Real life love stories

Gransnetters reflect on the love stories of their lives - past and present - and the experiences that made them full of warmth, commitment and, at times, sadness. As one gransnetter perfectly sums it up: "It's reassuring to know that there are others like us out there who have a simple, but enjoyable, life."  The secret to keeping love alive in long-term relationships? Taking really good care of each other.

Real life love stories 

"Neither of us would win any glamour competitions, but my husband is the kindest, nicest man, and I've never met anyone better. Why he chose me I will never know - I'm just very grateful that he did." 

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"I think love means different things to different people. I know my husband loves me when he does something with me in which he has no interest. He does it because it makes me happy and if I'm happy, he's happy. It's the small stuff that reminds me he loves me - not the grand gestures."  

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"It's not always sweetness and light, but my husband is my grumpy old man and I wouldn't have him any other way."  

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"When I introduced my husband to someone I'd known for a while she said, 'Oh, he's not the man I would have expected you to be married to'. Maybe not, but I know I'm really lucky that he is."

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"I was married for 25 years, then on my own for five years. I was quite happy living alone, when my children suggested that I start dating again. My daughter wrote a profile for me on match.com - I didn't even list the profile. I just paid to join up and then wrote an email to someone who seemed to share my interest. We have been together nearly 12 years now. Best £30 I ever spent!"

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"Though we might get really angry sometimes and threaten to go, we are both horrified by the idea of ever being apart. Looks like we're in it for life..."

"One definition of 'soul' in my dictionary is 'the moral, emotional or intellectual nature of a person'. By that definition, my husband is my soulmate. That doesn't mean that I don't want to murder him sometimes and, no doubt, he me!" 

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"65 years ago, my dad walked me down the aisle to give me away to the man who still holds my hand when we cross the road. No idea where the time has gone - we've not set the world on fire, but just lived very ordinary lives, with love and shared sorrow and happiness. Two lucky people."

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"When my husband and I had been married for 13 years, we went through a very bad patch where we separated for two years. If I had stood on my pride we would not be together now. Those two years made our marriage what it is today. It gave us both a kick up the a*se to revisit our marriage, what it meant and what we wanted from life. I realised I didn't need my husband, but I did want him. I can honestly say we are very lucky, very in love and enjoying every moment of our life together in retirement. It could have been so, so different." 

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"My life started when I met my husband. I think that says it all, and it's an absolute pleasure to say it."

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"My husband and I are both 'second time round-ers'. Because of him I have the family I never had myself and love all of the members of my 'step famliy' as if they were my own. I'm so grateful that we found each other...and so is he. Life can begin at 50."

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"I have been happily married to my first love for 40 years now. 
If it were possible, I would do it all over again." 
 

"Sometimes the grass may seem greener on the other side, but, believe me, once that person is no longer here there's the heartache of not being able to say 'hello, do you fancy a cuppa' etc - simple pleasures that seemed meaningless then become yearnings that you so wish you could just have once again."

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"I was lucky enough to meet and marry the love of my life while in my teens. After my husband died, people have said I should move on and find someone else, but for me there can be no one else. There is no one who can replace my husband in my heart or in my home. To me he was a very special person who made me feel loved and cherished. I find I am just not interested in any man being more than a friend. I'm not expressing myself very well, but for me he always was and always will be the only one."

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"I had a great marriage and losing my husband felt like the end of the world, but I am so grateful I had it." 

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"My darling husband died last year, but we always exchanged cards and small gifts if we could afford it. We always sent each other Valentine's cards too...probably as we were 14 and 17 when we met. 10 days before he died last February, a Valentine's card arrived for me through Moonpig. He was very ill, but managed to order this card for me, and through his iPad wrote the most beautiful letter to me on the inside of the card."

Still looking for The One? Make connections with people in your local area with Find Companionship. 

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