Grandma Slavka and grandpa Miodrag are celebrating 70 years of marriage and sent very important message about love (PHOTO)

Slavka (89) and Miodrag Tanasic (92), from Banovo Polje, have met each other when they were children, fell in love and they married after war and they are living a happy life to this day, mutually respecting each other, showered with love and attention from their children, grand children, and great grandchildren, now they are celebrating 70 years of their marriages, writes Macvapres.

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Miodrag met Slavka for the first time in 1941, the love of his life. They did not even think that destiny might bring them together for entire life, that they will spend their old age happily married for 70 years.

Miodrag - Mija, was a small peasant boy from a good house. He was 15. Slavka, little girl of 12, came to Macva, in Banovo Polje with her mother from Slavonija. They played together in the streets, grew up and matured in war whirlwind. Mija, as a beardless eighteen year old, went to war in 1944, and Slavka returned to Croatia after the liberation. They met again in spring in 1947, on Easter, in Banovo Polje. He served the army and grew up to be a boy for marriage. Her - handsome girl grown up for marriage.

Foto: macvapress.rs

- My mother saw her in the cemetery and when she came home she said to me: "Mijo, Slavka from Antunovac came. You should see how fine that girl is. Lets take her for daughter-in-law!" - And i couldn't wait, i ran across the garden to the neighbor Milorad where she was staying. We talked and she agreed to go together on some wedding in the village. When we returned home i started convincing her that i want to marry her. I asked her to marry me in front of Milorad's house. Milorad heard shats going on, and he said to Slavka: "Well, Slavka, you know Mija, say yes, what are you waiting for!" and Milorad's wife cheered for marriage, and Slavka said yes. Miloran ran to my house and told my parents that i am married. They were already in bed, father chased Milorad out of the house, disbelieving what he said. He saw that it is true when i brought Slavka home - said grandpa Miodrag.

- When he asked me to marry him, i thought he was messing with me - said grandma Slavka. - He came from a wealthy house, and i was poor. Only mother left, father and brothers died in war. He really wanted the marriage, and he even wanted to go to my mother in Antunovac to ask her. I knew that he won't win me there because i had a lot of opportunities to get married. Later he gave up on the idea because he knew how strict my mother was - continues grandma Slavka.

The wedding was on Birth of the Virgin Mary day in 1947. The celebration lasted for three days. They had church and municipal marriage. But the photos were no good because the teacher's camera, who was also a photographer, was broken.

Foto: macvapress.rs

Mija and Slavka remained together for seven decades. They were working, building, had children.

- Marriage is the most important. And love, harmony and respect. Mija is good, he never scolded me. And i always behaved as i should. Both of us thought about the home and the children - said grandma Slavka.

- We never got into fight, and we never shouted at each other. Neither of us, nor has anyone in the house. My father never punished me, and i haven't done that to my children. There is no head of the house, there is no need for someone to hide in order to do something or take something. What we have is everybody's. We get along nicely. And if we don't get along and we don't talk, that is not a home - adds grandpa Mija.

They are proud of their two daughters to have graduated college and married, and they are proud of the son who remained to live and work on their property in Banovo Polje. The family expanded for seven grandchildren and nine great grandchildren, so 4 generations are sitting together on family gathering. Rarely anyone can boast with that.

Foto: macvapress.rs

Even though he is stepping into his tenth decade, grandpa Mija is like a young man. He will get to the shop downtown on his bicycle in no time, and there is no work in the yard or around the house that is hard for him. Cheeky smile is not coming off of his face, and he can talk about the adventures all the time, and they won't become boring. Grandpa Slavka is having difficulties moving and she is not going outside of the house, and young daughter-in-law Rosa, married for grandson Milan, is often at her service.

- Nana Slavka and grandpa Mija are an example we should follow. Their longevity and the marriage lasting 70 years can be inspiration to the young  ones because the two confirm what love, and not interests, is the most important for marriage - said Rosa.

The head of the local office in Banovo Polje Mile Jovicic affirms that marriage between Slavka and Mijo Tanasic is the longest-lived in the history of the village.

- No one has yet lived 70 years in marriage. There were really long marriages, even fifty years and more, but not 70. Grandpa Mija is one of the oldest locals of Banovo Polje, and his house honest and reputable - added Jovicic.

(Telegraf.co.uk / macvapress.rs)