Two lifelong singles marry after two decades of solitude

Al Sager and Susan Guc, 65 and 76 respectively, married this week in Bay City, Michigan, ending a long period of singlehood for both. Sager had remained unattached throughout his adult life. "You see relationships sour and it's like, 'Nah, I don't want that,'" he said. "I was alone, but I wasn't lonely."

Guc, a nurse, shared the same sentiment. "If there would be anybody out there, who would I really want?" she asked. "And I was happy with that. I really was." Both residents were known locally for their independent lifestyles. Sager worked as a truck driver, spending most of his time on the road. Guc devoted her career entirely to her patients.

Their connection began a couple of years ago when both underwent heart procedures. Medical staff placed them in the same cardiac rehabilitation program. Guc noticed Sager on an exercise bike while she was on a treadmill. She admired his smile, but he remained unaware of her presence. To gain his attention, she presented him with a rock etched with the word "smile."

"Yes, she threw a rock at me to get my attention," Sager recalled. "This rock rocked," Guc added. Although she handed him the object rather than throwing it, the gesture sparked a conversation. Sager interpreted the note as a prompt to smile more. "I said, 'Well, I better look into this more,'" he stated.

The couple's union has surprised their families. "We were all just shocked," one relative said. Another added, "I about fell out of my chair. I didn't expect that." Guc attributed the meeting to chance. "It was just a fluke," she explained.

The marriage was finalized this week. Sager and Guc now encourage others who feel their age has passed for romance. "I had thought that, but look what happened to me," Guc said. Sager agreed, adding, "Oh, absolutely, it's never too late."

The ceremony concluded a period of solitary living for both partners. Their new status marks a shift from their previous lives as dedicated professionals and independent individuals. The pair now shares a home in Bay City, having found a partner through their recovery journey.