Nothing is more uplifting and reassuring than reading authentic love tales. In a world when divorce and separation are common, it’s heartening to read stories of eternal love that demonstrate that it is still possible to live peacefully with your loved one till the end.
A 90-year-old man in the Netherlands has kept his commitment to stay with his wife in sickness and health since they married over six decades ago. Even a 10.6-mile trip from his Diepenveen house to his wife’s nursing home in Apeldoorn wouldn’t keep him from seeing her.
Peter Burkhardt doesn’t mind if it’s a blistering hot summer day or a snowy frigid winter day – he’ll ride his bike to visit his wife. It’s an hour to two-hour travel, with the wind frequently against him, yet he makes the journey to be with her for a few hours no matter what.
Clara, his wife, has dementia and was admitted to a nursing facility to receive the care she required. Sadly, the only nursing facility that would accept her was more than ten miles away from home, which would have bothered anybody else than Peter.
Peter has done all he can to be with her every day for the past seven years. He used to alternate between taking a vehicle and riding his usual bike, but he had to quit driving after his driver’s licence was denied.
He now rides a tricycle after falling because of damp leaves on the road. At the bicycle shop, he was given an undercarriage with an additional wheel, which he currently uses. The trike had been driven over 24,000 kilometres, all to see Clara.
For Peter, seeing Clara is a breath of fresh air. He mentions how she offers him a warm embrace every now and then when he comes to see. Even when Clara is having a rough day, Peter wants to be with her.
When questioned if he believes Clara understands about his daily commute, he says she doesn’t since it’s outside her area of knowledge. Considering this, Peter appreciates her infrequent embraces and presence.
Even at the age of 90, he intends to continue seeing Clara. While his mobility has reduced, he is confident that he will be able to continue riding, and he can rely on his kids to accompany him on days when the weather is terrible or he has minor ailments.
When it comes to their parents’ continuing love, one of their sons, Wounter Burkhardt, believes that seeing each other keeps them alive. He also believes that his dad’s endurance in seeing the love of his life motivates others to keep the love alive regardless of what occurs.
Indeed, the narrative has touched everyone who has watched it. They, too, recounted heartwarming love tales, particularly those involving the elderly.
It’s a horrible truth for many elderly people to be separated from their spouses in order to obtain the care they require. Regardless of the distance, it’s heartwarming to witness how their love remains constant and even becomes deeper as time passes.
