Not many people can say they have been with someone they loved as a teenager for over 50 years.
Even fewer can say they still write love letters after decades of marriage.
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Ina Garten, the famed “Barefoot Contessa” and television personality, has been with her husband Jeffrey for over 50 years. Now 70 and 71, respectively, the two met when they were just 15 years old.
In 1963, Garten was visiting her brother at Dartmouth college when she and Jeffrey met on the street. Not long after, he sent her a letter introducing himself and including a picture of himself as well.
Garten was overjoyed when she read the letter, reportedly running to her mother to yell, “Mom, Mom, you’ve got to see this picture of this guy. He’s so cute!”
They began dating after, and tied the knot 5 years later in 1968.
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However, just a year after their wedding, Jeffrey was deployed to Thailand. There for the army, he had no choice but to continue communicating with his now-wife via letters.
Garten participated as well, and the two wrote to each other remotely for a period of time. Only able to speak on the phone once a year, letters became an important part of their relationship.
Jeffrey claimed he wrote a letter to his wife every day while away from her.
When he finally returned, the two reunited and made an effort to go on dates. They began traveling to Paris often, including every year on their anniversary. Eventually, the city became like a second home to them.
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Jeffrey was traveling to Yale University in Connecticut every day for years, where he works as a professor in the school of management.
Ina would work out of their home in East Hampton, New York, and the two would only really spend time together on weekends.
Jeffrey, therefore, made an effort to continue writing love letters to his wife every day, telling her why he loves her.
When the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone indoors for a period of time in 2020, the two were finally able to spend extensive time together.
Even then, Jeffrey continued writing his love notes to his wife!
We certainly think that Ina and Jeffrey have a story of true love on their hands after 53 years.
