Today's tales all have happy endings. They're about the triumph of life over death, love over shame, hope over despair. Even the worst beginnings can have the happiest endings

The first tale starts at Camp Beale in Northern California. Mike was a soldier there and had several buddies. One of them, Al, was dating Mary. Unfortunately, Mike fell in love with Mary. It was during a long-distance trip to deliver a car.

Mary and Mike began to correspond, but Mary finally decided to marry Al. Still, she had become friendly with Mike's mother, and the two women kept up a correspondence. In fact, Mike's mother became Mike's link to Mary through the years.

Mike was not the kind of guy to pine for his one lost love. He went on a blind date with Angela, and he married her. They had two children. Mike learned from his mother that Mary and Al had seven children.

The years went by, as years do, and Mike was occupied with "life, work and family responsibilities."

One day, Mike's kids came home from school and were unable to wake their mother. She had suffered a brain aneurysm, and after two days in a coma, she died. At age 40, Mike found himself a single dad with two kids.

That same summer, Al underwent surgery and died on the operating table. Soon after their separate tragedies, Mike called Mary. After a short courtship, they married.

"All our children helped. I had a boy and girl and Mary had five girls and two boys. All our girls were teenagers. We had a big yard for the kids, and our formal dining room was knee-deep in wrapping paper at Christmas. With all the beds, we looked like a Motel 6.

"I've always told Mary's children that I'm not their father, I'm their dad. We all have a very close relationship, and I never fail to admire how wonderful they are. There have been problems, but I wouldn't trade our family for a million dollars."

Eleven weeks after Lauren met Steve, they were married. They had a "good, happy marriage" for 52 years with four children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Then he died.

"A year and a half after his death, I married my current husband, after a courtship of 20 days! He was a widower after 46 years of marriage. We feel happy and blessed. Also, the physical side of marriage is not just for the young. It's still good at 75!"

Fern and Ted have been married for 35 years. They recently decided to renew their wedding vows.

"It wasn't because of anything bad that happened between us, although there were certainly some bumps in the early road. The reason we did it was because we were originally married 'in shame,' in a secluded chapel with only a few guests. I was pregnant, we were still in high school, and I was underage. We did it our parents' way because we needed their permission.

"The ceremony after 35 years was our wedding. We wore what we wanted, had all our friends there and celebrated. It was a great party. We did it in the driveway and yard of our new house. I wonder if things like our first wedding even happen anymore."

Does your love story have a happy ending? Send your tale, along with your questions and problems to cheryllavinrapp@gmail.com. And check out my new ebook, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front." COPYRIGHT 2014 CREATORS.COM

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