Love survives COVID
Glen and Nora Maier share memories of their 70 years together on Thursday afternoon, tucked away in an office at Honeysuckle Senior Living in Hayden where Nora is a resident. They both contracted and survived COVID-19 last year and were apart for some time, but were joyously reunited last Tuesday.
DEVIN WEEKS/Press
Glen and Nora Maier, married 70 years, three months and two days, hold hands during a visit Thursday at Honeysuckle Senior Living. Glen and Nora both contracted COVID-19 and couldn't see each other for a month, but have recovered and were reunited last Tuesday.
Glen and Nora Maier cut into their wedding cake in this photo from their wedding day, Oct. 1, 1950. The North Idaho couple have been through much in their 70-year marriage, including a recent bout with COVID-19. And yet, their love for each other is unwavering.
"Hi honey, how are you doing?" Glen Maier asks Nora Maier, his bride of 70 years, as he visits her Thursday afternoon at Honeysuckle Senior Living.
He doesn’t claim to know all the tricks to a long and happy marriage.
However, 91-year-old Glen Maier does know a thing or two about courting a pretty girl.
His parents had a little dairy in the foothills in Spokane when he was growing up. They didn’t have a telephone, so he was creative in how he shared his affection with the young lady who lived not too far away.
“The milkman would come every day to pick up the milk,” Glen Maier said. “I would give him letters to give to Nora.”
The two met during an autumn birthday party when Nora, now 89, was a student at Mead High School. She previously went to Coeur d'Alene High until her family moved to the Mead area.
It didn't take long before Glen and Nora fell in love.
"In those days, you had a day off for Washington’s birthday," Glen said. "So on Washington’s birthday, in February, we went out and bought a ring."
“I remember my mom telling me that one of her high school teachers was engaged at the same time she was engaged, and her diamond was bigger than her teacher's and her teacher was very upset about that,” their daughter, Sheila Andrus, said.
On Thursday, Glen and Andrus, of Rathdrum, visited Honeysuckle Senior Living, where Nora has been a resident since April 2017. Glen has made it a point to be with his bride as much as possible since she moved out of their home.
"I was with her every day until we couldn’t come anymore,” Glen said.
COVID-19 was the only thing that could come between them.
"She would be on one side of the window and we’d be outside when the weather was nice, and we could see each other, but that was about it," Glen said.
When asked how they managed not being able to hold each other through the long quarantine months, Glen replied: "With difficulty."
Perpetually smitten, Glen seized an opportunity to be with his wife when she had a doctor's appointment the day after Thanksgiving. Neither knew at that time she had contracted COVID.
“While we're waiting for the doctor, I sneak a couple of kisses,” Glen said unabashedly. "That did it. They tested her and she was positive. Honeysuckle called and said, 'You better get down here, we want to test you.'"
Glen tested positive.
He said the kisses were worth it. But they both experienced symptoms including fever and fatigue. Nora had the worst of it.
More than four weeks went by before they could be together again. They were reunited last Tuesday.
"It felt good,” Glen said, cheerfully. "We were able to hold hands. We were in here about an hour."
The Maiers have weathered life's journey together, through the tragic death of their younger daughter killed by a drunken driver to running A&W restaurants and Glen having to work out of town for weeks at a time.
Their love has always prevailed. It even conquered COVID.
"I was able to watch my mom and dad face difficult things and work through them," Sheila said. "They were always honest with each other, and they always trusted each other. There was never a break of trust or honesty. There were conflicts, and there were situations that were tough.
"We saw that, but we also saw them working through it," she said. "I think that’s what makes a marriage strong."
