Connect How did your love story begin?

Our love story began twice. First as high school sweethearts, when two young hearts met beneath the same stars. Life carried us down separate roads for 22 years, each filled with joy, loss, and lessons we never expected. After my wife passed away, fate quietly brought us back together. What began as a rekindled friendship became something extraordinary, a love forged by grief, strengthened by healing, and blossoming into the forever we never saw coming.

What is your favorite memory you've shared as a couple?

Our favorite memory is the moment we realized love had found us again. After 22 years apart and the heartbreak of losing our spouses, we sat together one ordinary morning. Then came a kiss that felt like destiny catching up with us. In that single moment, grief gave way to hope. What began as two widowed hearts reconnecting became one family, one future, and a love story neither of us believed was still possible.

What would you do with $20,000?

Truthfully, the money isn't what matters most. If our story helps even one person find hope again, we've already won. Twenty-two years after being high school sweethearts, we reunited following the loss of our spouses and discovered love again. The prize would go toward creating unforgettable memories for our children, who have endured losses no child should. Our story is proof that even in life's hardest chapters, love, joy, and new beginnings are still possible.