One thing you'll find about turning 69 (if you haven't done it yet)
Luckily, I found out that it doesn't feel a lot different from being 68.
At this age, you are grateful for small favors!
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Will be 75 this year.... still feel fit as a fiddle, and love to travel, read, do puzzles, play with grandkids, etc.
69? You have quite a few years ahead of you, I think. I sure hope so, anyway, and so does Lionel! 
If it's today, Happy Birthday! 
I have a tendency to think I'm a little older than I am. My birthday is in the fall, and sometime in the spring I'll already be thinking that I'm that age I'll be on my next birthday. So stupid, I know.
I don't really do milestones for myself either. Of course it's just me now, so that would mean I don't do birthdays. I do expect my kids to all call me or stop by, but cake isn't necessary, and gifts have pretty much been forbidden. I'll always gladly accept a framed photo, or something a grandchild makes for me, but other than that, I just don't really want any "stuff". And experiences, like trips or events, are always awesome.
My ex-husband used to complain that he never knew what to buy me for gifts for those occasions when people think gifts are warranted. I really just didn't want anything, but I'd drop obvious hints of things that would be nice to have, just so he'd stop complaining. It was almost as if he was using my hints as things that he would avoid getting me because he'd ultimately rush to a store at the last minute and get me something I'd have to pretend to like.
His biggest complaint was that I just didn't want cut flowers. They're pretty and all, but I just don't like to watch them turn from pretty to decomposing with each passing day. Besides that, it just seemed to be like a "phone it in" kind of gift. The thing that people come up with when they can't think of anything else (or didn't listen to hints ). Plants are awesome, especially rose bushes I can add to my bed of roses, but cut flowers are just not for me, unless they're from my own rose bushes.
I did notice that my ex-husband gave the person he was cheating with cheap flowers from a grocery store several times. (He didn't cover his tracks well.) So he finally found someone more appropriate for himself.
I know I'm not like it seems most women are. My mom loved getting beautiful flower arrangements, and REALLY loved getting a lovely orchid corsage to wear to church on Mother's Day, and I did that for her whenever I could. Both of my daughters-in-law also love getting flowers. My sons apparently inherited that romantic gene from their own father because they always put a lot of thought and love into doing nice things for their wives, besides just giving them flowers. He died when we'd been together about 13 years. We never had much money for extravagant gifts, but he would always do thoughtful loving things for me and put a lot of thought into whatever modest gifts he'd give me.
I appear to be complaining a lot. 
Seriously, though, you sound like a thoughtful husband and I'm so happy for you that you have gotten to spend almost half a century with someone you obviously adore.
The first photo of us together, taken in 1974, age 22:
And last fall, at age 68, with a friend (standing) who is recovering from a bad stroke
And after two rounds of cancer, she keeps bouncing back, good mood and beauty of body and soul intact.
Adore is the right word for sure.
I don't know where the French comes in. My paternal grandparents are both from Germany. My favorite aunt went for a long visit there many years ago and came back with amazing photos and stories.
I absolutely do not see myself making it another 15 years to be 69, but if I do, I'm going to have fun with it.
Hope it's fun for you 
