Tesi Johnson, Gleaner Writer
Left: Albert & Sonia Johnson married for 30 years. - CONTRIBUTED
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Right: The Johnson's today - PHOTO BY TESI JOHNSON
NOW MARRIED for 30 years, Albert and Sonia Johnson met while they were co-workers at Citizen's Bank in the early '70s.
"At first, I did not like him. I thought he was full of himself and very obnoxious. He used to tease me, and once he even called me the White Witch of Rose Hall because of a dress I wore," says Mrs. Johnson. She soon learnt that he, "picked on her" because he had taken a liking to her.
Mr. Johnson says, between laughs, "She wore her skirts short and had marvellous legs, and a plump derrière. She was slim yet very shapely." Another co-worker advised her that he was a decent chap from a good family, and soon she began to share friendly banter with him. They began to grow closer as they spent time together while on office excursions. Soon enough, he began visiting her at home, and they had their first date on Independence Day 1973.
"We went to street dances all over Kingston," says Mr. Johnson. "It was in the parking lot of the Harbour View Shopping Centre that we had our first passionate kiss," said Mr. Johnson triumphantly.
Over time, their bond grew stronger as they shared a lot of good times together. "We used to sing to each other under the plum tree at the front of my yard. He has a beautiful voice," Mrs. Johnson recalls, "He also used to write me poetry," she added. Once they even shared a jail cell, when they were arrested for protesting over trade union disputes.
BOTTLE OF OILS
Though they shared a great love, Mr. Johnson was still wont to upset his then girlfriend quite often. On one occasion, as Mr. Johnson recalls, he visited her at home with a bottle of oils and essence after they had had a tiff. She greeted him quite harshly at the gate, asking "Why are you here?" and he opened the bottle and threw the contents on her. "What did you throw on me?" she exclaimed, now very upset. "Oil a you cyan lef me!" he said. Amazingly, Mr. Johnson says, "I don't know if it was the work of the potion, but to this day we have not parted."
Now married for 30 years, the Johnsons say their love is stronger than it ever has been. "He is still the same jovial, comical person I grew to love in the early days. He is a wonderful father to my children, and despite bouts of illness, still manages to provide for our home. He still buys me flowers, usually orchids which are my favourite, and takes me out," says Mrs. Johnson. Mr. Johnson adds, "We've survived because we were always serious about the commitment. She is so much a part of me that I do not see her faults or shortcomings, I just accept her for who she is.
Mrs. Johnson interjects saying, "We were brought up in families with strong marital principles, and we both wanted for ourselves a family like what we knew as children."
