. These days most guys or gals wouldn't be as patient.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22926)
• India
23 Jul 18
I thought this happened only in books.
This sounds truly amazing, their love must have been so strong to endure this sacrifice.
Did they meet regularly?
That basket is lovely
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
23 Jul 18
@responsiveme Secret lives, eh? I wonder how much we really know about people
.. Yes, your grandfather's brother was your great-uncle. Joan was my maternal grandfather's sister.
.. Yes, your grandfather's brother was your great-uncle. Joan was my maternal grandfather's sister.1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
24 Jul 18
Wow. That's a sad story but I hope Joan and her husband had a long, happy relationship. I'm sorry that Joan's dad couldn't allow her to have happiness before then though
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
25 Jul 18
@FayeHazel I think they were, as far as I know.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
25 Jul 18
@jaboUK Oh good, I hope they were very happy together
1 person likes this
