The 1989 movie When Harry Met Sally … has long been a favorite of mine.Because it’s a love story, yes. And for its humor.But also for the collection of sweet how-we-met cameos sprinkled throughout, spotlighting older, married couples.One of the wives talked about how she intuitively knew the man seated next to her would be a perfect mate: “I knew the way you know about a good melon.”This week’s dinner party, complete with live music, at the Gardens of the Western Reserve in Cuyahoga Falls was a sweet salute to old love, holding up the mirror on those how-we-met stories and the true meaning of commitment.“How nice to have the ability to live in an assisted living ‘together’ through the end of life,” said Hanna Schindley, administrator of the Gardens of the Western Reserve, who planned the party. “We have an amazing number of married couples — 10 of them!” Instead of the couples, who are getting up in years, telling the stories, many were shared by their children. Some of the couples have been together more than 70 years. Here are excerpts from those vignettes, as shared by their families. They are a nice distraction from the ugliness that abounds. Hope you enjoy.Move for happinessCharles and Marie (Carroll) Burley are a true love story. Their love for each other and faith in God have been a shining example to their four children, eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.Their journey in love began as teenagers while attending East Market Street Christian Church. They discovered they each also attended East High School. Charles attended classes in the morning and Marie in the afternoon.They were married at East Market Street Christian Church on Nov. 19, 1941, and were faithful members until Charles retired and they moved to Florida in the early ’80s. It was always Charles’ dream to retire to Florida and they lived there until 1997, when Marie told Charles how much she was homesick and missed her family and wanted to move back home. Charles will tell you that he moved back because Marie had always been such a loving wife and mother and his love for her and her happiness were most important to him.Much has changed over the years for the now 90-year-olds, including many health challenges. But what is still the same, their children maintain, is their deep love and devotion to each other.Still dancing togetherRay and Mildred “Millie” (Koesterer) Delaney met at a Knights of Columbus USO dance. That was back when the women sat on one side of the hall, and soldiers sat on the other.Millie figured she would get the “tall one.”Ray sat down, looked across the room and told his buddy, “I want the gal with the legs!”Both got their wishes.They married Dec. 5, 1942, in St. Louis, moved to Akron three years later and moved again in 1954 to Cuyahoga Falls. Their daughters and sons-in-law Kathy and Bill Skinner and Marylee and Rich Terrano are so very proud of them.Seeing the goodJohn and Kay (Sharp) Pobe, who both worked at Goodrich, actually met in 1946 at a Sadie Hawkins Day Dance.John, who worked in the maintenance department and was always dirty in grease, oil and lamp black, finally got the nerve later to ask her out. She was hesitant, but agreed.She saw the good guy underneath and they were married on Feb. 14, 1947. The well-traveled husband and wife (especially with the Men’s Garden Club) have two children, have lived in Cuyahoga Falls since 1958 and moved to the Gardens in June.Persistence still paying offIt was the fall of 1938 when friends of the former Wilda Moore introduced her to Joe Pelle during their sophomore year at North High School.Joe had purchased an old clunker of a car, hoping to spend the year dating as many girls as he possibly could. A guy with a car — oh, wow!Joe and his car drove over to a girl’s house, preparing to escort her and three of her girlfriends to the movie house. A blond-haired, green-eyed Wilda was the last to enter the living room and the only one who stole Joe’s heart.Independent-minded and helping to raise her 2-year-old sister, Wilda wasn’t easily impressed by a boy with a car.She denied him the first four times he asked her out. She was busy playing sports and she had responsibilities at home. But probably the biggest issue was that she wasn’t sure what her parents would think of him, because they were strict Baptists and he was Catholic.His persistence won her over. And whatever their parents thought was no longer a major concern.Wilda and Joe will be celebrating their 71st wedding anniversary on Dec. 23. Still a great storyFloyd Ragner and the former Rose Marie Reed met at Washington Elementary School in Portland, Ore., in the second grade.In fourth grade, he told his best friend Art that one day he would marry Rose Marie Reed. Sure enough, after a nearly 25-year courtship, they reunited after the war and have been married 59 years.Floyd taught sixth-grade science at the Washington School for the Deaf in Vancouver, Wash.; Rose Marie was a homemaker and raised two sons, Gary and John Ragner. Both had their hobbies. Rose Marie loved dolls and was in a doll club, while Floyd enjoyed attending magic conventions and gun and auto shows. Both enjoyed attending writers conferences together, and Floyd’s book Magical Musings was published in 2007 by PublishAmerica.Dancing through lifeBob and Mercedes “Marcie” (DeRemer) Cunningham met in April 1948 at East Market Gardens Dance Club. This was after World War II, when soldiers everywhere were looking for love.Bob and Marcie wed just three months later on July 2, 1948. Bob worked as a barber for years, then was involved with piano sales with his wife later in life. He enjoyed golf and bowling and she loved dancing, reading and putting puzzles together.They have two daughters, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.Lifetime tradeThe first time Jack Fristoe met Glenda Chisholm, he was dating her roommate and thought she was stuck up.A short time later, Jack and Glenda were at a local restaurant/bar in the Portage Lakes. Jack was with his fraternity brothers and Glenda was with girlfriends. Jack spoke to Glenda first and asked her out, but she refused.Jack (who by now was smitten) called Glenda again and asked for a golf date. She agreed to meet him.Glenda fell in love with Jack after six months of dating, and three years later, he proposed at a restaurant in Cuyahoga Falls and she said yes.Worthwhile waitTom and Vancey (Gallo) McDonnell met at Bud’s Bar on West 70th Street and Detroit Avenue in Cleveland. She sometimes hung out with her friends there and he with his.Vancey’s girlfriend Ruthie brokered the introduction. It was a Friday.As the story goes, Tom had a date with another girl the next night. So he waited a respectable amount of time — a week — before asking Vancey out.The couple dated 18 months before getting engaged. The two were wed in the fall of 1962.Lifetime affairJosephine “Jo” (Palladino) and Don Tanno were always childhood friends. Once they got to dating age, Don asked her out and she said yes.Their courtship progressed nicely. He proposed. And again she said yes. They’ve been married 66 years.Holding hands foreverTony Muzi and the former Olympia “Ollie” Gentile met as children and have been in lockstep in love ever since.When they were little — long before they started courting — they would sit together at the dinner table and hold hands whenever their families gathered.They married on May 10, 1947. Tony worked on the railroad his entire career and Ollie volunteered at the Wilderness Center as a proofreader.When Ollie married Tony, they lived in the same house in Brewster as Ollie’s father (who built the house) and mother. Tony and Ollie didn’t move out until a few years ago, when they both needed hands-on care.Jewell Cardwell can be reached at 330-996-3567 or emailed at jcardwell@thebeaconjournal.com.