A Wedding Anniversary

On the first day of September 1961 the summer was not yet over in Casablanca. She was 26 and still had 2 weeks vacation before going back to her job as a teacher. She had gone to a photographer's studio on that Friday but had not met the photographer, and instead she had fallen into a conversation with that tall, blond man who had also come to see the photographer. That was the beginning of a life long story, however unlikely their story was.

She was born in Morocco where she had spent the first 26 years of her life. However, she was of Jewish origin with French parents. He was born in Morocco, too, but was a Dane and a lutheran. Whilst she had spent her young life studying, he had spent his teens and early twenties in Denmark avoiding formal schooling. Due to the Second World War he had only returned to his country of birth a couple of years after the end of the war.

On that September day there was magic in the air, as our two future love birds hit it off immediately. She explained that she wanted to go camping for two weeks, and he seized the opportunity to offer to accompany her. As his car had broken down, and as it was not really appropriate to go camping with a young man you had just met, a car, a tent and a female friend were organised, and off they went for a tour of Morocco.

Over the next fortnight as they passed through Rabat, Meknes, Ifrane, Fez, Guercif, Taourirt, Alhucemas and Chaouen, the beautiful landscapes of Morocco and the warm nights must have been magic. By the time they were back in Casablanca, they were in love. In December 1963 they got angaged, and the wedding took place in April 1964. It was a small and intimate wedding which was followed by a camping trip to the lake Dayet-Aoua. Both continued their careers, a child came along, trips in Morocco and abroad followed, and finally the couple decided to settle down in France in 1973.

I did not know them at the time, obviosuly, but the elderly couple that I met some years ago was still full of life. I can just see him as he must have been back then at 35: charming, a gentleman, cultured and knowledgeable. And she, always full of laughter, a sparkle in her blue eyes and engaged in the world around her: arts, local politics and teaching.

I was honoured to be invited for their 50th wedding anniversary which took place last weekend. There were a bunch of old people and lots of talk, and I really had a good time!

Congratulations with your beautiful marriage, dear friends!