Courtship. Just hearing the one special voice makes the moment shimmer. Together every possible minute, or, while apart, rolling the possibilities gently in the mind. The world's luster is bright and beautiful. Songs become anthems. Whispers envelop couples like warm fog.

Marriage. Passion. Nest building. Jobs. Children. An hour together becomes a rarity. For most of us, that is.

For some couples, however, leaving with a whisper kiss in the morning, going separate ways, and returning drained at the end of the day is no longer the way of life. They manage to make life, marriage and business exist in connecting parallels.

We asked four such couples to share their experiences of working together in their business efforts. Each pair began with separate strengths and talents and combined them to create their best possible world: together from start to finish and held together by the trust, respect, kindness and honesty that form the basis of love.

And, apparently, good business!

Candy and Wally Rosenblum

You could say that the H.W. Rosenblum men's store in Mandeville is a new leaf on the family tree. Wally Rosenblum and his wife Candy have been in and around retail stores for their entire lives. His family operates Rosenblum's in Bogalusa and she was born into the Sutton family of New Orleans retailers. While he ran the department store, Candy gave up her social work practice to raise their two children. With son Zack, a senior at St. Paul's, heading off to the University of Pennsylvania next year and daughter Cynthia serving as president of her eighth grade class at St. Scholastica Academy, she finally has a bit more time to herself.

Wally dreamed of opening a fine men's store in Mandeville, and he wanted it to be a joint project. "I really wanted Candy to live and breathe it with me from the beginning ... from the design of the store to the hiring of employees. We knew the timing was right when she called me from her cell phone one day to say she'd found the perfect spot." He notes that at the Bogalusa store he works with his family, but "this store is our baby." The enthusiasm they share for the new venture is obvious and contagious.

H.W. Rosenblum is the blend of their personalities: lively, secure, stylish and welcoming. When asked what the experience has meant to her, Candy says that it has been wonderful, after 20 years of marriage, to rediscover her husband's talents. "Wally is really good at what he does," she says.

Though Wally makes a determined effort not to let shop talk dominate their time at home, he appreciates all he's learned from her about communication. "Candy is a great listener," Wally says. "She makes people feel good, inspires them."
The unspoken language of years together makes running the store fun and interesting. They complement each other's strengths and find a stronger bond in their relationship from the experience.

What advice would Wally give to couples thinking of working together? Respect for each other is the key to sharing a dream. Candy responds, "Good answer!"

Debra and Edwin Neill

For Debra and Edwin Neill, the intense work during the early stages has given way to a wiser kind of life. "I used to be a slave to work and travel," explains Edwin, whose corporation is one of the largest employers in Tangipahoa Parish, barely trailing a regional hospital and the school board. He and Debra have worked shoulder to shoulder for 21 years and have been married for "17 or 18 years-I'm not sure how long. Bet Debra doesn't know either..." he muses. "That's the incredible part. Wonderful."

The one factor that has made the marriage work, for both Edwin and Debra, is total commitment. And that is...."Getting beyond non-commitment," he happily explains, as though the answer was probably obvious.

He elaborates: "For a relationship to be lasting, you need two things." The beginnings of a smile and the light in his eyes warn that the reason is going to be a treat, if not a little wicked. It was. "Trust and lust." The smile widens and the eyes focus briefly on a place somewhere else.

Debra is more pragmatic. With good humor, she says, "I bet he said trust and lust," and added, "In conjunction with that is respect. It's caring and beyond compassion-it's that everything matters-every decision, action, thought-in the scheme of things."

What does Edwin like best about his wife and helpmate? Actually, just about everything. After about five years of being together, he discovered that "she is as perfect as any human being could be." He lauds her honesty above other traits, her straightforwardness. She describes it as integrity.

"There's no pretense to her," he says, and, without much prompting, continues. "She's an incredible mother, great wife, excellent businesswoman, totally fit, beautiful, keeps it all in balance." There is no doubt that he could easily add more.

Her best quality in the business? Edwin says without qualification that she is an integrator, the glue that holds things together.

His best quality? Matching people to jobs and helping them reach their full potential. "He sees the essence of a person," is Debra's analysis. Edwin says he is a talent scout. Their philosophies blend to make an enviable workforce and ever-expanding business: "We hire for attitude, and train for skill."

Does either need time alone? "Yes," said Debra. "Can you tell?" Being raised on a farm on the Kansas plains, she grew up as "a reflective child with a great deal of spirituality." For Edwin, having personal time is easier. "I have some time alone, but it's not a priority. I can be alone in a crowd."

On special holidays, with their admittedly busy schedules, how do they manage? Again the look of mischief from Edwin Neill. For the last two years, he has been away on Valentine's Day, so Debra flew to his location.
"A one-night stand, you could say." And he chuckled.
Their advice to other couples: remember to be kind to each other.

Pat and Sammy Tallo

"I'd much rather have him as a boss than a husband," says Pat Tallo, "and I sure like being married to him." Sammy is a good person to work with, she says of her husband of almost 39 years. "We go out together after work," she adds. "Or home to visit with children and grandchildren. He's my best friend."

Pat's years as director of the local Red Cross, and their many years of owning and working distributorships in different states, gave them much experience. They finally came back to their Hammond home. The couple owns various business interests in Hammond, including three flourishing restaurants-The Pepper Tree, award winning Tope La', and Lee's-plus a range of properties in various places.
"I like to buy buildings," says Sammy. "It's Pat who makes it work. 'Have you considered this? What about these other possibilities', she'll say. And it's usually those ideas that make it happen..." Pat finishes the thought. "He does the basics; I refine it."

When pressed for her husband's best quality, her opinion crystallizes instantly. "I think he's one of the smartest people in the area," she says without qualification. "Life with him is exciting, and a little scary-I don't know what he'll do next." She adds, "What makes marriage and business so successful for Sammy is that he's organized. Super organized. But his power is that he's so laid-back about it. Some people could make the mistake of thinking that his kindness is weakness, but that's the basis of his strength."

As for Sammy's estimation of what's best about his wife, he says, "It's hard to pick one thing. Hmmm." They look at each other as they frequently do, just to look. No particular emotion. No signs to manipulate the outcome. Just looking and waiting. "Probably her ability to listen and not talk, then bring the whole thing back in a workable way. Also, she's real, not fake, and she loves kids. Her personality gets her anything she wants."

To Sammy, net profit is not the most important aspect of their work together. "That's for sure," he says. "What's most important to both of us, I think, is the act of accomplishment, not just work."

What keeps their marriage strong is also what keeps their business ventures strong. "Communication," they agree. "We talk a lot. Share our feelings. But you have to work at it," they add.

And while they go to work together, work is not taken home, especially on Sunday. "No business," says Pat. "None. That's family time."

Julie and Jim Moreau

"I commuted to the CBD the first two years we were married," says Julie Moreau. "We said, 'Life is too short to spend so much time apart.' When Jim's two employees both went out on maternity leaves, I learned first one job, then the next, and helped hold the office together. We've never looked back in 16 years!"

At work, the two share a goal: to be the most high-tech, high-touch dental office their patients need them to be-and to make dentistry as comfortable, beneficial, and even enjoyable, as can be imagined. Jim says, "As administrator, Julie runs the business. If she didn't do it, I would have to find someone of her caliber to do so-but no one can have the commitment of a spouse."

As to what makes it possible to work with her so successfully, Jim has a quick answer: "Are you kidding? She's a babe!" Then he adds, "but she's also a machine. In addition to learning to pray over her, I have found that if she has occasional moments to simply pass out, sleep late or take in a movie by herself, her batteries will charge and she'll be at it again."

Julie believes they work well together because they know each other's strengths and weaknesses. "He knows where he has to pick up my slack, and vice versa. I admire his passion for anything he deems worthwhile, his compassion for his patients, and his easy way with people...not to mention his intellect and his sense of humor. Oh, yeah-and his good looks!"

Keeping their personal and business lives separate is important. Jim says, "At work, it's no problem. If she has a question about the kids while I'm taking a break, I can deal with it. Home is a different issue. After 9:30 p.m., she asks my permission to bring up an office subject; she's most creative at night, while I'm trying to chill. On the other hand, my mind starts going about 4:30 a.m., and I wouldn't think to wake her up then with a grand idea!"

Julie adds, "In the office, I always refer to him as 'Dr. Moreau.' This serves as a subtle reminder that I'm speaking from a professional perspective, not a personal one. While they know how close Jimmie and I are, it's important for our staff to see me as a team member and not 'the wife'."

The Moreaus value their personal lives as individuals, as a couple and as a family. "We try to get away together a few times a year without our four kids, and we enjoy frequent dinner dates. This allows us to rejuvenate the marital glue," says Jim. Julie mentions the family day trips, long weekends, and tent camping. "We try to give our kids many experiences to build memories on-that's the family glue," she says. Jim finds early mornings a peaceful time for reading and working out. Julie sometimes takes a rare day away from the office, and adds, "I do need time alone...at least for grocery shopping and sleeping!"

Their advice to couples considering working together? "Get counseling! Seriously, pray for each other, and for your attitude towards your spouse and your business." Jim says, "To each his own, but for us it's been a good thing. The lunches we get together, the fact that I can glance at her and allow her to be a brief escape in my day-these are worth any drawbacks." Julie agrees. "It's challenging, but very rewarding to be so intimately involved in the thing that occupies so much of your spouse's life."