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It’s mentioned that absence makes the center develop fonder — and for Bill Hassinger, 90, and Joanne Blakkan, 92, their hearts additionally grew in fondness after they reunited for the primary time in 73 years.
Hassinger and Blakkan first met on a school bus on their option to their North Muskegon High School in Michigan, as Hassinger instructed Fox News Digital.
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After getting acquainted throughout their every day commute, Blakken, a junior on the time, began saving a seat for Hassinger, a freshman.
“I was robbing the cradle,” she joked.
Bill Hassinger, left, and Joanne Blakkan, proper, hadn’t seen one another for 73 years. In 2022, they reunited — rekindling their childhood love. (Linda Blakkan)
The pair finally grew nearer.
“[We] became more and more attracted to each other and then the next year was serious,” Blakkan mentioned.
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“And in those days, you called it ‘going steady,’” she mentioned.
Hassinger accompanied Blakkan to her senior high school promenade in 1949. (Linda Blakkan)
Hassinger took Blakkan to her senior promenade in 1949 earlier than she went off to Michigan State to review secretarial science.
“That first term, I would come home occasionally on weekends, and we still would go roller skating or whatever,” she continued.
“But, progressively, I met the younger man who grew to become my husband and he was courting a younger woman in high school — and we [she and Hassinger] simply went our separate methods.”
They every began new lives with new important others and by no means appeared again.
Hassinger is 2 years youthful than Blakkan, however that didn’t cease him from approaching her on the school bus in the future. (Linda Blakkan)
Hassinger married a girl a yr youthful than him six months after the girl’s high school commencement, he mentioned.
Three months after tying the knot, he enlisted within the United States Army.
After his time within the navy, Hassinger labored for the state police and moved round Michigan together with his spouse and household for practically 30 years.
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He was married to his spouse for 68 years earlier than she died.
The couple had three youngsters — two boys, who died after they have been younger, and a lady, Hassinger mentioned.
After Blakkan graduated from high school, she parted methods with Hassinger and finally discovered love once more two years into faculty. (Linda Blakkan)
Blakkan additionally discovered love and acquired married two years into faculty.
She began working whereas her husband completed his training.
“In later years, I accomplished my diploma at Eastern Michigan University once I was in my 50s, as a result of all three of my youngsters had faculty levels by that point, and I felt like I used to be being left within the mud,” Blakkan mentioned.
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She and her husband had three youngsters collectively. The two have been fortunately married till he died at age 57 of a coronary heart assault.
“I have been a widow for a long, long time. [I had] no interest in dating or anything,” Blakkan mentioned.
“We don’t know how much time we have together, but we’re just making the most of every day.”
After all these years, Blakkan and Hassinger hadn’t thought of each other till Blakkan’s daughter, Linda Blakkan, began trying up a few of her mom’s previous classmates.
In her analysis, Blakkan discovered that Hassinger lived solely 80 miles away from her — and that his spouse had died the yr earlier than.
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Her daughter inspired her to jot down him a letter — and some days later, that fall of 2022, she obtained a name from none apart from her high school sweetheart.
Blakkan requested her daughter, Linda Blakkan, to assist her lookup previous pals from high school — and in her analysis, she discovered Hassinger in addition to his handle. (Linda Blakkan)
The two spoke for some time and Blakkan requested him if he ever got here all the way down to Muskegon, to which he replied, “I occasionally do.”
The pair determined to fulfill up — and although it had been a long time since they’d frolicked collectively, it was as if no years had handed at all.
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“I hadn’t heard from her all these years, and I didn’t know her status or anything. But she was still the same Joanne to me, and I fell for [her] all over again,” Hassinger mentioned.
It might have been 73 years since Hassinger and Blakkan final noticed one another, but it surely was as if no time had handed at all, the couple mentioned. (Linda Blakkan)
Blakkan mentioned she was a bit extra hesitant to enter a brand new relationship, since she had by no means considered courting once more, however after six weeks she got here round.
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“If you feel the love for each other, then just spend time together because life is short, and we realize that now, at our age, we don’t know how much time we have together, but we’re just making the most of every day,” Blakkan mentioned.
No matter your age, you should not hesitate to be with the particular person you are most suitable with, mentioned Blakkan. (Linda Blakkan)
There remains to be an 80-mile distance between the couple, so that they see one another each different weekend and generally throughout the week for particular events like Valentine’s Day.
They like to play card video games or full puzzles collectively, however additionally they spend high quality time with one another’s supportive households.
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“[Linda Blakkan] made me feel very, very welcome in their family, as did her husband and children. And it still carries out that way. I feel very comfortable,” Hassinger shared about spending time with Joanne Blakkan, her daughter and the remainder of their household.
Linda Blakkan had by no means heard her mom speak about Hassinger — however now has welcomed him into her residence and household as if she’s identified him for a few years.
At the age of 90 and 92, Hassinger and Blakkan discovered love as soon as once more — simply as they did after they have been in high school. (Linda Blakkan)
Joanne Blakkan mentioned that if you happen to discover somebody you are suitable with, irrespective of your age, do not hesitate.
Just “go for it,” she mentioned.
For extra Lifestyle articles, go to www.foxnews.com/way of life.
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