Soul-Mates to the End

Making news this week is the story of a couple who had happily been married for 72 years. They were in a serious car accident and put in a room together at the hospital side by side so they could hold hands. And that's how they passed within an hour of each other - holding hands right to the end. Pretty amazing huh?

It reminded me of my very first radio job in 1992. I had moved way north to Peace River with merely a couple of suitcases and my cats. I didn't even have a car. I was living in a basement suite in the house of an elderly couple - Tim and Harriot. They had met a few years before at a seniors centre after both had been widowed. They found love again and at the age of 84 and 82, got married again.

They were the sweetest couple. Harriot clearly wore the pants, and Tim admired her to death. They treated me like one of their grandchildren. Often times I would come home at around midnight from finishing my shift at work, to find baking placed on the floor in front of my door, or a meal of some sort. There was even a point that I was trying to purchase my first car, but needed a co-signer otherwise couldn't proceed. Tim had caught wind of my banking struggles and took me down to the bank the next day to co-sign for me, no questions asked - he just offered. He barely knew me, but co-signed a car loan for me.

After 10 months of living in Peace River, I got a job in Lethbridge. The day I loaded up my new car to hit the road, Harriot had to come outside and take a picture. She always made duplicates so she could be sure to give me one too.

About 6 months into living in Lethbridge, I got a letter from Tim. Inside, Harriot's obituary - she had passed. I cried alot for missing Harriot, but I cried alot thinking of poor Tim who would be heartbroken without her. I think I had heard at one point not too long after that that he wasn't doing very well either. I didn't get anymore letters from Tim and I suspect he may have passed that year as well.

To this day I still have the letter with her obituary that he sent me. And hearing the story this week of these two long-time lovebirds passing away holding hands made me think of them again today. As sad as these stories are, here's hoping we all have that kind of love someday!