Happily ever after

Deirdre Newman

One billion, 452 million, 643,200 seconds -- that’s how long Paul

and Bonnie McKinzie have been married.

Thursday, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary -- 50

years to the day after they were married -- along with 13 other

couples who have all been married 50 years or more during the Senior

Golden Wedding Ceremony on the Heritage Stage at the Orange County

Fair.

“It always seemed like a point that was impossible to reach,”

Bonnie McKinzie said. “You didn’t think you’d live so long.”

The ceremony took place in front of the couple’s close family and

their extended family as the two McKinzies volunteer year-round at

Centennial Farms.

Edmund Werner, chaplain at Orangewood Juvenile Home, presided over

the ceremony, looking spiffy in a top hat and tails. The couples

renewed their vows, sipped some bubbly and sang along to “Let Me Call

You Sweetheart.” Some even waltzed around the stage.

“Here’s to your continued love,” said Werner as he toasted the

couples. “May you be an inspiration to each other and many others as

you travel life’s highway.”

The couple with the most longevity -- 71 years -- has been

outlasting other long-wedded couples for the past five years. Kathryn

and Harry Rathbourn still delight in each other’s company, whether

it’s re-exchanging their vows or competing in the grapefruit bowling

contest, which they did soon after.

Their secret to seven decades of matrimonial bliss?

It depends whom you ask.

“You give more than you get,” Harry Rathbourn said.

“Communicating,” his wife insisted. “We don’t keep any secrets

from each other.”

The ceremony was inspiring to Wilma and Robert Davenport, who have

been married for a mere 41 years.

“I thought it was tremendous,” Wilma said. “They have a good

attitude and look happy. They’re willing to love one another still.”

Only 283 million, 824,000 seconds until the Davenports can join

the golden wedding ceremony.