By PATTIE MIHALIK

newsgirlcomcast.netThe Wall Street Journal ran a recent story that tickled me.Even the headline would get your attention: First date in a nursing home.The articles went on to detail an innovative dating service at Hebrew Nursing Home in Riverdale, New York.Residents in their 70s, 80s and even 90s are going on dates again. The nursing home provides opportunities for men and women to meet at the home's riverside café.If they hit it off, they can arrange their own future outings.I absolutely loved the stories of the 88-year-old man who was excited as he decided what to wear on his first date and the 96-year-old woman who was looking forward to her first date in 70 years.The stories brought back memories of my own sweet stepfather, Ziggy, who was devoted husband to my mother, even when she had Alzheimer's.Regardless of the weather, Ziggy drove for a hour every day to spend long hours with my mother. Although she could no longer say his name, she beamed every time Ziggy came in the room. Even with Alzheimer's, she could recognize love and goodness in someone.I once saw Ziggy tenderly touch her face, telling her she was still the most beautiful woman he ever saw.After my mother passed away, Ziggy's Parkinson's disease progressed to the point where he could no longer walk. That's when he had to go into an assisted living facility that had an excellent rehab department.He was supposed to do his exercises every day and keep increasing the distance he could walk with his walker. But I could see that he no longer had an interest in pushing himself to get stronger. He was simply giving up.All that changed when Grace entered the picture. She was at the rehab center while she recovered from a fall. Grace asked Ziggy if they could sit together for meals. Soon, they were spending their days together.After Grace came into his life Ziggy blossomed with renewed vigor. He went with her to all the programs at the nursing home and stopped spending much of his day in bed. The physical therapist was amazed at how much Ziggy improved.And it was all because of Grace, who certainly was an unexpected grace for my beloved stepdad. He told me he was so glad he moved to the assisted living facility because he was no longer lonely and depressed.I had to laugh to myself when another resident at the home told me she wanted to talk to me in private. She informed me that my 83-year-old stepdad was "living in sin" with Grace.Grace's son and I told the woman the couple had our blessings and we were planning the wedding. We weren't really planning a wedding, of course, but here in Florida, I see that happen on a regular basis.One of the things I love about living here is that no one hangs on in God's waiting room with nothing to look forward to.All around me I see people in their 80s and 90s forming new friendships and relationships. Instead of living lives of isolation, they are dating and dancing through life.My friend Mel, for instance, went into a deep depression after he lost his wife of 55 years. At 84, he thought his life was over.When his sons finally coaxed him out of the house to go dancing, he met Louise, a red-headed charmer who now lights up his life and that of everyone around them.We go dancing with them every Thursday night and I can tell you he has more stamina than most of us.My friend Betty met her partner Bill when both went into an assisted living facility. Now almost 90, they've been together for 10 years and we all can see how they enrich each other's lives.I told Betty I was planning to visit her but she cautioned I had to call first because they are "always out doing something or taking another trip."David and I have our own "after the rose has bloomed" romance. I think we keep each other young. We also stay young by socializing a lot with all the other "kids" here in Florida.I can guarantee you that the conversation is lively as all of us kids share what we've been doing for the week. Someone always has a new place worth visiting or a new activity to talk about.David and I often marvel at how much life has changed for older couples. It used to be that when a longtime spouse died, the remaining partner was doomed to a life of loneliness.No more. If you don't want to be lonely here in Florida, you don't have to be. I think it's getting to be like that in a lot of places, including Riverdale, New York, where their dating service is putting new life into residents.I don't have the long-term ambition to write a book, but if I did, I would write about relationships in the later part of life. I would call it "Love after the rose has bloomed" and I would share stories from real life.I'd love to hear from anyone who has his or her own story to tell. At any age, it's always fun to share love stories.