Love of a lifetime

Everyone loves a good love story. It gives them hope for love in their future. I myself have not yet had an incredible love story, but I found an amazing couple that has. It’s one of those love stories that has been through a lot and after all of that time they are still in love. I would like to introduce you all to Helen and Doris.

They are 80 years old and met when they were just 18. They have been together a total of 62 years and were able to get married last year on July 25^th. Now when I met them I had all kinds of questions to ask and they were more than willing to answer them. They met at a men’s pants factory where Helen was Doris’s supervisor. I asked what the first thought was that they had when the saw each other and their answers were very honest. “I got a good feeling below the waist so I knew there was something there. I never felt like that with any man or women before.” – Helen. For Doris it was a little bit different “I thought she was very attractive she knew what she wanted. I liked her but didn’t know it would be love.”-Doris. Back in 1952 there wasn’t much to do but Helen would take Doris in her 42’ Ford to A&W for hotdogs. Doris’s father once said to Helen “She will just use all your money.” At that time Doris’s father knew something was going on but not exactly sure what it was. Helen continued to tell me that she does not believe in bisexuality and before Doris and she were really official Doris had a boyfriend. Helen went to Doris’s grandfather’s house and where Doris and her boyfriend were and told her that she needed to choose right then and there. For Doris it wasn’t a difficult choice. She got in Helen’s car and never saw her boyfriend again. At no point did they try to hide their relationship. Their families did not support them at first though. They do now though but Helen said that because they didn’t accept them at the beginning she didn’t believe that they do now. Since being together their families have not sent them any holiday cards or have them come to family events. There were no congratulations after their wedding from their families but they did get congratulation from President Obama. At this time Doris got up and brought me a frame with a card from the President inside. In their relationship they don’t use the word wife because to them that would be like husband and wife and they do not want to act straight. The only head of their household is God. They continued to tell me about their very strong faith and how they went to a church once where they tried to make them straight. Helen responded to them by saying “Oh well I was just about to try to make you gay.” And they never went to that church again. I asked them how they stayed together for so long and it was the simplest answer. “Being honest and both caring to make a home. Coming home every night. Don’t lie because even if it hurts you tell the truth because if they found out that would hurt even more.” They were never the type to go out to gay bars though because there were too many people trying to hit on them. Once a straight man came up to Doris and asked her to dance she told him no thank you. He wouldn’t stop so Helen said “Damn it she said no so get on with it!” Then an argument started and Helen hit him over the head with a beer bottle. Then they took off quick before the police got there. From talking to them you could feel the sense of protection that Helen has over Doris. The look in their eyes when they look at each other, you can feel the love that they have for each other. There was a time when Doris had to go to the emergency room and the first thing that Helen asked the Doctor was “Are you okay with gay people? Because if you aren’t we want someone who is.” They have zero tolerance for homophobia. On a normal day they will watch a little tv, play card games, and just talk. They love the companionship that they have together. Something that they told me though that really stuck was everyday everything is different nothing is the same one day to another but even with that they still loved each other. I asked them what they thought when they saw each other now and Helen told me she still gets that same feeling she got 62 years ago. I asked if they had any advice for anyone in the LGBTQ community that is still in the closet, “Don’t hide it people will turn on you when you do come out because they will be hurt that you didn’t tell them. Come out and just say either you accept it or not just be honest. But it’s not like I am asking them to go to bed.”, said Doris. Everything that they believe in and live by includes honesty. After spending time with them and talking with them they were curious about my love life. I was honest with them completely telling them that there is currently a girl I have my eyes on and they told me that they will begin praying that I will find someone. These two women have loved each other for 62 years. Think about that for a moment. Helen said “You’d think I would get tired of her but I can’t.” They have never been with anyone else in their life. Since they have been together they haven’t wanted anyone else. At the age of 80 and still all they want is each other. I want that.