Real Later-Life Love Stories

Many mature singles complain about being alone and that it's difficult to find a partner. But when you're active and pursue life fully, without doing everything in the ever-comsuming mission to find a lover -- it is possible to meet a mate. Just take it from these four couples who met -- and found love -- later in life.

Love in the Big Easy
Giselle Blum, 60, lives in New Orleans and loves to dance. When she signed up for swing lessons, her aim was not to meet a special man, but only to be a good enough dancer that men would ask her to dance.

Giselle was partnered with a widower of three years. "He was totally available, and I liked a lot of things about him. It was important that he knew how to love deeply over a long period of time, and he could spend time because he was retired," Giselle says.

Though Giselle is not sure of what will happen, neither of them wants to waste time. "We've had deep conversations and gotten to know each other more quickly than in younger dating."

Florida and California Connect
Jack Tarr was happily living a bachelor's life in Fullerton, Calif. when his sister called from Jacksonville, Fla. One of her co-workers -- a woman named P.J. -- was bringing her 15-year-old daughter to Knott's Berry Farm. Jack's sister asked if he could recommend a place to stay.

Jack met P.J. and Stacey when they arrived at LAX, and then escorted them every day of their vacation. One day at lunch, out of earshot of her mother, Stacey asked, "Why don't you marry my mom?"

"I just might do that," Jack replied.

Three months later, they were married in Jacksonville. The following Monday, P.J. and Stacey moved to California with Jack, where they currently reside as a happy family.

Chocolate in Common
Howard Levin's second wife died after 18 years of marriage. "I was devastated. I had been married most of my adult life and didn't have a clue how to handle single life," says the resident of Laguna Beach, Calif.

"I was looking for two qualities: first was acceptance of me, and the other was that she had to be kind." He met Ellie three years ago at a chocolate-lovers charity event; they married in May 2000.

"She was 56 and had never married. I'm convinced there is someone for everyone at my age. Never give up looking," advises Howard.

In the Heart of Texas
After grieving over her husband's death, Pearl Hedlund of San Antonio, Texas, was determined to enjoy the remainder of her life. So she mounted an aggressive campaign to get out of the house and mingle with other singles.

Pearl read a plain ad in the Personals on Yahoo.com. George had been divorced for 18 years and was lonely. He lived 70 miles away. They met halfway between their two cities.

"We hit it off from the beginning. When George invited me to the mountains of New Mexico for the summer, we decided to get married," says Pearl. "We live in San Antonio for seven months, and in the mountains for five months to escape the Texas heat.

"Every morning I tell George how great it is to be alive and enjoy another day with a great person," says Pearl. "No one has to be alone -- invite someone over for coffee or lunch. It's amazing how many people out there want friends."

It happened to them. And it can happen to you.

Tom Blake is the author of Middle Aged and Dating Again (Tooter's, 1997) and host of the ThirdAge Dating After 50 discussion.