By Felicia Teiken

Special to the Forum

The year is 2025.

Taylor Swift is on the international leg of her record-breaking Eras Tour. A gallon of gas costs about $4. A new home averages well over $300,000. McDonald’s has more than 40,000 locations. The internet  knows everything from the local weather forecast to what kind of niche hobby you should pick up based on your birth chart. We no longer flip through phone books, we ask Siri or Alexa and we don’t always meet by chance—we tend to swipe, like, scroll, and hope for a spark.

Last week, I introduced you to my great-grandparents, Harold and Alvera Mastin, who were engaged in a parking lot in Detroit Lakes in 1952. This year, they celebrated 72 years of marriage. That’s over seven decades of shared breakfasts, blizzards and bingo games. 

A lot has changed since then. So, this week, I’m honored to share their reflections separately answered by a phone call and a handwritten letter. Together, they reminded me that the quietest  stories aren’t the ones that make headlines but they are exactly the kinds of stories I want to write home about.

1. Do you remember what your first date was like?

My grandpa quickly answered. “Yes, we were at a dance—that’s where I met Grandma. After the dance, we started dating… next thing I knew, we were married.”

Grandma remembered a little differently. “My brother Merlin worked with Harold. He introduced us. Our first date was with him and his girlfriend—we went to a movie in Detroit Lakes and got burgers after. Harold asked if he could drop me off. I said yes.” 

2. When did you know you wanted to get married? 

Grandpa said it took about 4 months to know her well enough to know he wanted to marry her. “It took me almost a year before I asked her but I knew early on.” 

Grandma remembered the details. “I met Harold’s father one Sunday and he asked if I’d be interested in helping babysit Harold’s younger siblings. I asked my father who said I should do it if I wanted to. So, I did with Dale, Donnie, Mary, and Marlys Mastin. We lived in the same house. Harold danced a lot, he never stopped moving and I knew I loved him. He told his dad he wanted to buy me a ring so his dad went with him to pick it out and then we got engaged in the parking lot.”

3. What has been the most surprising thing about spending 72 years together?  

I asked them both this, half-expecting an answer about how fast the time flew by or how many things they’ve seen change. But true to form, their responses were simple and a little funny.  

Grandpa answered, “That we’re still together and we don’t fight.” Grandma echoed him in her letter, “We are surprised we never split up, so now we’re surprised that we’ve spent 72 years together, but we are happy about it.” 

 4. Have you honored your vows and do you still think of them? 

One of my sweetest friends told me to ask this question. It felt bold and I liked that. 

Grandpa didn’t hesitate: “Oh, I think of them, yeah!” His tone was so casual, it caught me off guard. “You think of them?” I repeated, genuinely surprised. “Yeah, I do think of them,” he said again, this time more firmly. And that was that. 

Grandma kept it simple. “We do honor our marriage, our vows, and we know that they have helped us in our lives.”   

5. What is the silliest argument you guys have ever had? 

I was hoping for something juicy, a big blow up over spilt milk, but this was their most similar answer. They both said they’ve only had 1 big argument, neither of them remember what it was about, but grandpa went out to the garage for a couple of hours and when he came back in, Grandma had supper ready. So, they sat down and ate together. 

6. What is a piece of advice you would give to couples just starting out? 

Grandpa’s advice:  “I would tell them they should always be considerate of one another and talk things out, always, talk things out and stay considerate of each other. “

Grandma’s advice: “Remember your vows and treat each other with respect. There will be good times and tough times, work through them together. And we hope you have a happy marriage like the one we’ve had.” 

7. How has your love changed over the years? 

When I asked Grandpa this, he didn’t really have an answer.  

Grandma wrote, “We learned to appreciate each other more. We are here for each other to help if we are troubled by something. We talk about it, and that helps a lot.” 

Her words make me think that love doesn’t grow louder. It grows softer, deeper, and maybe a little more steady.

8. What traditions are you most proud of passing down to your family?

Grandpa’s answer came with a grin I could hear through the phone: “Oh, I don’t know. I think the kids and grandkids won’t ever forget that Grandpa used to spray them with water in the summertime or play ‘bear’ with them. I enjoyed them, and I don’t think that will be an easy thing to forget.” 

“Bear” was a game my great-grandpa played with his kids, grandkids—and yes, even his great-grandkids. He’d hide in one of the hallway rooms and jump out with a growl, pretending to be a bear. But he wasn’t scary, he was a tickle bear. I remember it clearly, and I’ll make sure that tradition stays alive.

Grandma’s pride was in the foundation: “We told the kids when they were growing up to be good people, work at your job. No skipping work or being late. Be good friends and if someone needs help, do it. I hope they have used some of our advice that they were and are good workers. They work together with family and will keep our family together—and that they will just continue to enjoy life.”

9. Is there something you’ve always wanted to do together but haven’t yet?

Grandpa: “We would have liked to take some trips, but I guess we never found the time.” Trips! I lit up because if you know me you know I love to travel.  “Where would you go?” “Hawaii!” “Why Hawaii?”“Why not Hawaii?” he laughed. “It’s always been a place that stuck out in my mind.”

Grandma had a slightly different take. “We already did a lot of traveling around the U.S. when we owned a semi and took merchandise all over the place. I only wish we could have done more camping.” 

Grandpa is still out doing more camping for the both of them with my aunt, uncle, and cousins.  

10.  What is the best decision you ever made together?

Grandpa’s response was fast: “We’ve always been the most proud of raising our family, and we’re still really proud about that.”

Grandma’s answer felt like the perfect closing to a long, beautiful chapter: “Marrying each other and having a family. Two boys Harold named Ricky and Ron, and two girls I named Charlene and Sharon.”

Their answers weren’t flashy. Their stories didn’t need embellishment. But in their own quiet way, they said everything. The world they started in doesn’t exist anymore. But they do. Their love does. A promise made 72 years ago. A hallway bear game. Supper on the table after a hard day. Four kids. Patience. Consistency. 

While the world keeps spinning and the noise keeps rising, I’m grateful for the reminder that some things really do last:

Like handwritten letters.

Like showing up.

Like a good decision made a long time ago—and honored ever since.