MY WIFE & I have been married for 45 years and the longevity of our union, I'm convinced, is due to my realization of the importance of letting her participate in the family decision-making.

For instance, I let her decide where we'll eat lunch when we go to town; whether to get chicken thighs or breasts in the meat department of the grocery store; & which movie to see if we have time.

I make the most important decisions, of course, such as where to stop for gas.

Naturally, over the years, I have made the key decisions such as what color to paint the house, where to plant trees, & what brand refrigerator to get. My wife & I are partners and so I let her have some responsibility, of course. She decides little things like where we'll live, how much house we can afford, & what to name our kids.

Marriage longevity is all about sharing.