Romance at 7 or 77 Years Old
For this great Valentine’s Day story, you may use the photo(s) which readers will love. I’ve also included two versions of Nana and Erling’s Love story for you. They married when Nana was 75 and Erling was 77. Now they are 90 and 92 years old respectively. The hope and joy the story brings is the indeed true “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 33:3
I have used their story and photo in my speeches to women as an ending. Everyone smiles and is filled with hope and joy. I thought Guidepost readers would love it too. Since they are pretty aged now, we need to publish it soon! :)
A) Story Version #1 by Marcia Ramsland (Daughter-in-law to Nana)
CLICK HERE
B) Story Version #2 by Nana, Lillian Reinertsen herself
CLICK HERE
“Romance at 7 or 77”
The Story of Nana and Erling
By Marcia Ramsland, daughter-in-law to Nana
& best selling author of the “Simplify Your Life” book series
I was visiting my mother-in-law recovering from hip surgery when I heard her answer the phone with a cheerful lilt in her voice, “Hi, Erling. How are you?” A giggle followed.
Who was Erling that made Nana so happy, I wondered. They talked and talked and Nana was as happy as a junior high school girl with a call from a new boyfriend.
When she got off the phone Nana said with a smile, “That’s Erling. I met him at a funeral here in Illinois when he came up from Florida to play his trumpet for it. We were flower girl and ring bearer 69 years ago at his sister’s wedding and haven’t seen each other since!”
As our phone calls about Erling continued over the next couple months, Nana asked, “He sent me a basket of fruit for Christmas. What does that mean?” Not to get her hopes up, I replied, “It’s not too personal of a gift. It’s actually normal to send a fruit basket from Florida.”
But one day Nana stated confidentially, “I think he’s going to ask me to marry him.”
“What?!” I exclaimed. “Has he asked you?” “No,” Nana replied, “but I think he will.”
This was so out of character for a practical person like Nana to state. She had been a busy down to earth missionary wife until her husband passed away six years before. Now she read sweet romance novels like the Midford series at night which may have fueled her romance feelings. Erling had taken care of his sick wife for years until she passed away the year before. They were both widowers, but lived across the country from each other.
After their initial meeting at the funeral they began corresponding sending back and forth a photos of the other’s family or a Norwegian recipe they both liked. Once day Erling asked Nana, “You’ve been a widow for longer than me. What advice do you have?”
Nana said, “Advice? Of course I had advice. I told Erling he needed to think about what he wanted to be doing 10 years from now.” He gave that some serious thought and decided he didn’t want to be walking around his empty house talking to himself in 10 years.
About six months later Nana asked, “Where do you think we should get married?” I gulped not sure if this was real or fantasy at age 75 years old and she went on to say, “Shall we get married at the family reunion, or my church I went to before I moved to the retirement home?”
I said I doubted that her deceased husband’s family reunion would be the place to marry. And not too many friends from prior to the retirement home would still have that strong connection with her.
After thinking that over Nana said wistfully, “You know where my dream wedding would be? It would be right here in the retirement center garden down in the little valley surrounded by flowers that my neighbor is the gardener.” I thought about her age and said, “Nana, at age 75 you should do your dream wedding.”
Shortly thereafter Erling proposed, wedding plans were set, families were invited for a May wedding. The bride and groom were to ride down the garden valley in a golf cart and get married, but the rainy day moved everything inside. No matter, it was the happiest day for two 75 and 77 year olds!
They navigated their long distance homes by spending six months in Florida at Erling’s home in the winter and the spring/summer six months in Nana’s retirement center duplex in Illinois. Erling played the trumpet in three Illinois bands and Nana enjoyed the winter weather with Erling’s family in Florida.
Eventually they stayed in Illinois and Erling made trips to Florida when Nana couldn’t travel any more. God was good and kindly gave them romance 70 years later as living example of Jeremiah 33:3 “I know the plan I have for you, says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future.”
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Contact person for this story:
Marcia Ramsland (Daughter-in-law to Nana, Lillian Ramsland-Reinertsen)
Cell (858) 752-7707 * [email protected] * www.organizingpro.com * San Diego, CA
The Love Story Ended,
but Lives On in Our Hearts
At age 96 years old Erling passed away June 28, 2023.
At 94 years old and 4 months to the day after Erling, Nana passed away October 28, 2023.
What happy memories they both leave of lives well lived and an almost 20 year marriage. Theirs is a love story that gives hope to every one of us that there is a future and a hope for you!
