I've known my mother all of my life. As a helpless young bystander, I watched her marriage to my father unravel until she finally cut the cord. With three young chicks tucked under her wing, she packed up the pieces of her heart and flew us to NYC to marry the man I dubbed "Mister Mean," followed by husband #3, "Mister Meaner."
My mother met Herb, the love of her life, when she was just 15 years old. If she had only known, she would have bypassed all that heartbreak. And Herb would have not tied the knot with the women I crowned, "Miss Guided" and "Miss Led," only to spend years untangling himself from them.
Mom and Herb were high school sweethearts. He was her first date, her first kiss, her first "second base." They graduated and chose colleges in distant cities. He enlisted in the Navy and drifted away.
Several decades later, Mom tried to locate Herb, to no avail. She finally gave up.
And then, when they were both barely 78 years old, Herb had a vivid dream about Mom one night. It was the kind of dream that stays with you, and feels so real that you wonder if your spirits flew off and danced together while your bodies were sound asleep.
Three months later, Herb happened to bump into my mother's only sister, Betty, at his friend's dinner party. They had both moved away, hadn't seen each other for decades, and had no idea they had a mutual friend. My Aunt Betty exclaimed, "I know you! Weren't you my sister's date at my wedding?!"
"Yes, it's me!" He reintroduced himself and said, "It is great to see you again, Betty! How is Carol? I'd like to re-connect with her. Would you please give her my email address?" Aunt Betty was delighted to re-introduce her sister to her first love.
http://youtu.be/TjwdKmnwUok
And so the two 78-year-olds began rekindling their courtship through email. Two months later, Herb picked up the phone, took a deep breath, and called her. They talked into the wee hours of the morning.
After several calls that flew by like the first call, Herb asked if he could fly to Florida to visit the snowbird for a week. She agreed to meet, with the condition that he stay in a nearby hotel. Herb is a class act. He booked his flights and his hotel room, and showed up on Mom's doorstep laden with flowers and chocolates, to take her out on their first date together since 1948. They had a wonderful time. And Mom says that Herb was a real gentleman all week long.
His patience paid off. Two months later, Herb flew back again to see mom. And this time, after waiting more than 60 years, he finally got past second base, and was finally "home."
Herb and Mom are like octogenarian teenagers. During lunch with them last week, they were both texting away on their iPhones. "Come on, kids. You know the rules. Put your phones down at mealtime."
They both say they still feel like high school sweethearts and are so grateful to be together again. Herb calls it, "A God thing -- a one in a million chance."
They are so good together and their joy is contagious. Their love and gratitude for each other is palpable. And, as a woman entrepreneur and inventor, I am regularly buoyed by their youthful optimism and encouraging support.
They tease each other and laugh a lot, go for long walks, hold hands at the movies, and celebrate holidays and special occasions with their elated blended families. It's as if time stood still, waiting for them to catch up with each other.
Take it from the octogenarian teenagers. It is never too late to have a happy adulthood.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.