IslanderView Digital Magazine FEBRUARY 2018 | Page 13

Henry Dean &
Vera Flores Dela Cruz
Mangilao, Guam
I debated sharing our story in this issue and at
the last minute decided I should. While my
hubby, buckaroo, honey and I are not movie
star models, someone recently reminded me
that celebrating our silver anniversary this
year is a big deal and for many, it is no easy
feat. His parents divorced at 19 years while
my parents separated for a short time but made
How important is my husband to me? My wife? For
it work in the end and celebrated 36 years one
me, I decided long ago that if I said “I Do”, it would
day before she passed away in 2004.
be until I die.
“The vocation of marriage is very important in
our life because it is God’s calling and we must That is a serious commitment and one I still take se-
riously even though we have our days where it might
listen and be obedient.” Archbishop Byrnes
look like the end. After a break of a day or a few
Being together as a couple for 29 years, married for
hours, we are back to each other. Loving & forgiving
25, takes a lot of work. By work I mean making
as Jesus is.
things work, mostly choosing to make things work.
While many people congratulate us for being togeth- Dean and I at the workplace. Moylan’s Insurance
and the beautiful people there will always hold a spe-
er so long, it is not always easy. We have our good
and great days and we have our bad and worse days. cial place in our heart. We met, we dated, we shared
out first amazing work Christmas party together in
We are by no means perfect. I credit our faith and
God for keeping us together all these years. Neither 1989 and lived together for 4 years before we said I
DO. At 25 I was happy because I did plan to get
of us could do “this” alone.
married at that age if not a little later. LOL
When I think about it… how it all began, it is indeed
a miracle as many couples marry and not do not last We’ve lived stateside and returned home 3 times, the
last 2 times, it was Dean who wanted to come home.
much past 2 years, with 5 being above average and
10 seems to be a miracle for others. Some blame the This turned out to be a blessing for me as the first of
“middle-age crisis” and others say they have fallen
out of love with the other.
those 2 times, my mom passed away 2 years later.
The second of those 2 times, my dad passed away.
He’s always had this keen sense that is kind of scary
Based on my experience and the role models of my
but I trust him and so glad I was able to spend time
parents, aunts & uncles, and other couples in our age with my parents each time if it seems like it was not
group, it’s ultimately the individual’s choice. Do I
enough.
stay? Do I go? How much do I want this to work?