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Dear Ann Landers,
'm going to tell you about a love story that I witness every time I go to the nursing home to see my husband who has Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, I know firsthand how this ter-rible illness affects family members, but I would like the world to know what love really is. I see a man who, I understand, has spent the last eight years caring for his wife who has Alzheimer's. They have been married over 50 years. He cooks and feeds her every bite of food she eats. He has bathed her and dressed her every day all these years. They have no other fam-ily. She lost a baby at birth, and they never had any more children. I cannot describe the tenderness and love that man shows for his wife. She is unable to recognize anyone, including him. The only things she shows any interest in are two baby dolls. They are never out of her hands. I observed him when I parked my car beside his the other day. He sat in his old pickup truck for a few minutes, then he patted down what little hair he had, straightened the threadbare collar of his shirt and looked in the mirror for a final check before going in to see his wife. It was as if he were courting her. They have been partners all these years and have seen each other under all kinds of circumstances, yet he carefully groomed himself before he called on his wife, who wouldn't even know him. This is an example of the true love and commitment the world needs today. -Ft. Worth

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Our Reader to Reader Question of the Week:


Dear Readers,
, Ann; we are both in our late twenties. We’ve kept steady company for three years. The wedding date has been set four times. Each time it had to be postponed. Eight days before the wedding he 39 broke his leg and we had to cancel everything. Two months later he developed a mysterious fever and was hospitalized; this was six days before the wedding. The following month the date was set for the 15th. On the 10th he suddenly lost his hearing and had to fly East to see a specialist. Last week we were all set when his mother broke out with giant hives. He now says we can’t be married until his mother recovers. I’d like your ideas.-Wilted Bouquet

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"Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them."
-Ann Landers