Page 110 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

FindingLove

in the Second Half of Life

by Marita Littauer Tedder

n the soft light of the predawn interested in. I clicked into Steve’s
hour, I snuggle up to my profile. He seemed to meet many of
Ihusband. With my arm around the “criteria” I was looking for, so I
his chest, I feel it rise and fall with sent him a message on the site.
each breath. Pressed against his
back, I inhale his familiar scent and The next day, April 25, we decided
thank God that he brought Chuck to meet in person. We met for the
Tedder into my life. My life is so full. first time at a local restaurant on
Friday, April 28. I almost backed
In 2012, I returned from a vacation out, but then I remembered my
with a girlfriend and discovered my criteria. He was faith-based, smart,
husband of 29 years had moved out family-oriented, and good-looking. I
of our house. It was devastating. invited him to my house. We talked
until all hours of the morning about
Chuck and I met at the New Mexico everything and anything. We had
Oil and Gas Association’s 2013 Peggy and Steve a lot of “history” that needed to be
Annual Meeting in Santa Fe, NM. shared.
We were 55, and neither of us were I have also enjoyed watching several
looking for love. But it found us of my friends find love in the second The basis for our relationship
anyway. half of life. I have asked a couple of from that very first night was

them to share their stories. honesty, transparency, and open
communication. In the early hours
Peggy & Steve’s Story of that morning, I thought I knew
he was the one I had been waiting
Steve and I met online through for. It was confirmed later that week
Match.com on April 24, 2023. I had when (without me) he met with my
discontinued my membership to daughter and son-in-law to answer
the online dating service because any questions they might have about
I had determined it was too much him—because he knew I needed my
work, and I was satisfied just daughter’s blessing.
being a “Gigi.” And I wasn’t sure
it was God’s plan for me to be with We married on February 17, 2024.
someone else after my husband’s
unexpected death in November 2021. There is so much more to our
story. In the end, I found the man
When I signed into Match.com who completes me in a way I
Marita and Chuck
(without membership), it displayed never knew was possible. He is
profiles of people I might be my best friend; the life partner I

110 Lubbock Senior Link