“My husband and I were married for 48 years. We had a good life and three fine girls. We put them through college and gave them nice weddings. We took our grandchildren on trips. Then someone else turned his head.

I was 70 years old when he told me he wanted a divorce. Suddenly, I was alone.

I was in shock for two years and couldn’t get mad or get through it. My daughter said I needed a therapist. No one I knew had been to one, so I pulled out the Yellow Pages and started calling. I chose the one based on the receptionist I liked the best. My therapist told me the divorce wasn’t my fault and got me back on my feet. I learned a lot about myself and what I could do.

My ex-husband had done everything around the house. I didn’t know when the garbage ran or how to put a lightbulb in, but it didn’t take me long to figure it out. I started mowing the grass and doing the yard work. It was election time and when someone came asking for my vote, I asked them to take some limbs out with them.

It was hard to be alone, but I had a lot of support. I learned how to survive from my mother. I was seven years old when my father was killed in a car wreck in 1949. My mother had never worked a day in her life, but she got a job working in the cafeteria at school. She also worked at night and still did a good job raising my sister and me. You keep going.

I wasn’t looking for another man, but I met Don at a funeral. His daughter knew me and told him she wanted to introduce him to a fine southern lady. I thought he was nice but I wouldn’t hear from him again. The next day, he sent me a message on Facebook asking for my phone number. We talked for five hours the first night and six hours the next day. We went to Catfish Junction on our first date.

Our daughters were friends. My daughters had been to Don’s house, and his daughters had been to mine, but I never met Don. Our girls were happy for us.

We dated for two years and enjoyed each other’s company. Don was at my house all of the time. One granddaughter asked why I didn’t just let him move in. I said, ‘I am from the old school.’

We have done a lot of traveling together. We went to Alaska and Arizona. Don had never been to Disney World, so I took him there. He was 80, and he was like a child again.

Don is encouraging and builds my self-esteem. After the divorce, I had gotten quiet, but Don brought me out. After six months of dating, he gave me a gorgeous promise ring. He was scared my ex-husband was going to come back.

Our family came over for my birthday dinner. They were cutting the cake when Don got down on one knee and proposed.

I told my ex-husband I was getting married, so he could stop paying alimony. He told me I could go around the world and not find a finer man than Don Reynolds. Everyone is crazy about him.

Our Methodist church in Satsuma had burned, and we didn’t think the rebuilding would be finished before our wedding. The backup plan was the Baptist church across the street. On the day before our wedding, a big group of us waited in the parking lot while our pastor went in with the building inspector. He came out and said the church passed the inspection. We ran in and got to work picking up paint cans, cleaning the floors, and putting out chairs. I wish I had pictures of that day. Our wedding was the first event in that new building.

Life with Don is a blessing. We are having the best time and keep each other laughing.”

Linda

“We got married on my 80th birthday so I wouldn’t forget our anniversary.

I am a retired veteran. I was in active duty or the reserves from 1956-1996. I joined the Navy to ride the waves. It was well worth it, and now I have good health insurance. We are going on a cruise soon. Linda told me it’s going to be a lot different than being on a Navy cruise.

My first wife was diagnosed with dementia in 2007. She had a bad back, bad knees, and bad lungs. She was also on oxygen. I took care of her until she passed away in April of 2015. It was hard, but I don’t regret it. I am serious about those marriage vows.

After she passed, I never thought I would get married again. I enjoyed being alone.

After a couple of weeks of dating Linda, I told her I didn’t want to get her hopes up if she wanted to get married again. She said, ‘Buddy, don’t mess up my alimony.’ She was mad that I said it first.

I gave her a promise ring six months later.

It is strange how life works out. Once you are around someone you find out you like them more than you thought you would. Look at us now.”

Don