Louis Bockner/B次元官网网址 staff

B次元官网网址淚 found myself doing something I had long ago promised to do. I left the house quietly, and alone, and unashamedly knelt down to kiss the ground,B次元官网网址� writes Lew Duddridge in . The book, his fourth, is no masterpiece. The prose doesnB次元官网网址檛 rival Hemingway or Joyce.

Yet it tells the truly remarkable story of Len and Lew, brothers from a dusty town in southern Saskatchewan who joined the Royal Canadian Air Force during the Second World War defending their country the only way they knew.

On a warm July evening in 1940 LewB次元官网网址檚 mother became the first Canadian woman to pin RCAF wings on both her sons at the same time in Dauphin, Manitoba. Following this momentous day of B次元官网网址減omp and ceremonyB次元官网网址� the brothers were whisked away to defend the skies over Europe and North Africa.

Now, 73 years later, 95-year-old Lew sits in the comfort of his Langford living room, while is wife Hilda answers the never ending phone calls.

His hands are large. His broad, striking face carries the creases and scars of a life well lived and although his short-term memory falters from time-to-time, the long-term is wielded with a precision that defies his age.

His eyes close as he remembers seeing Hilda for the first time. There she is, standing on a German railway platform with four other girls, awaiting a train. It is a Tuesday.

An offer to carry her bags led to a date later in the week but this wasnB次元官网网址檛 good enough for Lew.

B次元官网网址淚 was a flight commander and I thought B次元官网网址榶ou know, I donB次元官网网址檛 want to wait until Friday to meet this girl.B次元官网网址� I was smitten and thereB次元官网网址檚 no use kidding.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a feeling that Hilda, 88, reciprocates.

B次元官网网址淥h he was pretty sharp looking in his wings and officers uniform and he was Canadian and a real talker,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淗e could talk the hind leg off a donkey.B次元官网网址�

Six months later they were married and 68 years later they carry out the dance of life with a compatibility and grace that is a joy to watch.

They plan to publish a childrenB次元官网网址檚 book together called Friends in Picture and Verse, in which Lew provides the poetry and Hilda the artwork.

In a culture where divorce rates soar Lew offers a few secrets learned during their marathon marriage.

B次元官网网址淵ou have to be able to laugh at things that arenB次元官网网址檛 funny,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淛ust remember that there is two ways and two answers to a lot of questions and your way isnB次元官网网址檛 always the best one. You have to be prepared to recognize that.B次元官网网址�

Lew doesnB次元官网网址檛 know what to credit with his old age and vitality but his ability to stay away from alcohol has helped.

B次元官网网址淚 have a pretty strong mind in a lot of ways and whenever I start losing my faculties or begin feeling uncomfortable, I quit,B次元官网网址� he says. B次元官网网址淵ou can lose male friends with that attitude but I donB次元官网网址檛 think I lost too much in life by being called a chicken. Anyhow I didnB次元官网网址檛 give a damn. ItB次元官网网址檚 my life and not somebody elseB次元官网网址檚.B次元官网网址�

To keep up with Lew (and good luck with that) you can visit www.theflyingduddridges.com.