You too can create a lasting relationship
in which you "look together in the same direction."
Wayne and Peg
celebrate their fourth anniversary
on May 17, 2012.
Wayne's Concerned Singles Profile: NY (Buffalo) Retired schoolteacher (60s) who presently does extensive work around Latin America. Have traveled to Central America and the Caribbean to learn more about solidarity with those countries. Member of progressive church that is involved in labor, peace, and environmental issues. I enjoy volleyball, walking, and traveling. Would be interested in relocating, especially to Canada. Interested in activist, attractive, and active F in her 50s.
Peg's Concerned Singles Profile: NY (Buffalo area) Intelligent, attractive, witty DWF teacher, 59. Politically liberal and optimistic. Enjoy classical (Baroque) music, good books, ocean views, long walks, urban and country, taking time to smell the flowers. Seeking compatible SM 58-? for commitment and caring relationship.
How It All Started
Wayne had enrolled in Concerned Singles first, after seeing an ad in the In These Times magazine in the spring of 2003. He had made a couple of contacts but nothing serious.
Peg was visiting her son in the San Francisco area Christmas 2003, and was reading his Nation magazine and came across the ad for CS. Since she could browse without enrolling she immediately began to scan especially looking for someone progressive living in the Western New York region. She was doubtful that would happen. However there was one that intrigued her so when she returned to Buffalo she immediately joined CS and wrote him a snail mail letter because he did not have email. He called her as soon as he received the letter and they chatted on the phone for two to three hours the first time and two to three hours a few days later. We seemed to make a connection right away.
Wayne was heading out of the country for a few days on a Latin America humanitarian aid trip and promised to phone Peg when he returned. Peg had neglected to ask Wayne how long he would be gone so when she had not heard from him after three weeks she assumed he was no longer interested, but phoned him anyway. Wayne had just returned from his trip and was getting ready to call Peg. We decided it was time for us to meet so set up a meeting that night at a Borders coffee/bookstore. We hit it off immediately. We had so much in common personally and politically and found each other to be attractive, interesting, sensitive and kind.
That meeting was followed by two or three more "dates" to progressive events, including the Iraq war protest in New York City where we continued to make a connection. A month after this meeting, Wayne was going to Vancouver Island for a preplanned vacation. As the time approached we were both feeling sad about separating since we were just getting to know each other. Wayne invited Peg to come to Vancouver for a few days and share some of that time with him. Peg was able to take three personal days around a weekend and that is when the true connection took place.
Peg had a rental lease that was expiring shortly after our relationship began and Wayne suggested that perhaps it was time for us to consider moving in together rather than signing another lease. At our age, why wait! So we moved in together nine months after meeting. Both of us have children who are independent and living in the Buffalo area, Baltimore, and San Francisco. Since we were both previously married, we have children and grandchildren who are a huge part of our lives and take us traveling all around the country.
We were married May 17, 2008, in our home with most of our children and grandchildren present. We are eternally grateful to Concerned Singles for the opportunity to meet each other.
What They're Doing Now
(When Rodelinde asked Peg to fill us in on what's been happening in her and Wayne's life, she replied with "How do you write how happy we are in enjoying our years with each other all because of Concerned Singles?")
Since Wayne and I were married in 2008, I retired from teaching in Early Childhood Education in a New York State Funded Pre-Kindergarten Program. Wayne had retired earlier, but we are just as busy in our volunteer work. Wayne is now Western NY delegate for NY State Peace Action. For several years Wayne has organized a group connected to the WNY Peace Center on Latin America issues. Lately we have become more involved with legislation as it relates to New York state's migrant farmworkers. Later this month we will be part of a contingency of concerned citizens who will travel to Albany with these workers to meet legislators and the governor to discuss the rights of these hard-working laborers.
Wayne and I now have 6 grandsons (#6 will arrive in early July) and the oldest is 21. Wayne's three adult children live in the Buffalo area and Peg's are spread on two coasts, San Francisco area and Baltimore. This gives us many opportunities to travel, which we love to do. We also spend parts of the summer at our cottage located in Huntsville, Ontario, were we enjoy gardening, birding, and lake activities.
