My experience was different from yours, and it was an inspiration to me in my own marriage. My maternal grandparents were married almost 50 years when my grandfather died. My paternal grandparents were married 72 years, when they both died on the same day. (There's a real story behind that one. My grandmother died first, my grandfather didn't know, but he died within 24 hours of her anyway. Makes you think, doesn't it?) All my uncles and aunts were in their first marriages except one. My mom and dad were married 52 years when my mom died. My brother and his wife were married 27 years when he died.
My husband and I have been married 35 years. There were many times I didn't think we'd make it, but it's been worth all the work we've both put into it. My son married last year, and I know he's hoping for a long marriage. He's proud of our long marriage, as I was proud of my own mother and father's long marriage.