SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- At the statistical intersection where increased life expectancy balances out the divorce rate, there is a surprising new cultural demographic: More Americans are reaching and exceeding the 40th wedding anniversary.
What's keeping more married couples together 'til death do them part? Todd Migliaccio, a Sacramento State associate professor of sociology, is working to figure that out in a series of interviews with area couples married 30 years or longer, or with a surviving spouse.
"We tend to focus on the fact that more people get divorced now," said Migliaccio, 37, who set the demographic bar for his research at 30 years of marriage to include more couples' stories. "But maybe we should focus on the increasing number who stay married longer."
It's a sunnier approach, after all. There's only so much the group most at risk of divorce -- newlyweds married five years or less -- have to share with the world.
On the other hand, couples who have stuck it out through thick and thin might have a few things to teach us.
So far, Migliaccio has interviewed six couples, some of whom he found after posting a request for volunteers at Sacramento's Hart Senior Center. His plan was to videotape them talking about their long and happy marriages as a way to sweeten the dose of reality he provides students in class.
"I have students who, at the end of class tell me, 'I don't want to be married,'" he said. "I tell them, 'This is not about scaring you. It's so you can go into marriage with open eyes.'
"We have certain expectations of marriage and family that often can't be fulfilled," Migliaccio added. "This is about going in with a realistic viewpoint."
Compare that with the pop-culture focus on brides, wedding dresses and ridiculously expensive weddings, which all but ignores the fact that after the wedding comes the marriage.
"I knew I was in love when he went away on vacation with his parents," said Barbara Metzinger, who had been married to her husband, Ernest, for 60 years when he died in the spring of 2007 at the age of 80.
Metzinger is not among Migliaccio's interview subjects, but she should be.
"While he was away on vacation, we both just about died being separated," she said. "It was probably puppy love, but to us it was real. And it grew into a great big love.
"Everybody starts with what they think is true love, but it takes many years of living together for that deep love to take hold," Metzinger said.
Food
February 10, 2010
Long love: Study examines successes of lengthiest marriages
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Add flavor to a nutritious chicken dish
Boneless, skinless chicken breasts may be great nutritionally speaking, but they can fall pretty flat when it comes to flavor.
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Venison a tasty variety for steak lovers
These assertively seasoned venison steaks also can be made using bison or beef. Like most game, venison is lean; keep it rare to avoid drying it out.
Venison steaks over smashed cauliflower
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon garlic powder
Salt and ground black pepper
1 to 1 1/2 pounds venison loin or tenderloin, cut into 4 steaks
Two 1-pound packages frozen cauliflower
2 tablespoons water
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup heavy cream
Salt and ground black pepper
In gallon-size zip-close plastic bag, mix the brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, thyme, oregano, garlic powder 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. -
Military roundup
Army Reserve Capt. Jonathan M. Lawson is returning to the U.S. after a deployment to Iraqi or Afghanistan in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, respectively.
The soldiers return to Fort Dix, N. - Long love: Study examines successes of lengthiest marriages SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- At the statistical intersection where increased life expectancy balances out the divorce rate, there is a surprising new cultural demographic: More Americans are reaching and exceeding the 40th wedding anniversary.
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outdoorsing can be hard on the body
outdoorsing is awfully good for the soul, but it can be hell on the body.
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Experiment takes aim at genetic learning disorder
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Ask a dietitian
Q: How much calcium do I need each day? Are there other foods besides diary products that contain calcium?
A: Calcium is an essential nutrient that helps build bones and teeth and maintains bone mass throughout the life cycle. - Veterans Corner This weather certainly has put a damper on our ability to serve veterans at the Goldsby Community Center on Thursdays. There were only 44 who ventured out last Thursday morning. We were able to work all of them and to close our doors by 8:30 a.
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