When I saw a photo of my 70-year-old mother-in-law, Doreen, beaming in a wedding dress, I nearly dropped my phone.
She was marrying someone she’d only known for a few months at the nursing home. I was shocked—and annoyed. Shouldn’t she be focused on her health or grandkids?
My husband Jake was unfazed. “Good for her,” he said. My sister, Carla, called it “adorable.” I called it “cringeworthy.”
Reluctantly, I attended Doreen’s engagement party, expecting a spectacle. Instead, I found a warm, joyful celebration. Doreen and her fiancé Frank laughed like teenagers. Frank told me, “She’s made me happier than I’ve been in years.”
Then Doreen gave a toast: “Life doesn’t stop because you’re older. There’s still joy, love, and so much worth celebrating.”
I was moved. On the way home, I told Jake I’d been too harsh. I offered to help plan the wedding—this time, with genuine support. Love has no age limit.