courtesy of tumblr.com
“I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close.” — Pablo Neruda
I can think of no more appropriate quote to introduce the story I’m about to tell: the story of Les and Helen Brown. After coming across this southern Californian couple’s story on today.com, I felt myself warming from the inside out. There’s was a love of true beauty, and because things of true beauty were meant for the light, I’d like to share it with you all here.
Meeting in high school, Les and Helen fell desperately in love despite their differences and their parents’ disapproval – his a prosperous businessman and landowner, hers a blue collar railroader. Already set up with a background fated to some of the greatest love stories of all times, Les and Helen didn’t let the dissatisfaction of their elders bring them down. Oh, no. In fact, they spent the next 78 years proving them all wrong :)
A vintage photo of Helen and Les Brown. (courtesy of Daniel Brown via today.com)
Born on the same day in 1918, Les and Helen celebrated 75 years (!!!) of marriage this past September amongst family, friends and cake. Despite suffering from illness (Les from Parkinson’s and Helen from stomach cancer), the couple still remained very much in love up until the end. Their son, Daniel, perhaps summed up their love the best by saying,
“It knows no barriers and seems to know no bounds. They were from different sides of the tracks and it didn’t seem to matter to them. After 78 years, they were very much in love.” (today.com, Rebecca Ruiz)
But like all good things in life, this one also had to come to a physical end. After slipping into a coma earlier in the month, Les was given only a few days to live, and while Helen had a more lengthy prognosis of a few months, she decided it was time to let go and passed away July 16, 2013. Not to go a day without his love, Les passed away the very next day… to – no doubt – go on to be with his love again.
Because while all physical journeys must come to end, in their wake, new beginnings are given flight… they just need the wings.
And I don’t doubt these two received their sets and reunited asap! Such a beautiful story and an even more wonderful example of the power of love. Congrats to 75 years of marriage, 78 years together and spending the rest of their days in eternal, marital bliss :)
75 years strong! (courtesy of Daniel Brown via today.com)
