Bud Tarling admits heB次元官网网址檚 relatively shy.

He is so thankful that for a fleeting moment near the elevator in the Empress Hotel in 1941, standing next to a girl named Joan, he went with his gut, and his heart won over his shyness.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know what got into me,B次元官网网址� says the 96-year-old Comox Valley resident with a laugh from his home at the Comox Valley Seniors Village.

B次元官网网址淚 impulsively put my arms around her and gave her a kiss. She didnB次元官网网址檛 object.B次元官网网址�

Fast forward to earlier this week, and Bud and his wife Joan, 94, who is in residential care at the complex, celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with friends and family and enjoyed a piece of cake from a replica of their original wedding cake from 1942.

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Around age 16, Bud - an orphan who was raised by his aunt - joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. After his initial posting in Vancouver, he moved to Victoria.

In 1941, the air force authorized a gala dance at the Empress, a dance which he and his best friend Nick were planning on attending.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 an exaggeration to say that every young girl in the city was looking for a date (to the dance).B次元官网网址�

Nick was the chairman of the decorating committee, and in an effort to find a Royal Canadian Air Force flag, he made his way to way to a WoolworthB次元官网网址檚 store on Douglas Street.

It was there he saw B次元官网网址渁 beautiful young woman at the door working there preventing late shoppers from getting in,B次元官网网址� explains Tarling. Nick asked Joan to the dance, and they exchanged phone numbers.

Darling, who admits he had B次元官网网址渁 casual girlfriendB次元官网网址� at the time, rented a room with his best friend at the hotel in order to have a place for their dates to leave their jackets and purses behind.

During what Tarling, then 21-years-old, specifically recalls was the fourth dance, he and Nick switched partners and he asked Joan if she would like to dance to another song.

B次元官网网址淪he told me that she wanted to up to the room first to get some Kleenex out of her purse, so I asked her if it would be okay if I came with.B次元官网网址�

It was there, waiting for the elevator to go up to the room, where Tarling leaned in and gave her a kiss.

Then he had some explaining to do.

B次元官网网址淚 was beginning to feel quite guilty because I was thinking IB次元官网网址檓 in love with this girl, but she was NickB次元官网网址檚 date. One night, about a month and a half later, I asked Nick B次元官网网址榓re you serious about Joan?B次元官网网址� He asked me why would I ask him that question, and I told him I think IB次元官网网址檓 in love with her.B次元官网网址�

Nick told Tarling they werenB次元官网网址檛 serious, which B次元官网网址渕ade me feel like I was 20 years younger. And I was 20 then. So we switched,B次元官网网址� he adds with a laugh.

A year later, when a Tarling found out he was being posted to Tofino, he decided he didnB次元官网网址檛 want to leave his girlfriend behind, so he asked Joan to marry him. The couple married on Sept. 26, 1942.

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Looking back at their 75 years of marriage together, Tarling says all he can think of - beginning with their very first dance - is that they just seemed B次元官网网址渢o fit.B次元官网网址�

The couple has three children - Carol, Bob and Pat - seven grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

B次元官网网址淚 just love (Joan) her so dearly,B次元官网网址� notes Tarling. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had a wonderful life. IB次元官网网址檝e basically been on my own after I was orphaned at age 10 and my family grew thanks to Joan, from one to 39 (counting spouses.) ItB次元官网网址檚 been a wonderful, wonderful experience.B次元官网网址�

As for marriage advice, Tarling offers five tips:

B次元官网网址淥ne, pick the right girl. Two, love. Remember things like anniversaries, birthdays and other things that show your love. Three, compromise. Marriage is a 50/50 proposition, and you want to make sure you donB次元官网网址檛 end up 95/five. Four, morality. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no cheating.B次元官网网址�

And as for number five?

B次元官网网址淜eep breathing. That might be the most important,B次元官网网址� he adds with a laugh.