When the husband throws his possessions down the gutter and forgets their fiftieth wedding anniversary, the lady is hurt and furious but returns home with a strange justification.
Betty Carmichael was sure her husband had missed their anniversary again, but this time she wasn’t going to accept it. After fifty years of marriage to Donald, she deserved better!
What did she gain after spending the best years of her life with him, bearing his three children and sticking by his side through everything? Not a bouquet of red roses, not even a pile of ragged daisies.
Betty frowned as she looked at the wall clock. 9.30 pm He didn’t even bother coming home for her carefully planned dinner! This was the last straw!
Any relationship needs trust to be intact; without it, love is eroded to the core.
Betty smiled grimly when she heard her husband’s car pull into the driveway two hours later. Donald wasn’t going to have fun tonight.
Immediately she heard someone yell, “BETTY!
What the hell is going on here?”
Fists on her hips, she walked out and stood on the porch. She said, “What do you want?”
Donald looked really angry as he stood on the lawn. He pointed to a worn old chair that rested on the grass with several boxes of books and other trinkets.
“What are my things doing on the lawn?” the man asked. “Are you out of your mind, woman?”
Betty yelled, “Fool!” when the lights came on in the house next door. You must be crazy! Do you suffer from amnesia or Alzheimer’s? I’m kicking you out. I’m ending our marriage.”
“Are you divorcing me?” Donald gasped in shock. “I’m seventy-eight and you’re seventy-five and you want a DIVORCE?”
“Yes!” cried Betty wildly. Do you really believe that I am no longer a lady just because I am 75 years old? that you can ignore me But I won’t let you do that.”
“Betty,” said Donald. “Keep calm.
what about that?”
“You forgot our anniversary AGAIN!”
With anger, Betty said. “I must remind you of my birthday after fifty years of being together. You were undoubtedly present at the wedding, although I understand you were not.”
“You bet,” Donald replied. “That was the happiest day of my life…”
“Then why don’t you remember?” Betty asked. “Why don’t you take me to the dance or bring me flowers? You’ve lost affection for me. You haven’t shown me love in years.”
Donald shook his head. He said, “I love you, Betty.” “You are the love of my life…”
“Then why didn’t you come home for dinner?” Betty asked. “I made a beautiful dinner, laid flowers, lit candles and you didn’t come! Where have you been? Are you coming?”
Donald smiled. “Yes,” he replied, stepping aside. There stood a slim woman in her twenties with Donald’s big smile and Betty’s blue eyes.
“Hannah!” Betty ran down the stairs crying. If Donald hadn’t caught her, she would have fallen. She threw the girl into her arms and started screaming.
“Oh, Hannah,” she cried heartily. “Too much time has passed! I’ve missed you so much.”
Hannah greeted Gran Betty, “Hi.” “Sorry for the late arrival, but my flight has been delayed. Unfortunately, Gran Donald has been waiting for several hours.”
Betty looked at her husband. She objected and said, “You knew he was coming and didn’t tell me?”
Donald triumphantly exclaimed, “I didn’t know.” “I planned it! The trip was delayed so it wasn’t the surprise for your anniversary that was planned. I sent her a note because you whined about how much you missed your only granddaughter.”
“Oh, Don!” Betty hugged her husband and sobbed. “Sorry! I was thinking… I started having bizarre thoughts.”
“Betty,” Donald whispered softly. “I haven’t looked at another woman in fifty years and I’m not going to start now.”
“Donald,” Betty said. “What did I do to deserve you?”
“I really don’t know,” Don replied. “But I can tell you we’re going to have a hell of a time getting all my stuff back in the house where it belongs!”
Don and Betty, with Hannah’s help, cleaned everything up and settled down for a midnight snack. “Besides,” Donald remarked. “I’ll give you another surprise.
Tomorrow night we are having a party for all our kids and friends. Father Bartholomew will be present and we will be able to reaffirm our vows.”
Betty exclaimed, “But what shall I wear?”
“I don’t know about the dress, but I have a ring!” Don commented, getting down on one knee and pulling out a small jewelry box. “Betty Delancy Carmichael, will you marry me again?”
The Carmichaels celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in style the next day, with Betty looking stunning in a gorgeous cream suit with a small veil. She swore for the rest of her life that she would never believe Donald when he kissed her.
What lessons can we learn from this story?
• Trust is the foundation of every relationship; without it, the love that holds it together erodes. Instead of realizing that Don has a wonderful surprise in store for her, Betty begins to believe that he no longer loves her.
• Marriage is more than just a special occasion; it’s about life every day. Betty lost sight of the fact that Don supported her through good times and bad.
The story of Betty and Donald Carmichael highlights the importance of trust and communication in marriage. Betty’s initial anger and decision to confront Donald stemmed from years of feeling unappreciated, culminating in the disappointment of yet another overlooked anniversary. Her reaction shows how quickly doubts can erode the foundations of trust built over decades. Donald’s unexpected gesture to bring their granddaughter Hannah and his subsequent proposal to reaffirm their vows reveal the depth of his love and the lengths he went to make up for his oversight.
This story shows that marriage goes beyond mere anniversaries and special occasions; it’s about the daily acts of love and support that sustain her. Despite Betty’s initial misgivings and suspicions, Donald’s actions remind us that lasting commitment involves both celebrating the present and preserving shared memories. Ultimately, their story teaches that trust and understanding are vital, and that true love is often expressed through thoughtful, sometimes surprising acts of kindness.