Love and romance are interesting subjects, especially as we get older. When I was young (all of 19), I met my husband when a friend of a friend, who was visiting for a weekend from school in Chicago, brought him to see a play that I was in. What are the odds we would meet, fall in love at first sight and still be crazy about each other 35 years later?
For me, the initial attraction was simpIe. He was different from the laid back, surfer boys I had grown up with. He was so funny, handsome and had a real sense of purpose (although he didn’t take himself too seriously). He dressed in east coast casual khakis and Brooks Brothers shirts, which I thought was so cool and not like anything I’d seen in Huntington Beach. PLUS, he opened my door for me. That was it … I was hooked.
After four months (with about four visits), I moved to Chicago because I couldn’t live with out him. I followed my heart, with no regard to the possible pit falls that could be ahead.
Maybe my youth was what allowed me to do that, because now it seems, for most people beyond the teenage years, it becomes much more complicated. The “Mr. Right” list can be so long, plus you can find out everything you ever wanted to know about a person, superficially, with a simple Google search. And with that, away go the nuances of getting to know someone gradually … of discovering all kinds of things you like about them. Instead, the long list of must haves and preconceived notions seem to cross people off the list before they’re ever really given a chance. (PS – If you have a chance to see the movie Brooklyn, check it out. The old fashion romance in it is so refreshing…)
I have gotten so off the track from what I intended to write about this week, but it all ties into love and romance …
This past Saturday, my 78-year-old mom “married” (well they actually had a commitment ceremony) a man she met in the elevator, shortly after they both arrived at their new assisted living home. Each with their walkers and innumerable health issues … they hit it off and have been inseparable for the two years since.
Neither of them are at the top of their game physically. In fact, I think his impairments would make it difficult for him to open the door for my mom now, no matter how much he wants to. But they have found someone to share their days with. Someone to love and care for. Someone to hang out and watch movies with. Someone to hold hands with.
Love and companionship, isn’t that what we seek in our lives? And I believe the possibilities are endless if we open our hearts and minds to what comes our way.
I love this so much MB! I’ve known my husband since I was 13 but we got set up when I was 17. He was 22. So he waited until I turned 18 and asked my dad if it was ok to take me on a date. I have so much respect for him for doing that. We have been married almost two months. It has been so much fun, and full of so many memories already. He is truly the Patch to my Kayla!😍 I feel so safe with him. I pray we can have a long happy marriage like you and Michael. You both set an incredible example!!
I am so happy for your mom!! My best friend’s grandmother just turned 83. She has been widowed for 30 years. She met a man that’s 87 and they are getting married next weekend! She has truly come back to life! We are so excited!!!! Her smile is contagious from all the happiness she is feeling!! I wish your mom and her new love all the happiness!! XX 💗
I’m reading this blog today which happens to be the 23rd anniversary of mine and my husbands 1st date (movies – Hot Shots 2). A week later we were telling each other ‘I love you’. We’ve been married 21yrs this August and this year we’ll be flying from our home in Australia to Hawaii to renew our wedding vows and have a 2nd honeymoon. My husband is my best friend, my confident, my sweetheart and above all my person. Thank you for this beautiful blog xxx
Great Blog. Old school any day over online Mumbo jumbo If some HB surfer wants to help me start my bonfire…HeyyyI’m happy I live in a Country and time where I can just say No or maybe
MB, I met my husband at a museum. We didn’t swipe left or right, we saw each other in a room, talked to each other, found ourselves smitten, and dated. 23 years later, we’re still together. We make each other nuts, but we dated old school. The ease of computer dating makes me a little jealous, I’ll admit, as I went through alot of awkward with the old school way — how much pressure would be off with the understanding that yes, I’m looking at your profile to see if you’re dating material while you do the same! But I do love how these happenstance meetings can turn into real lifetimes like yours, and mine, and your mom’s!
I love this! My husband and I were neighbors from upper elementary school and worked at a local IGA grocery store together and would date off and on. When he saw my one of my ex boyfriends cars outside my house when he drove by he went home and told his mom, I’m so mad at her right now but I wanna marry her someday…..our story is a one for record books, we love each other more and more with each passing year. 20 strong and 3 kids later and crazy work schedules make it fun!! He’s my patch johnson for sure!
Such a sweet story! I enjoy hearing about your early days with Micheal although, I’d be scared to death to move half way across the country at 19! You were a brave girl! And look what it got you, a wonderful husband and 3 beautiful children! Y’all proved all the doubters wrong, if there were any! With your amazing success and accomplishments!!
Your mother’s story is beautiful! I mentioned to you on IG about my granddaddy remarrying at 80! He lived to be 98 and she 96, she died just a couple months after my granddaddy! They enjoyed good health, happiness and companionship!! For a long time!!! I have this quote at home, I guess many could claim it! ” Every love story is BEAUTIFUL but ours is my favorite!❤️
Great blog. Congrats to your mom and her new hubby. So sweet that they found each other. Your love story with Michael is inspiring as well. True love can happen if you let it. Some people find love, some spend a lifetime looking. We just never know who is “just around the corner.” Thanks for sharing.
MARY BETH SO RIGHT & SO SWEET LOVE AT FIRST SITE ALWAYS MY PHILLIP WAS 18 I WAS 19 ENGAGED 1YR BECAUSE HE WAS UNDERAGE MARRIED 42YR 2 BOYS, HE HAD 30 SURGERIES IN 42YS PASSED AT 61, 2010, I SLEEP WITH HIS PICTURE I MISS HIM SO HE WAS MY SUPERMAN AMAZING MAN. GOD HAS A SINCE OF HUMOR WE MEET IN HOSPITAL I WORKED IN HOUSEKEEPING HE WAS A SAD YOUNG MAN IT WAS HIS 18TH BIRTHDAY. I HAD NEVER DATED I HAD 4 BRO. THOUGHT ALL BOYS WHERE AS RUFF AS THEM I HAVE TO MAKE PEOPLE SMILE SO I WAS NICE & MADE HIM SMILE. DIDN’T KNOW HE WOULD BE IN HOSPITAL 1 TO TWICE A YR ALMOST LOST HIM 5 TIME IN 42YRS WE HAD A BEAUTIFUL PASSIONATE MARRIAGE THRU ILLNESSES LOVE GROWS DEEPER & DEEPER EVERY YR. THERE ARE AMAZING MEN OUT THERE LADIES FOLLOW YOUR HEART & WATCH HIS HEART NOT JUST SEX. GOD’S BLESSINGS, MARY CASTLE
This blog really hits home for me. As a single 50-something, I’m pretty sure that I will spend the rest of my life as a single person, as I’ve spent all but 10 yrs of my life. I’ve got kids and grands that love me, family that I can rely on, but the whole love thing isn’t something I’ve actually had in luck in finding, at least not in this lifetime. I’m hoping that I will have learned something in this life that will aid me to find that love in the next.
Hi Mary Beth,Love your very romantic Never Ending Story.I was married 50 years when my husband passed away so we only hold hands now in our dreams.When I see older couples walking and holding hands I smile and wish it was me.xx
Such a sweet story and good, true words. I wish “old fashioned” romance would come back. It is SO REFRESHING to see stories that are romantic and to be reminded that people do fall in love, get married, stay married, and in love for a long time! Congratulations on 35 years–my husband and I will celebrate 28 next month! 🙂
Mary Beth ❤ I so enjoy your love story as I too have this beautiful love story that will be “34” years of marriage this September. I was a waitress, he was applying to be a cook where I worked while in college The first moment I laid eyes on him while he was getting a resume I told my best friend, “see that guy right there? I’m going to marry him” and I did “9” months later at the tender age of 18, he 19 ❤ It was love at first sight for both of us. He was so polite, opened doors and still does to this day. Took us over 8 years to have children through infertility but God blessed us with two, a girl and a boy who both are married and living life to its fullest. We are a close knit family that vacations together along with monthly dates all together at our home ❤ Family is what it’s all about ❤ And on a fun side note I watched 4 soap operas back in the early 80s and he asked me to pick one and of course it’s been Days of Our Lives since I was 14 yrs old and I’m almost 52 now….love TIVO! Your a bright light and it’d be a joy to meet you ❤
I loved reading about your love story, but I can’t imagine at 19 moving half way across the country! You were a brave you girl following your heart! You two are perfect examples of working to reach your goals and being super successful! Way to prove the doubters wrong… If there were any!!
Your mother’s story is so sweet, I’ve already mentioned my granddaddy on your IG, it was the best thing for him(80) and Mary(78). They were Healthy, happy and had fun together. He lived to be 98, and she died just a few months after him! Age is just a number!! Best wishes to the happy couple and you and Micheal have a beautiful family!!
Thank you for this and congratulations to your mom and her new love. I enjoy hearing stories like this, people finding love later in life. I’m still searching for love like what you and Michael have and I hoping on day “suddenly” it will happen for me. You and Michael are very blessed to have found each other so early in life (yeah, I admit it, I’m jealous LOL).
Thank you for doing a blog on this. My mother is going through the same kind of situation as your mother. My father died 11 years ago and now my mother has found a new man that she has told me that she enjoys spending time with. I think she was afraid to tell me because she was worried about how I would react, but I told her that I’m thrilled because my daddy has been gone for so many years and I want to see my mother happy again. She expressed to me how lonely she’s been all these years alone but I already knew because I saw it too. I’m hoping that this new friendship is something really good for my mother. I don’t know where it could be leading because it’s so new but I’m open to any possibility as long as my mother is happy.
*God has his plan for me
It all comes down to fate. Right place, right time with open eyes and heart. I haven’t found nine yet, but that’s not to say I won’t or it isn’t part of the ‘happily ever after’ plan for me, rather than being a divorce statistic. I’m happy and not convinced God has his plan for me.
SUCH A LOVELY LOVE STORY. THANK YOU MARY BETH YOUR MAMA IS AS PRETTY AS YOU OH SHE WAS 1ST <3
a heart at the end of comment <3
Tears in my eyes. Such a beautiful love story, both yours and your mom’s. May you all have many, many more years of love, devotion and shared moments.
What’s especially wonderful about your blog today is that at 19 or 20, when you decided to move to be with your man, you didn’t lose yourself in him and his life: you still pursued YOUR life and your dreams, too! I would feel the same if he had moved here (CA) to be with you!
So often, when 1 moves to be with another, they just live the life of the other and no longer pursue their own interests… But clearly you went to school or pursued your acting!! And he had a supportive person when he pursued medical school, clearly both of you moving to wherever that was…
Good for you for both growing together with growing yourselves — the brain continues to develop until the age of 25, so it doesn’t always turn out so beautifully for others as it has for you and your husband…
It did for my parents, who met at 17 and 21 respectively, and married at 18 and 22 respectively, and have been together for 60 years, in good health and lots of happiness in those 60 years! But today, it’s almost unheard of, so continued Blessings on the beautiful life you’ve carved out with your man! And how sweet for your mom to have found love these past 2 years, too… 💗
Love your post Mary Beth!! You always have to be open to the possibilities, because you never know when or where you are going to find love! I always love hearing how people meet and what got them ‘hooked!’ Thank you for sharing yours and your mom’s love story! I wish all of you continued love and happiness!
That is a very sweet story I must say it doesn’t work out for everyone like that but it’s really great to know that it does actually happen not just in the movies . Thank you for sharing
Mary Beth this is so beautiful! I believe in love at first sight. My husband and I met at 14. Although I didn’t fall in love at first sight he says he did. I dated other guys but he waited for me. Finally at 17 I knew I loved him. I love your story. Like Michael, Kevin was the first guy to open doors for me, stand when I left or came back to a table, etc. Still does to this day. It thrills me to know you mother has found someone. I love happy stories. Especially love stories. Congratulations to her and her new husband. As always thank you for sharing. You always make me smile.
As the Beatles song says. . .”All you need is love.”
Thanks, Mary Beth, for sharing both your story and your mom’s story.
May your life and family continue to be blessed.
Mary Beth, that is a beautiful story! Thank you!
Mary Beth, this is such a awesome blog post! You and Michael are one of the cutest couples, and your story is so cool! Also, Congrats to your mama and her new love 🙂
This is the sweetest! I was hoping this week’s blog would be about it!! 🙂
Oh lovely story, congratulations to your mom and her new “husband”
Love this post! You are blessed!!
Love you,
Cindy H
Mary Beth, what a wonderful beautiful loving blog this week!…That is so wonderful about your mom and her man!…and you’re so right Mary Beth, if we open our hearts and minds to love the possibilities are endless!…Thank you again for another great blog this week!