His dad, her son nudged couple together

My mother passed away, and my dad was all alone in his apartment. He decided to move in with me but he was still alone, as I worked during the day and would sometimes go out at night.

Dad was 90 at the time, and I thought of a retirement home for him but did not know how to approach him about it. I started to investigate different facilities and found one near the Fairfax area called the Shalom Retirement Home. It was new and looked like a lot of seniors were living there.

I visited during a lunch break on a Friday and went directly to the administrator’s desk. The woman working there said her name was Miriam. I said, “I’m looking for a place for my dad to live.” Miriam replied, “Why doesn’t your wife take care of him?” This was her sneaky way to find out what I said next, which was, “I’m not married.” Well, that evening Miriam told her mother that she met the man she was going to marry. Her mother responded, “I’m going to commit you to a mental facility.”

The next day I brought my dad to the Shalom Retirement Home to see the place. We had lunch there and then Dad moved in — that same afternoon — but not before Miriam called the owners to ask if she could rent the room to him at a slightly cheaper rate.

My dad loved the place, and within an hour, he told Miriam, “You’re just the right girl for my son Fred.” Well, Miriam told him that she had a young son from a previous marriage, to which he replied, “Even better!”

It took me three weeks to ask Miriam out on a date, and when I did, she said, “It’s about time! We’re not getting any younger!”

On the nights I took out Miriam, which were frequent, my dad would happily baby-sit her son, Marc. Well, that’s when the great conspiracy began. Marc and my father became fast friends. They loved keeping each other company. They played all kinds of board games while they discussed when they thought I was going to pop the question to Miriam. Soon after, Marc said, “Mommy, Fred is the right guy to marry.”

Miriam lived in an apartment. When I would pick her up for a date, I’d come a few hours early to take Marc to Jack in the Box for a hamburger (his favorite) while Miriam got ready. Then we’d bring Marc to my father. I wasn’t sure if my dad was baby-sitting Marc or if it was the other way around. One thing was undeniable: They adored each other.

I was employed only a few blocks away from Miriam’s apartment. Every day, she would wait for me to visit after work. Each time, she’d serve cottage cheese and fruit. Needless to say,
I never want to see cottage cheese again. As for the fruit, I’m still on the fence.

Three or four months into our relationship, we started to take small trips, sometimes bringing along young Marc. He was a very smart boy for his age. He won any game I played with him. We had a special relationship, and he already thought of me as his new father. Seeing that I had never married or had children, this was a catalyst that took me through the ups and downs of fatherhood.

Seven months after Miriam and I met, I popped the question. Two months later, we had a lovely, quaint wedding.

I sold my house in the city, and Miriam gave up her apartment. We purchased a home in Sherman Oaks.

I’m now 83; Miriam is 80. We were married on July 28, 1972, and our next wedding anniversary will be our 45th. We have loved each other more and more, every day.

Yes, we were indeed meant for each other.

FRED GERSON is a former controller for a real estate developer.