DEAR ABBY: This is an unusual "how we met" story. If you think it's worth printing, it would be a wonderful anniversary surprise for Marie and Ed.
Several years after my father died, my mother, Marie, invited my two sisters and me, and our husbands, on a seven-day cruise with her -- her treat.
One night, we met a group of lovely young women from Minneapolis, my Mom's hometown. A few days later, one of the women, Debbie, noticed that Mom was attractive and fun-loving -- but alone. She said her husband's grandfather, Ed, was a widower, and she thought Ed and Marie would enjoy each other. She asked Mom if it would be OK to give Ed her phone number. Mom agreed.
When Debbie returned home, she gave Ed Mom's phone number and a snapshot of her that had been taken on the cruise. He called Mom, and they spoke on the phone for more than an hour. Among other things, they discovered they had both been happily married for more than 50 years. After that, they talked almost daily for the next couple of weeks.
They met in person on April Fool's three years ago. During the months that followed, they fell deeply in love. On Labor Day, Ed proposed, and he and Mom were married Thanksgiving weekend. She was 76 and he was 79.
Mom and Ed will celebrate their third anniversary on Nov. 29. His family and ours are thrilled they are so happy. They're beautiful together. -- DELIGHTED DAUGHTERS
DEAR DELIGHTED: Your family indeed has much to be thankful for.
Congratulations, Ed and Marie, and many more years of happiness.