Louis Roney: Valentine thoughts

The word wife is short, but the dimensions of its meanings approach the infinite.

Every man should have a wife — preferably his own.

The Bible says that God created man in his own image. But my b.w., Joy, is a lot more than an extra rib of mine! She is an extra heart, and an extra brain.

My concept has always been that the complete human animal has two heads and four legs, and is made up of a woman and a man joined in matrimony. Not only the bodies but the minds of men and women complement each other.

A female’s thinking is not identical to that of a man, and together they usually lead to sounder decisions than either one alone. In order for this positive harmony to work of course, the marriage must be a good one. The members must be not only lovers, but best friends — they must genuinely like each other.

“Two things doth prolong my life: A quiet heart and a loving wife.” — Thomas Deloney (1595)

Marriage is a good investment that pays dividends, if you first pay enough interest.

“It is said that the true index of a man’s character is visible in the disposition of his wife.” — Cyril Connolly

Great American cynic Ambrose Bierce wrote:

“Marriage: the state of being a master, a mistress, and two slaves, adding up to two.”

Marriage must be a good time, but not shared by all.

“A good wife is one who sits up with you when you are ill — and puts up with you when you are well!” —Anonymous

I don’t like every woman I meet — and I’m sure it’s better that way — however, a day came that had no negatives. I parked my car in front of an apartment house on West 75th Street in Manhattan.

I took my dog, and went into the lobby. There were no chairs, and an attractive young woman was standing waiting, a woman I was to marry, but I didn’t know it yet. I’d like to say that this person smiled at me and started up a lively introductory conversation about my beautiful dog, but she simply turned her back and waited until the elevator reached the lobby.

My great pianist friend emerged from the elevator and we were joined within seconds by a fourth woman who walked into the lobby.

I drove us four from New York City to Williamsport, Pa. There my pianist friend played while the other two ladies sang a gala luncheon concert for 600 women. Both singers were beautiful. One was married. The more beautiful one was not, so I married her — not that day, of course.

And that is how, after 32 years, my b.w. and I have become felicitous members of this Florida community. It could have worked out otherwise of course, but it didn’t. After 32 years of marriage, I have concluded that no love affair between a man and a woman is as truly romantic as that between a man and his wife.

I see only the virtues in my wife, because they have enriched my life and made years of happiness for me. I must say in all honesty that I am quite aware of my own negatives, but I assume that b.w. has evidently decided to overlook them.

About Roney:

Harvard’42—Distinguished Prof, Em.—UCF

2004 Fla. Alliance for the Arts award

(Assisted by beautiful wife Joy Roney)