Louis and Renate met in Germany in 1959 when they were teenagers. When the two fell in love, they were married for 12 years before, for unknown reasons, they split.

But love is one for the ages.

The couple had three children together, and started talking again in December. 43 years seemed to do nothing to Louis’s affection, because he started planning his second proposal that very day.

On Valentine’s Day he drove from Tennessee to Arkansas to propose. His greeting after all that time? “Hey good lookin’!”

Renate confessed that 43 years was a very long time, but she would marry him because she knew he was a good man. I’m not sure those are sonnet-worthy words, but this makes my heart melt too much just the same.

Emily