WHEN HE SAW her for the first time, Vincent Ellison of Venus Close, Portmore, was immediately love struck.

That was back in the early sixties when Ellison was a young man. Yet, he could only hope that the close friendship which he built with the girl next door, Gina Donaldson, would evolve into marriage. His dreams became reality as they have been blissfully married for 36 years and counting.

"She was beautiful," 61-year-old Vincent told THE STAR, his voice low and tender. "She was also easy to talk to."

Though Gina was almost three years his senior, this did not impede Vincent's advances.

They met on Mission Road, Kingston 13, when they were in their late 20s. Gina confided that when her room mate told her she was moving out and getting married, she began to feel the pangs of loneliness.

"He came just in time," she said with mystery in her voice. She insisted that it was not a problem marrying someone younger. In fact, it was never an issue. "He was just nice and he was there when I needed a friend," she said.

Before long they were not just sharing long conversations but also a home together. Four years hence, they were wed at the Tetoria Road Baptist Church in Kingston in July, 1967.

Since then, they have endured their share of disagreements and compromises.

"You find somebody and you love them, you will have problems," Vincent reasoned, "You must always talk it out. Don't grow to be angry. Say 'Good night' and 'Good Morning'."

Gina believes that dedication was not just words but actions. "It is about determination, remember, 'Till death do us part.'"

They built a life together spanning three decades. Gina as a worker at the Batha Shoe Factory on Spanish Town Road and Vincent as a construction worker.

Life was not easy, but they struggled to maintain the little they had and enjoy a happy life together with their five children, two girls and three boys.

"Gina would always encourage me to save," Vincent explained. "If I have $10 she would tell me to save it. She was not always so quick to spend off the money. All when you think there was none, we would find some." She was also the more spiritual of the two, but never excluded her husband from her religious pursuits.

"He used to come with me and one of my daughters to the Pentecostal Church but not really since his right eye get dark," Gina said. Now retired, they are content to spend more time with each other.