As we countdown to Christmas, here's a look back at some Christmas cards from Bill & Susan Hayes through the years. Merry Christmas, Bill. May your eternal love with Susan live on forever.

2011:

If you watch the soaps for any length of time, you get used to couples breaking up and getting back together.  Doug and Julie were one couple, however, you never, ever wanted to see split up, because Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes were just so magical together.  DAYS and daytime owe them so much.

1 minute ago, Khan said:

If you watch the soaps for any length of time, you get used to couples breaking up and getting back together.  Doug and Julie were one couple, however, you never, ever wanted to see split up, because Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes were just so magical together.  DAYS and daytime owe them so much.

I'd match that with Bob & Kim on As the World Turns.

5 minutes ago, Liberty City said:

I'd match that with Bob & Kim on As the World Turns.

Except, in Bob and Kim's case, there were a number of years after their initial hook-up (and Sabrina's conception) where they were on the show but not together.  Bob's track record after Kim wasn't great, but Kim seemed to be doing okay with Dan until his death.

There were times when either Doug/Bill or Julie/Susan (or both) were off DAYS, with the suggestion that Doug and Julie had split up again, but it just never felt right for those two to be apart, even if breakups are par for the course for most soap pairings.

Edited December 14, 2024Dec 14 by Khan

What a lovely photo. Thank you.

3 hours ago, Khan said:

If you watch the soaps for any length of time, you get used to couples breaking up and getting back together.  Doug and Julie were one couple, however, you never, ever wanted to see split up, because Bill and Susan Seaforth Hayes were just so magical together.  DAYS and daytime owe them so much.

I often do not think soap pairings where the actors get together in real life can work, but Julie and Doug are one of the big exceptions. There was such a sparkle in every moment, from first to last. 

11 minutes ago, DRW50 said:

I often do not think soap pairings where the actors get together in real life can work, but Julie and Doug are one of the big exceptions. There was such a sparkle in every moment, from first to last. 

Exactly.  Bill Bell never wanted Doug and Julie to marry, and I see where he was coming from.  But I also believe that if Doug and Julie had to marry, then they should have stayed married.  Because all the times they weren't married afterward just felt so contrived to me.  They were the rare soap couple whom you had to contrive to break up, not to reunite.  (Another couple who, IMO, were like that were AMC's Jesse and Angie).

Edited December 15, 2024Dec 15 by Khan

They really were the perfect definition of the term ‘Relationship Goals’

2012:

These are all just so good!!! Thanks so much for sharing them. 

3 hours ago, JAS0N47 said:

2012:

❤️

2013:

2014:

 

Poor Susan.  To lose a great love like that after so many years.  I only pray that God grant her the strength to carry forward without Bill.

2015:

2016:

2017: