Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and Media
Topics: Sex and Relationships
Emma Guinness
It's often said that when it comes to love, age is just a number.
Now, one couple with a 61-year age gap have revealed that they are not letting it get in the way of their dream of having a family together.
Charles Pogue, 85, is married to Miracle Pogue, 24, and the pair have been together since 2019 after striking up what began as a friendship in a launderette.
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Explaining how their 'friendship' began, Miracle said while she knew her now-husband was older than her, she didn't realise how big their age gap was.
"Charles used to bring in one item of clothing and only wanted me to serve him," she said.
"One day he waltzed in here and threw a piece of paper down and said 'write down your number' like he's a player. He was my knight in shining armour.
"We had a good vibe going, he didn't make me feel weird. It was good conversation, he made me feel comfortable.
"I knew he was older but I didn't know his age exactly.
"When I found out I was in too deep, it was a couple of months in and I already had feelings for him. He was my baby and he wasn't going anywhere."
"I don't care if he's 100 or 55, I like him for him," Miracle said. "I thought he was maybe 60 or 70 because he looks so good. "He's always up and active."
However, while her mum, 45, and grandad, 72, were accepting of their relationship, her dad, 47, had his doubts.
"My grandad said if I was happy and it's what I want to do then he's happy. My dad was like 'hell no ma'am, not at all'.
"It took a lot of time to convince him but I asked him if he wanted to lose his daughter forever.
"If he didn't come to my wedding, he would have lost me forever.
"I told him I needed his support and to walk me down the aisle. Once he got to meet Charles and talk to him, he loved him."
The pair got married in July of last year, and they are now hoping to start a family, despite Miracle's acceptance that she is likely to outlive her husband.
She said: "I want him to have another generation. We're looking to go to an IVF clinic to talk about our options.
"We went to an IVF clinic before but we really felt the pre-judgment even though they don't know me and it was quite overwhelming.
"Now I'm forgetting it as long as they give me my baby. Maybe Charles's age will stop us from having children but I have an open mind, it may not work.
"I worry about Charles. At Thanksgiving he got Covid and I broke down, I prepared myself, but the way he gets up and goes every day he's not going anywhere.
"We prepare for things and he says he might not be here in five years. I tell him he will and he'll outlive us all.
"I know realistically I'll be around longer than him so I try to live and have fun and experience as much as I can with him. We try to live it up."
However, despite wanting children of their own, Miracle has admitted that strangers often think Charles is her dad - or grandfather - but she doesn't let it get to her.
She said: "One time we were going to Florida on vacation.
"We were renting a car and the lady said 'oh is this your dad?' and I said 'yes this is my dad, hey papa, daddy'. I'm a goofy person so I won't get mad."