QSC Couple: Bruce and Leah Mason
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re highlighting some of the couples here at QSC and we’re thrilled to kick things off with Leah and Bruce Mason, who have been married for 56 years! They share how they met, some highlights of their marriage, their favorite things about one another, and their secret to a long and happy marriage.
A Chance Meeting
Bruce: Leah was a Nursing Student at Albany Med, and I worked there as an Orderly while I was putting myself through college. Our paths crossed one day while we were both working, and when I asked if she’d like to go out with me, she agreed.
When I arrived to pick her up at the Student Residence for our date, I waited in the Reception area. The elevator door opened, and out comes this girl who I thought was Leah - it looked just like her. She said hello to me, smiled, and walked right past me and out the door! I thought to myself, “Well, I’ve never had this happen before!”. I was about to leave, thinking she’d stood me up, when the elevator door opened again, and out came Leah. Since we didn’t know much about each other at that point, she hadn’t yet told me that she had an identical twin who also lived there! That sure was an interesting start to our first date!
On Cold Feet - Literally!
Leah: We got married in Whitehall on a very cold and icy day in November.
Bruce: My brother and I had to wait in a small room in the Church with the Pastor before the start of the ceremony, and I’ll never forget it. It was colder than cold, and we tried to keep warm standing by a small pot belly stove. Luckily we didn’t have to wait long!
Our reception was small, nothing like the large extravaganzas there are today. We had a gathering with family in a banquet room at the Arlington Motel in Whitehall, which is no longer there.
After the reception we left for our honeymoon - first to Vermont, and then on to Cape Cod. It was so cold that there was no one on the beach except the seagulls!
On Creating a Home and a Family
Leah: A highlight of our marriage was having our daughter. I think everyone thought we weren’t going to have children, but 7 years later, we had Wendy.
Bruce: Leah was a Certified Intravenous Nurse at Glens Falls Hospital, and I ran the Funeral Home in addition to EMS. We were busy! We made time for travel as a family, with Leah’s recertification courses taking us to places around the country we would have never otherwise been.
We now have three wonderful grandchildren, and they all live nearby in Ballston Lake. We’re very proud of them.
It’s been a simple life, but a very good life.
On Teamwork
Bruce: We’ve been together a long time. It’s not all been great, as anyone that’s been married a long time will know, but you work at things. She’s respected and helped me in what I do for a living. Between working at the EMS and the Funeral Home, I’ve spent my life helping people, and Leah has always been supportive of that. She’s never been upset when I had to make a run with the ambulance during the holidays. She’s been understanding. We’ve shared everything together, and it’s all been teamwork.
Leah: I’ve always loved him. He’s honest, kind, brave, and patient. Fairly patient, I should say. We all have our moments, right?
The Secret to a Long Marriage
Bruce: It is a union, and it’s all about give and take. One shouldn’t be domineering over the other. It’s a team. You’ve got to be a team.
Leah: You can’t make life up - it just happens. Remember, it’s not always magic, even though the first moments may have been. But the magic returns at the darndest moments!