Roy and Pat Schotland Share Secrets to 64 Years of Wedded Bliss

Roy and Pat Schotland just moved into their latest home in their 64 years of marriage – Mirador. The latest chapter in the story of their life is living as 80-something retirees on the gulf coast in the warmth and beauty of Corpus Christi.
 
Feb. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Roy and Pat Schotland just moved into their latest home in their 64 years of marriage – Mirador.  The latest chapter in the story of their life is living as 80-something retirees on the gulf coast in the warmth and beauty of Corpus Christi.  But their story begins much earlier, in 1947 in Stillwater, Oklahoma, home to Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University.) They met there as students amid that quiet campus setting—in a world recently reeling under the tensions of World War II.

It was another era in America—with millions of American boys coming home from far flung battle zones overseas, eager for a stable life, marriage and a family.  Roy was no exception: he’d gone to sea as a US Navy sailor at 17—served in PT boats—and seen quite enough of a very turbulent, larger world.  

Roy and Pat met on a blind date but immediately saw in each other the glimmer of a future that could last a lifetime. Each was the missing piece in the other’s view of a complete life.  Pat, growing up in a small Midwest town, dreamed of a more exciting world that lay somewhere “beyond.”  She had “itchy feet” to see more of that world.  Roy was a well spoken and intelligent kid from New Jersey. She thought he was “exotic.”

Their first meeting was electric for Pat. For Roy, it was the ultimate homecoming to a place in his heart where love and peace could grow again. Still, she was surprised when Roy asked her to marry him within a week of that first date.  Roy explained, “I just knew when I saw here—that’s for me.”

Pat knew her future lay with his.  She just had to acclimate this energetic young man to her parents—after all, her father was a judge and not fond of snap decisions.  But like Pat, her parents found this witty and urbane young man quite impressive. They just weren’t quite in such a big hurry as the two youngsters!  

Since the young couple had just met in October, Pat’s folks suggested that the two young love birds wait to get married on their anniversary—April 17. That’s just what they did.   They tied the knot for good on April 17, 1948, and began a family that would grow from two daughters and one son—to include two grandchildren.

There were trying times over their 64 years to be sure.  But both Pat and Roy came from very stable homes and “the idea of divorce was just never in our vocabulary.”

Pat and Roy led a full life, with Roy first in the military, followed by a successful career in electronics.  Pat enjoyed working as a manager in retail jewelry.  Retirement took them to Florida for thirteen years before deciding to come to Texas to live closer to their daughter who was stationed in Kingsville, TX.
While in Corpus Christi, they learned about Mirador.  Though reluctant at first to leave their own house, the two were convinced by a friend who lives at Mirador that they would enjoy life more there.  They just moved in a few weeks ago and now they “love it here.”

“All the other residents have gone out of their way to make us feel welcome, and everybody is so friendly,” said Pat. “It’s a different way of living and I really don’t think I needed all that stuff I got rid of to come here. There are lots of activities and the food is delicious.  Plus, the cost of living is one of the lowest in the country in Corpus Christi.”

Today, she is thankful to God that they are both in their 80s and still have - and love - each other.  When asked the secrets to such a hugely successful marriage, Pat says, “You have to learn to laugh at yourself!  You can’t take things too darn seriously.  We’ve gotten madder than the devil at each other but we’ve never really gone to bed mad at each other.”   Experience has been a good teacher, and Pat and Roy—good listeners.


ABOUT MIRADOR

Located in the heart of south Corpus Christi, Mirador is the area’s only full service life care senior living community.  The $79 million gated community includes 125 customized independent living apartment homes, each with a fully equipped kitchen, washer and dryer, and 24-hour emergency response system, as well as 44 private assisted living suites, 41 private rooms for dignified nursing care, and 18 private residences for memory support. Designed to enrich the lives of seniors, Mirador features 25,000 square feet of commons areas on a lush 17-acre campus with a premier location close to local restaurants, shops and attractions.

Mirador is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit senior living community sponsored by Senior Quality Lifestyles Corporation (SQLC), a Texas-based nonprofit organization that sponsors sister communities Edgemere in Dallas, The Buckingham in Houston, Querencia at Barton Creek in Austin, and The Stayton at Museum Way in Fort Worth.  For information, visit www.miradorretirement.com, or call (361) 288-7027.
End
Source: » Follow
Email:***@fortepr.com Email Verified
Tags:Mirador
Industry:Lifestyle
Location:United States
Account Email Address Verified     Account Phone Number Verified     Disclaimer     Report Abuse
Forte PR PRs
Trending News
Most Viewed
Top Daily News



Like PRLog?
9K2K1K
Click to Share