MIKE Wheeler takes us back to the time he proposed to his wife, Winnie, on Valentine’s Day 50 years ago.
The Wheelers are prominent creatives in the Upper Highway area – Mike is a fashion designer, and Winnie has just been rewarded for her line dancing skills.
As the couple are a few weeks away from celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, they reminisce on their journey towards getting married.
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Winnie said she remembers being invited on a blind date by her sister who was concerned about her being single at 24 years.
“My sister’s boyfriend said he had met this fella, and he suggested to my sister that we meet with him. So, on my sister’s birthday, we were introduced to each other, and ever since then, he has been chasing me and never left me alone,” explained Winnie.
Relaying his memories of the events, Mike said he had just come back from Rio at the time he was introduced to his wife.
“I had just come back from a yacht in Rio, which was the bikini centre of the world, but my wife outshone all of that when I saw her. I just knew from the first day I saw her that I love her – I just loved her,” he said.
Mike said that when he met his wife, he was at a stage in his life when he was ready to commit as he had been a bachelor for 30 years. He then married her at 31 years.
“When I got to know my wife, I realised that she possessed all the characteristics I believe make a good wife. She was kind to her parents and considerate, and she did not overplay her hand. We were both just ready to get married,” he explained.
Mike said their readiness was one of the reasons why he popped the question a month after they had started dating, which was on Valentine’s Day.
“I gave her a ring, and she accepted. We then organised for our families to meet,” said Mike.
“People thought it was too quick and suspected that I was pregnant,” added Winnie.
The couple said the initial plan was to get married on Winnie’s birthday which is June 4 as that would allow them a few months to prepare for their big day. When Mike proposed the date to his family, he was reminded about his cousin’s wedding which was on the first of the same month.
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“I figured out that the 23rd of March was on a Saturday and also my birthday, so we set the wedding to be on that day,” said Mike.
Fifty years later, the couple have expanded their family to four daughters, four sons-in-law and 11 grandchildren. With tears in her eyes, Winnie said she is grateful and feels intense love for the family she has built with her husband over the years.
Speaking on the principles of their marriage, the couple said they have grown to understand, accept and love each other.
Mike further shared a few principles to help couples, especially men, sustain a long marriage.
– Choose to travel on the righteous path.
– Gentlemen, play with your wife. Prefer your own wife.
– Claw yourself out of debt, then stay out of debt.
– Never, ever, ever lie to your wife – rather have robust conversations and sort things out.
– Shout for joy when you think of what God has done for you.
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