Blog Post 3

 The Greatest Love Story

What does it mean to be in love? To go through thick and thin with one person right beside you. To dream of being old together and having those specific milestones? To reach 100 and look to your significant other and be like “I made it.” I look at my grandparents, and I realize that I want a love story like theirs. To be able to see my significant other and realize that I made it after all these years.

 

I sat down with my grandparents and asked them “their love story.” It was one of the purest things I could witness from both. To view and see the love they have for each other as they relive the moments is something I won’t forget. My grandpa wasn’t too keen on dating at the time. My grandpa was 21 at the time and was working at Gradall. While he was there, he had to train my grandma’s brother-in-law Bud. They were as close as can be, and of course, he was always trying to set her up with someone. During Christmas, Bud mentioned to my grandpa that he had to buy my grandma a Christmas gift if he was getting one; my grandma got two baby dolls both in blue. One day, while my grandpa was showing Bud around the factory, he asked if he had a girlfriend. My grandpa replied no, and that’s when Bud would tell my grandpa to go on a date with my grandma.

First Married - October 1956

So, they agreed, and a blind date was set up. On March 17th, 1956, my grandpa went to go pick my grandma up. When my grandpa first got there, my grandma said, “Oh my gosh, I’m going out with my grandpa.” The reason she thought this is because he had flannel and jeans with galoshes on. They went out on a Saturday night to Fairfield Grange. This place is the only place they could go dancing and would square dance in the night. When they first got there, my grandpa sat my grandma down and stayed at the pop station because he oversaw it. After about thirty minutes, someone mentioned to my grandpa that he should go back up and dance with her. From there on the rest is history. The got engaged that June and got married on October 6th, 1956.


Following their marriage, they had five kids and up to eleven grandchildren and many more great-grandchildren. When my grandma first got pregnant, they thought they were only going to have one child. But, when she went into labor, they found out they were pregnant with twins. It came as a shock for both and they were scared, but they embraced it and did the best they could. They had their ups and downs like all couples do, but somehow, they made it work.

50th Wedding Anniversary

Then, it’s fifty years later, and my mom has the idea to have them get “remarried.” My grandma laughed at first but then realized that it would be a great idea. They reincorporated almost everything on their 50th wedding anniversary. They went down to the same church, had the same song, and renewed the same vows. As we watched them retake their vows, you could see the admiration and love they had for each other. My grandma just couldn’t believe they made it to fifty years. “Wow, I said to myself. After fifty years we are still here and getting remarried. You never really understood why you would say these vows until you live them. Until you go to renew them and experience them all over again.” They had the same excitement all over again. 

60th Wedding Anniversary

Ten years later and here we are, celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. My mom and I decided that we wanted to do something special to show everyone this love can last. We got everyone together and had a party for them. They gave each other gifts, and again, you can see the love they have for each other. They even got a letter signed by the mayor congratulating them on their 60th anniversary. I asked my grandma how they were able to last this long. She said “You just have to be there with them every step of the way. You can’t go to bed mad. You kiss them and say goodnight. He’s my soulmate and best friend. Wherever he went, I went with him.  He’s my right hand I would always want to walk down the path with him by my side.” 

Not only did this interview allow me to have a glimpse into what it’s like, but it also allowed my grandma to relive every milestone she had. After 62 years of marriage, she still gets choked up when reliving the memories. She knew my grandpa was the one. “There was magic when we first met.” When everyone says that they want a relationship with their grandparents or parents, I finally understand why. The love my grandparents exhibit every day is something I want to experience for myself. Maybe eight years from now they will celebrate their 70th wedding anniversary.