The time was September 1944 and it was a blind date. Bob was a 27-year-old Navy lieutenant from Boston on the way to the South Pacific. I was a 22-year-old accountant, a fourth-generation San Franciscan. He was here two weeks and after six dates we were engaged. He left for 14 months. We wrote every day.

He came home and 10 days later we were married by Rabbi Morris Goldstein in a big, beautiful wedding at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on Dec. 4, 1945.

Fifty years later I ask myself, "Why did our marriage last?" Part of the reason goes to the sayings of my grandma, Hattie Morris. On a tree decorated with a Star of David, I have needlepointed Grandma's sayings, which include "Observe the Ten Commandments." The most important one is "to exchange a kiss before going to bed." Another reason is that my parents said "You cannot come home again." Once wed means you stay wed.

We have three children and six grandchildren and it hasn't always been easy. Today we are enjoying their life experiences. And we are each other's best friend.

We owned a small theater when we were first married. Then along came television. Goodbye theater. Being a stockbroker was a better life for Bob and the family. I spent my life trying to make a difference as a professsional volunteer. I hope I made a few ripples in the pool of handgun control, services for children and parliamentary law.

Our friends thought the marriage would never last after such a short romance. We showed them! We feel truly blessed. We now spend our time trying to keep productively busy and healthy.