Lloyd and Luceda had not seen each other since they double-dated to their high school senior prom (each with another person) 50 years ago. Neither had ever attended a class reunion after marrying. Lloyd had three children and Luceda had two children. Lloyd lost his wife to cancer about 2 years before the anniversary of his fiftieth high school graduation. Luceda’s husband died in an auto accident about 8 years before that anniversary. Although they lived a great distance apart, and far from Kansas where they had attended high school, old high school friends persuaded them to attend the class reunion. They greatly enjoyed seeing each other after so many years and planned to meet again when they were both visiting children who happened to live in the same Florida town. One thing led to another, and they married a year after the reunion. However, before marrying, they traveled to various parts of the country to introduce each other to their children and their families. The children were supportive of their plans, and at the wedding all five children and the eight grandchildren hit it off. In fact, the two families got on so well that they all planned to get together for one big family Christmas the following December. Lloyd and Luceda have now been married for 4 years and say they wouldn’t have missed it for anything.

1. Have any of your grandparents remarried after the loss of their partner? If “yes,” how has it worked out? Are their children happy, or disappointed in the remarriage? Why?

2. How would you feel about your mother or father remarrying at a later age, after the death of the partner? Explain.