WSL Residents Share Insights into their Relationships and Give Words of Advice about Finding their Person.
This is one of our favorite blogs of the year, where we get residents together and learn about their beautiful and unique love stories. Today you will hear from residents who have found love in their lifetime. Even with different situations, they can all agree it’s the thing they cherish most to this day.
‘Two Birds on Larry Ln’
Larry and his late wife, Pam, met in 1961, and raised their family in Portsmouth, NH. Some would say he didn’t travel far after being born in the old Portsmouth Hospital across the South Mill Pond, or by living in the same home for over 50 years, and then moving to Wentworth Senior Living, just a few streets down from that home on Larry Lane, but for those that knew him and his wife, they would explain that their love could have stretched around the globe.
Their Origin Story:
Larry and Pam lived three blocks away from each other and both worked another two blocks from Pic-n-Pay, the local grocery store where they both worked. He was in the produce department as the Produce Manager and Pam was starting out as a cashier.
Larry said that a bunch of them from the store would go to a sporting event, movies, and dance together after work. This was how he took the opportunity to get to know her. “It wasn’t long before I got the sense that she was the one for me.”
“Let’s say she went to work at the Pic-n-Pay in October and by February of that next year, I had already bought a diamond. And she said yes, and we were married the following May.”
Favorite Memory Together:
“Oh, we had a lot of them,” said Larry. But if he were to pick his favorite it would be watching his family grow.
Larry explained that Pam was always interested in having children as well; it was a priority to start a family. “What she wanted in life wasn’t some big, gorgeous career somewhere, she wanted to be a mom.”
Pam named their first daughter, Leanne, after a close friend, and then Larry named their first son after his oldest brother, Paul. They decided then that they wanted to keep it up with the L and P names, so they named their two youngest, Phillip and Lauren. And their family has continued to grow! “We have four children, four grandchildren, and four great grandchildren now.”
What is the key to a successful long-lasting love?
“When it comes to love, talking about how we made it through nearly 60 years together, it’s about finding the positive in every way you possibly can do.”
He went on to explain that it’s the little things that matter, being fair to one another, and boosting each other up. “When we got married, I took the job on to get her to where she felt good about herself… I made sure that I praised her for everything. She cooked what she cooked, and she could have screwed it up, but I wouldn’t say a word…I praised her for her growth and that was my goal.”
Nonetheless it is still essential in Larry’s eyes to have a sense of humor especially being the jokester he is himself. “I don’t think you can drop a joke on somebody without having fun.”
Larry started his own local drapery business, which Pam became part of after having her last child. Larry explained that she was an amazing seamstress, and in fact some of the curtains she made are still hanging in WSL to this day. Thank you, Pam, for your contribution to WSL and cheers for the love you both had.
‘We’re in this Together, Wherever Together Takes Us’
Alan and Jane, WSL’s Floridian “Snowbirds,” are currently living together at WSL and just got back from their latest travels. Alan and Jane both have worked all over the U.S, and traveling internationally in their free time. They just recently found their way to us in the Fall of 2024. They spend time together at WSL chatting with the other residents at activities, going into downtown Portsmouth, and sharing laughter over past stories. They are a duo that brightens WSL and raises the dining room sound up a couple notches with their great sense of humor come lunch.
Their Origin Story:
They met while attending Summer School at the University of Connecticut in 1963. Jane was working with a professor, and Alan was catching up on some classes. It was the meet-cute that you see in every movie; they met by bumping into each other on the sidewalk in between their destinations. They continued to date after college, getting new jobs and traveling together based on where the next one was.
Between the two of them they have lived in Connecticut, New York, Oklahoma, Virginia, Korea (where Alan served), Michigan, Florida, Minnesota, and New Jersey.
Their beautiful wedding that took them only three months to plan was on July 15th, 1967, in Jane’s hometown in Virginia. That was just the beginning of their journey.
On October 24, 1971, their first son, Jay, was born. Steven, their second son’s first day into the world, was on August 8, 1975. Jane explained a funny coincidence that her and Alan share with their sons, “One was born in August and the other in October, just like we were.”
Favorite Memories Together:
Together, Alan and Jane took an RV and raked in over 260,000 miles while hitting 49 US states including Alaska! They enjoyed meeting interesting people during their traveling nationwide and internationally.
In England they walked Hadrian’s Wall Path, and in some not-so-pleasant weather! “We walked across England which took us about nine days, and we went with another couple, that was a real adventure,” said Alan. The path runs from the North Sea to the Atlantic and was a very memorable time for the two of them.
What is the key to a successful long-lasting love?
“There is a certain amount of luck involved, and I think when people get married in their 20’s, there are a lot of things you don’t know how to do.”
Alan and Jane said that the key to a long-lasting marriage is patience, shared values, and a touch of luck. They both agree that they have been very lucky with raising two wonderful sons, traveling the world, and all the things in between, and although they didn’t know who they would be then now, it is safe to say they shared a beautiful life together. “So, I would say, you want a little shamrock. It’s hard to predict when you’re 20 what’s going to happen when you’re over 80,” Alan said.
He added with a chuckle, “You don’t realize when you’re 20 you’re going to grow up like your parents! You think you’re different, but the genetics are strong.”
Alan went on to say, “It is not the path of the least resistance, it’s a recognition ‘that you had to nurture a marriage’” Jane added as she finished his sentence.
To Alan and Jane, we are excited to be a part of your latest travel chapter, thank you for calling us home, your presence is much appreciated. May there be more interesting memories as you explore the rest of your 80s!