Photo courtesy of the Blake family
By MARIE TABELA | Special to the Palisadian-Post
When Liliana Blake first laid eyes on her now husband, Alex, 42 years ago, she knew she was seeing someone very special.
As a newcomer to America, though, she didn’t rush up to him: “I just came from Russia. You didn’t go up and start flirting and asking names,” she exclaimed.
Thinking they were merely two ships passing, she was shocked when several weeks later, her friend showed her a picture of her family’s recent ski trip—and the handsome stranger was in the photo.
“I freaked,” she said, “but I couldn’t tell her right away.”
After two weeks, Liliana inquired about the eye-catching mystery man, who turned out to be her friend’s cousin. She volunteered to help him find a job and friends in the country (he had just come from Germany), and the rest is history.
“We dated for two years and have been married for 40,” she explained.
Now, after having raised three successful sons and one highly adored puppy, Liliana said the secret to a successful marriage is respect.
“Knowing when and how to make a point when you need to [is key],” she explained. “I’ve always had tremendous respect for him as a provider, incredible father and very good husband.”
When asked about one of her favorite memories of her marriage, her answer was immediate: “When you are delivering your children and your husband is right there, cutting the cord and putting the child on your chest; that’s powerful.”
To ring in their 40th anniversary, Alex took Liliana on a trip of a lifetime to Thailand on what she described as “the most incredible vacation” planned by the man she calls her best friend.
A longtime fixture in Pacific Palisades, Liliana has owned and operated Lilese Skin Care on Via De La Paz for 35 years.
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