>>> "The notebook" may just be
one of the greatest love stories
of all time but we've found the
real-life version when Annette
broke up with her boyfriend Bob
back in 1955.
She thought the relationship had
just run its course, Mario.
>> Fast forward 2019, she's
getting ready to walk down the
aisle with her first love, 63
years after she last saw them.
They're joining us now.
Welcome Bob and Annette.
How are you guys doing?
>> We're doing great.
How are you today?
>> I'm well, sir.
Thank you so much.
Tell us about your high school
relationship.
Bob, you were pretty smitten,
I'm assuming?
>> That is correct.
School year 1955 starting mydown
junior year in high school.
I laid eyes on the most
beautiful woman I have ever seen
in my life.
She was absolutely gorgeous, as
you can see from some of the
snapshots.
The Auburn hair, beautiful face.
And during that time early
September through the junior
year, I fell totally, 100%,
soulmate forever in love with
this woman.
She taught me what love was all
about.
>> Oh, and then Annette, you
look so beautiful in the
pictures, you two to prom.
You all are sort of in love.
You leave for the summer.
And then what happens, Annette?
>> I went to Florida, to Miami
beach with my aunt and uncle,
and they had an apartment on the
beach for a week.
And about the third day my aunt
said we're going to have some
company today.
So she called me in to the
apartment and there were the
callahans that had come to
visit.
And I met John and his brother
Ron.
And we was on the beach swimming
and everything for about three
days, and then they went on to
west palm beach.
So when I went back to Kentucky
with my aunt, John lifbed just
up the street from her so we
started going to swimming and
that week and he wrote to me
during the summer when I went
back to my home in Kentucky.
So when I went back for my
senior year at Garfield high
school, the first day of school,
I saw Bob coming down the hall,
and he had his arms out to hug
me and I turned for my locker
and said, Bob, I don't want to
date you anymore.
I found somebody else.
>> But there's a happy ending!
>> And you broke up with him.
Cut to six tech AIDS went by.
You went on and lived happy
lives.
How did you reconnect?
>> Well, I have cancer.
I took a sabbatical.
Let me back up.
On the side I had loved this
woman six decades plus.
Just a sad romance.
Met and married my wife in 1961.
1959 we were married and raised
our family.
But I had thought about Annette
for all of those years on
occasion.
And wondered what was going on
with her, et cetera.
So I had been sort of in love
with her all this time.
Thought about her.
I guess that's first love is
something that happens to
everyone.
But anyway, with my cancer
treatments, I needed a break and
my doctor gave me three weeks
that I could take off and I went
off on a sabbatical.
I went mountain climbing, went
to concerts, went to ball games,
was just sort of having a
wonderful time.
Coming back home though, this
gentle love on the side here, my
wife passed away in 2017, and I
got to thinking about Annette,
pull up on the side of the road,
had a little emotional
breakdown.
Decided I had to see her one
more time.
I came home.
I googled, found out her husband
passed away on January 8, 2015.
She had been a widow 4 1/2
years.
They said give donations to the
gideons.
And special thanks to the
hospice in palliative care.
So I sent donations to the
hospice and palliative care.
One of them sent back and said
hey, we are using this as seed
money to start a memory care
unit in our facility but I also
sent a condolence card to
Annette and said just thinking
about you, Bob.
Put my name and address in
there.
>> The phone number?
>> This was July 16th.
Eight days later on the 27th of
July, there's a phone call that
comes in and she says, Bob, this
is Annette.
I WEMT this morning found your
card.
Thank you very much.
I looked and saw your return
actress.
She said praise god.
Fwod answered my prayer.
She had been looking for me for
a couple of years.
>> Prayers answered, Bob!
>> And there it was.
>> Never give up on love!
That is the lesson there.
>> God himself directed that.
Anyway, there's a neat picture
of there us setting in the park
waiting for a sunset.
Anyway, we talked on the phone.
She said, I would like to see
you.
When can you come to Ohio?
I packed a bag that night, was
on the road next morning.
500 miles, 12 hours of driving
and sitting in the driveway.
>> Bob, I love it!
>> That is disciplined
commitment, my friend.
>> And we wish you well with
your health.
>> God bless you, guys.
>> And big thank you to Annette
and Bob!
You guys are awesome!
Inspiration!
>> Help us go off the air!
We love a good love story.
>> Quickly if I may, when I got
here 6:30 in the evening, I
called and said are you home?
She said I'm home.
She said are you coming to Ohio?
I said, I'm sitting in your
driveway.
Got out of the car, gave her
flowers.
I walked over and said you're
beautiful, I love you and
whether you like it or not I'm
going to kiss you!
>> That's it!
Bob's got game!
Thank you, Bob!
Thank you Annette!
You guys rock!
>> 30 days later I asked her to
marry me and she agreed.
>> All right, Bob.
I feel like know everything
about Bob now.