As we approach the holiday that celebrates love, the Press thought it would be fun to talk to two local couples—Jean and Richard "Mac" McCrosky, of Old Littleton Road, and Stephanie and Paul Waite of Mass. Avenue—about how they met, and about marriage.
 |
| Mac and Jean McCrosky reminisce about their 58 years of marriage. (Photo by Lisa Aciukewicz) |
Press: How long have you been married?
Jean: 58 years.
Press: How did you meet?
Jean: We met at Harvard College. We were running through the door, each coming from a different direction, and crashed into each other.
Press: Was it love at first sight?
Jean: It was for me!
Mac: I had already seen her around and had my eye on her. So, yes, it was for me as well.
Press: How did you ask her out for your first date?
Mac: She actually asked me out. We went to a young Republican's square dance in Wellesley on Valentine's Day.
Jean: Yes, but he did ask me to go to see the sunrise with him on Mount Monadnock a few weeks later.
Press: That sounds romantic.
Jean (laughing): It didn't turn out quite like we planned. We were supposed to go with a small group and it ended up being more than 20 people. Then it rained and the weather was awful so we never ended up seeing the sunrise at all!
Press: How long were you engaged for before you got married?
Jean: We weren't really engaged. We dated for about a year and a quarter before we got married.
Press: Mac, did you ask her father for her hand in marriage?
Mac: Yes, I did ask her father. He asked if I could support her and what it was I actually did for a living. I said research. His reply was, "And you get paid for that?" He owned a newspaper and he told me straight out there was no room for me at the paper. I thought to myself, "Thank God!"
Jean: I was happy he asked though.
Press: Did you have a big wedding?
Jean: No. My mother wanted a big wedding. We had very few people at the ceremony. My mother gave us a reception where she invited a lot of people. The thing I remember most is it was a "dry" event and one of the wait staff came running up to me immediately after the ceremony and thrust a drink in my hand. I guess she thought I was going to need it.
Press: Were your families very involved in your relationship?
Jean: We both had very strong families. They were helpful in some ways. On my father's first visit to Harvard he brought us a lawnmower.
Mac: My father helped build the livingroom in our house.
Jean: I still remember Mac's father brought us a big thing of milk and about 20 pounds of cocoa when he came to visit once.
Press: How long have you lived in Harvard?
Jean: 55 years. We used to come out here to visit the observatory for Mac's work. Then we would just come out on weekends and go on hikes and explore. One day we were out here and we were walking up the road. As we came up over the hill, we saw the sun setting and a "for sale" sign in the forefront. That was that.
Press: Why do you think your marriage has been so successful?
Mac: I don't know we are. There is no simple answer to that. All I can say is that we are both tolerant.
Jean: When I met Mac, he was so different from the conservative people I grew up with. We travelled a lot and it was very exciting to be with him. We had a lot of fun together over the years. And we have a big house with lots of rooms to go in if you need to.
 |
| Stephanie (Green) Waite and Paul Waite. (Courtesy photo) |
Press: How long have you been married?
Stephanie: Our one-year anniversary was on Feb. 6.
Press: How did you meet?
Paul: We both worked at Idylwilde Farms in Acton.
Stephanie: I worked in the greenhouse and he was helping to sell Christmas trees. I had seen him around but we didn't interact much. My friend Tiff was working at the Beef N' Ale in Groton. I went there to meet her when I got out of work and when I walked in, Paul and his brother Rob were sitting at the bar. Paul and I hadn't spoken but a few words up until that point. I walked over and we all started talking. I asked Paul if he had any "baggage". He said no so I jokingly asked him if he wanted to get married. We were inseparable from that day forward.
Press: Was it love at first sight?
Stephanie: It wasn't love at first sight for either of us, but we were certainly interested in learning more about each other.
Press: How long did you date before you got married?
Stephanie: Eight years.
Press: Who courted whom?
Paul: I wouldn't say either of us did. We were equally interested in each other.
Press: Where was your first date?
Paul: We went to dinner with mutual friends.
Stephanie: It was going so well we decided to go play pool as well.
Press: Did you ask for her hand in marriage?
Paul: Yes, I actually went to ask Stephanie's dad on our seven-year anniversary. She was out Christmas shopping with her mom, so it seemed the perfect time to ask Don's permission. I always knew we would be together and it seemed the right time to take the next step in our relationship.
Stephanie: That meant a lot to me.
Press: How did you propose?
Paul: I made a nice dinner and proposed just before it was served.
Stephanie: I was totally surprised. We had been together for eight years, so I wasn't expecting it. He had talked to my father a few days before, and so my dad knew before I did.
Press: Did you have a big wedding?
Stephanie: I think by today's standards we were average, with just over 100 people.
Press: Were your families very involved with your decision to marry?
Stephanie: They were not a deciding factor, but were happy with our decision to marry and were very supportive.
Press: Do you have any marital role models?
Stephanie: We are lucky that we both have parents that are still happily married today. They have provided us with great examples to learn from and follow.
Press: What do you think the key to a successful marriage is?
Stephanie: Communication.
Paul: And compromise!
Press: What do you think the key to your success has been?
Stephanie: It's funny. We tried to determine what the "key to our success" has been and, well, we couldn't come up with an exact answer. We have always been honest, even if we didn't think it was what the other person wanted to hear. We have both grown up over the last 9 years and we both are happy with what we each have become separately, as well as together. Our goals and beliefs are very much the same, and we have always been able to communicate our feelings—no sweeping things under the rug. Whatever it is, we are grateful for it and have faith that it will keep us together so that we too can celebrate 50 plus years together.
Press: Where do you see yourselves in 50 years?
Paul: Retired!
Stephanie: And quite possibly still living here in town.