SAN MARCOS, Calif. — When you meet someone online, there can be some surprises and sometimes not everything is as it appears. In this Zevely Zone, I met a special couple who found love late in life.
On a sunny San Marcos day, we went in search of a good old-fashioned love story and looking for love birds. "Ha, ha, ha, you found us," said the happy couple. "Here we are." Ann Kreile and Roger Frichette are smitten. "We met online," said Ann.
Five years ago, it was love at first sight. "The picture that she had online showed her standing with her hand on her hip and a casserole in this beautiful kitchen," said Roger. Ann's post stated she was 80 years old, but there were two fibs that day.
"Well, it turns out she doesn't cook," laughed Roger. At the time, Ann wasn't 80, but ninety years old. I asked Roger if was surprised. "Yeah, well of course," said Roger.
In her younger years, Ann was a model. Her entire life, her looks have defied her age. Two weeks ago, she turned 95 years old. "Oh, I am young," laughed Ann. Roger added, "In spirit and mind, she is indeed younger." Ann and Roger spent their lives happily married to other people. Ann to Bill and Roger to Barbara, until both of their spouses died in 2011.
"We had as happy of a marriage as anyone could have," said Ann who had been married to Bill for 62 years. "Before he died, he told me, I am going to die before you and I want you to go on living and it was the most wonderful gift," said Ann.
Roger had been married to Barbara for 48 years. "We were a happy couple," said Roger. Both he and Ann have full-grown families with kids and grandkids who fully support their romance.
They love to travel, dance and most importantly laugh. "She is an amazing woman no doubt about it," said Roger. Ann then said, "We have so much fun." What is it's like to fall in love in your golden years? "It's wonderful," said Ann.
Especially when you find a younger man like Roger, age 86, who does all of the cooking. "Absolutely, and he also likes to clean up after he cooks, ha, ha," said Ann.
At the risk of TMI, meals are the only thing sizzling in the kitchen. "Lots of sparks, it's really good sparks, yeah it's wonderful," said the happy couple.
"Quite often, we will be somewhere, and people will say what a cute couple." When love hits you like a lightning bolt late in life, you seal it with a kiss. "That was a good one," laughed Roger after giving his girlfriend a smooch.
Both Ann and Roger survived battles with cancer. They've decided not to get married but do plan to spend the rest of their lives together.