Some love stories take a lifetime to tell.

For newlyweds Jean and Ron Melrose, both 82-years-old, their story starts 65 years ago when they were teenagers in Kilsyth, Scotland.

Jean and Ron were born the same year, went to the same school and started dating in the early 1950s, unbeknown to their parents, explained Jean. sa国际传媒淗e was my one and only high school boyfriend.sa国际传媒�

That all changed when Ron was 16. His family moved to New Zealand, countries and oceans away from their home and she was left to wonder about him.

Jeansa国际传媒檚 life took on a new course when she moved to Canada in 1969 dedicating herself to a professional nursing life while also getting married and having kids. The same thing for Ron, who also got married and had kids, plus had a long and distinguished career with the New Zealand Police.

sa国际传媒淚 sometimes thought of him over the years and wondered where he was and what he was doing,sa国际传媒� Jean remembers. sa国际传媒淗e too wondered about me and looked at our high school class picture from time to time.sa国际传媒�

It turns out Ron kept that class photo over the years, remembering Jean and their lives.

Life moved on but in 2015 sa国际传媒� both were single again sa国际传媒� Jean had a vivid dream that haunted her for weeks. sa国际传媒淚 felt strongly that I had to contact him.sa国际传媒�

So, with the use of Facebook she asked her daughter to find Ron. All they had to go on was his name and that he was in New Zealand.

sa国际传媒淚 did not know where he was or if he was alive or dead or what his circumstances were. I just knew that I had to find him,sa国际传媒� she explained.

About two days later Ronsa国际传媒檚 granddaughter connected and then Jean received an email from Ron. His message to her: sa国际传媒淚f you are who I think you are, this is wonderful news and we have got things to share.sa国际传媒�

Jean received the message elated to know he was alive and well. Their meeting came a short time later when she flew to New Zealand to see Ron. The two became inseparable travelling to Canada and New Zealand together.

In reliving the details of their experiences Jeansa国际传媒檚 eyes would brighten and her smile would widen. She said he looked and sounded exactly the same sa国际传媒� just with a New Zealand accent. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檓 thankful that we found true love after a lifetime of experiences.sa国际传媒�

They married Feb. 9, 2019 in Ponoka at the Drop in Centre.

The wedding

There was something magical about the wedding ceremony that saw two loves meet and solidify their relationship with a wedding ceremony.

With a few close friends at the wedding, there was a feeling of love, warmth and care. sa国际传媒淭hey all seemed to be with us,sa国际传媒� said Jean.

At the point in the wedding vows where they state, sa国际传媒淎s long as we both shall live,sa国际传媒� Jean and Ron, and then the entire wedding party, teared up. The truth of that statement struck everyone in the room.

For Jean, itsa国际传媒檚 a powerful lesson about love. sa国际传媒淟ove is more important than anything else in the world.sa国际传媒�

She takes a pragmatic look at the whole experience.

sa国际传媒淲e must have had lessons to learn in this life before we came together,sa国际传媒� explained Jean.

sa国际传媒淢y advice for couples is to appreciate the positive aspects of their relationship and not to dwell on the negative aspects.sa国际传媒�

Jeansa国际传媒檚 matron of honour was Doreen Rausch while Ronsa国际传媒檚 best man was his brother Gifford.

jeff.heyden-kaye@ponokanews.com
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