55 years later, and they still look at each other like this

They adore each other. My grandfather says she is "the love of his heart" and my grandmother considers herself so lucky to be married to her best friend. I once overheard my Pappy say to her, "no one adores you the way that I do." You can hear it in his laugh when she says something foolish, you can see it in the grin on his face when he looks at her without her noticing. You can see the adoration in my Nana's eyes when she talks about him.

He once showed me his favorite picture of my nana when she was 17, and said that he carried it around with him every day, so that wherever he went, it would be the first thing he saw. He said the only reason he stopped carrying it around is because he was a mechanic and didn't want to ruin it because he loves it so much. "She was a doll to me and still is."

They have fought hard for the life they have. It's not perfect or easy, but they have never quit on themselves or one another. They have overcome every obstacle that has come their way with a brave face, hand in hand. My grandfather had open heart surgery a few years ago, and in his recovery they would walk three and a half miles per day together to get their coffee every morning. They are a team. They work together, they help each other through the hard times and they laugh with each other through the best. They still do the little things for each other, and encourage the young generation of lovers to do the same.

They love to dance with each other. It's a beautiful thing to watch, they are so in sync and are all smiles as they move effortlessly around the dance floor. One time, they danced with each other in the kitchen. My grandfather asked my Nana how to dance without any music. Her answer was simple: "I'll sing to you." And she did. They danced all around our kitchen with no music as my grandmother sang along. It was in that moment that I learned the valuable lesson that I will carry into my marriage one day. Always do the little things. Even when the situation isn't ideal, create precious moments by doing what is in your power to make your loved one happy.

They love to go for drives in the car together. I went to visit them one day and they were on their way out the door. I asked them where they were going and Pappy smiled and said, "we never know, we just go where the road takes us." Nana chimed in, "we're going on an adventure!" They both had the biggest smiles on their faces.They ended up driving to a random town and went to a fair and didn't come back home until it was dark outside. After 55 years, they both get excited to spend the day together. They still go on adventures, they still explore. I decided to go on one of these adventures one day, and they drove up to the northern Maine woods. We stopped to view the biggest mountain in Maine, Mt. Katahdin, and while the view of the mountain was beautiful, I have never seen a more beautiful sight than my grandparents appreciating the view together.

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My grandparents are the kindest, most beautiful souls I have ever had the privilege of knowing. Their love is extraordinary, and the example I have lived by my entire life. They made me believe in love. How beautiful is that? They have loved each other in such a way that they have inspired others to love harder, or to believe in love at all for that matter. According to Nicholas Sparks, "The best love is the kind that awakens the soul and makes us reach for more, that plants a fire in our hearts and brings peace to our minds." Their love has awakened my soul in countless ways. They have instilled within me the capacity appreciate the beauty in everything, every day. They have inspired me to reach for more in life and love, by the incredible standard they have set for me. They have planted a fire in my heart to love harder and work harder for the life I want for myself. Their love has given me peace of mind. It has been a constant reassurance that true love exists, and it is beautiful and powerful. I have learned that there is nothing their love can't overcome, there is nothing it can't do. It has been of comfort to me my entire life. There is no greater peace of mind than the confidence I feel in the love they have for one another. There is no greater love than that, and there is no greater love than the love that Doris and Fred have built for the last 55 years.