Kim and Mark

What’s the secret to a long, a happy romance? Live in different states and stay single. At least that’s how it looks for Mark and Kim, both 51, who have dated for 19 years, have never been married before and have no children. The couple talked about their relationship before a Bingo game started at a Kiwanis Club one recent, winter afternoon.  One day in 1995, Kim visited a phone company for her job as a corporate travel agent. Mark, an electrician, was doing repairs in the room in which Kim was working.  “I asked her to go to the office Christmas party,” said Mark.  “I said ‘no’ at first because I wasn’t an employee of the company,” said Kim. But Mark said he could get her a ticket.  “It was a good party,” Kim recalls. “It was love at first date,” said Mark, who guessed it was a black frock Kim wore that night. “It was a green, strapless dress,” she said. So will the couple ever marry? They’re pretty sure – yeah – someday. But in the meanwhile, said Kim; “The way things are - keeps things fresh.”

Mary Ellen and Tom

Where else would young college students find romance and love in 1963? For Mary Ellen and Tom – uh that would be a fallout shelter.  Mary Ellen needed one more elective credit to finish out her sophomore year studying special education at the University of Kentucky.  After ruling out judo and woodwind instruments, she took a course in fallout shelter management. Serious stuff during the Cold War. The class culminated with a mock nuclear event over the course of a weekend. “It was very realistic, with a recording of the president’s voice announcing there had been an attack on our country,“ said Mary Ellen. “It was gruesome, but it was also fascinating. They were talking about what was going on outside and that there were still people alive." Not exactly the typical stuff of romance. Mary Ellen’s job was to dole out the limited supply of food and water.  This is where Tom comes into the picture. He was a freshman at the school but he also served on the Blue Grass Council of the Boy Scouts in Kentucky. They needed volunteers for the mock attack and he signed up. “She had a hard time siphoning that water,” said Tom. “So I helped her.” Mary Ellen said from that point on “he followed me everywhere in that shelter. It was creepy. When it came time to go to sleep he moved his cot near mine. And I got up and moved my cot to get away from him.” After the class was over, Tom found out where Mary Ellen was living and called her every night. “I wouldn’t go out with him for three weeks,” said Mary Ellen. Then she caved. And a year later they married, went on to have two careers, two children, six grandchildren and one great-grand child, Willow, who was featured in the previous post.

Sky and Kat

For five years Sky took to the road solo – hitchhiking across America in true Jack Kerouac style.  A year and half ago, he found himself at a rainbow gathering in Ithaca, N.Y. where “no money or modern conveniences were allowed.” It was there, while foraging for food and cooking on an open fire, he met Kat, an artist, who had also spent a few years thumbing around America. Six months later – on Valentine’s Day, the traveling chums became – well – more.  "We found out we were pregnant in Oregon then hightailed it here - home where Kat's family lives."  Sky, 22, is now working as a barista and Kat, 20, is spending time at home with their daughter, Willow, who was born this January. – Nashua, N.H.