Man, 26, Celebrates His ‘Babydoll’s 80th Birthday — They Have Been Married for 8 Years despite Criticism

Love knows no bounds with Gary and Almeda Hardwick, who claim it was love at first sight when they met at Chuck E Cheese years ago. At that time, Gary was 17, and Almeda was 72. Almeda recently turned 80, and her husband gave a sweet tribute on social media.

Gary and Almeda Hardwick were in a bad position the first time they crossed paths. Gary had just gotten out of a turbulent relationship with a 77-year-old, while Almeda had just lost her 45-year-old son, Robert.

She was also struggling with the loss of her husband of 43 years, Donald, who died in 2013 from complications with diabetes. Before his passing, Donald spent seven months in the hospital.

Almeda recalled, "I found myself on my own. I'd turn up for work at Walmart in tears, and my colleagues would ask me what was wrong. Deep down, I was searching for a soulmate."

Gary and Almeda Tied the Knot When He Was 17

However, her life turned around after meeting him during a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese. The grandmother recalled looking into the teen's eyes and falling in love. Immediately, she knew he was someone she wanted to spend the rest of her days with.

Similarly, Gary claimed it was love at first sight when he stared into her blue eyes and more so when he got to know her personality. Gary said:

"She's always full of laughter, and we just connected so well. The chemistry was great. Everything about her has just captured my heart since day one."

Gary didn't want to wait to tie the knot, so two weeks after proposing, he made it official. He knew she was the woman he wanted to be with, so he wasted no time.

One of Almeda's sons also cut ties with his mother and refused to speak with her since the day Gary entered her life.

Some of Their Family Members Don't Approve of Their Relationship

Gary had always liked older women, so having a 54-year age gap was nothing strange for him. However, many people did not feel the same, including some of the couple's family members. Despite Gary claiming he was "really mature for his age," Almeda's family had reservations about their marriage.

One of Almeda's sons also cut ties with his mother and refused to speak with her since the day Gary entered her life. He disagrees that their relationship should continue.

However, some accepted their relationship, including Gary's mother and grandmother. Almeda's grandchildren also learned to live with their grandmother's choice and look past the couple's age difference.

In September 2023, the couple shared a glimpse of their life together on TikTok to celebrate their 8th anniversary.

They have since been married for eight years and couldn't be happier. Almeda considers Gary her soul mate and the man who made her happy once again. The two enjoy making TikTok videos together and have amassed a significant following on the video-sharing platform.

They document their everyday lives, pranks, and reaction videos. However, they advocate for love regardless of age. Almeda is sure she will have Gary by her side until her last breath.

Gary Paid Tribute to Almeda on Instagram

Most recently, Almeda turned 80, and her husband didn't shy away from posting about her on Instagram. In his post, Gary vowed to give Almeda the best life and work to make her happy daily. "Happy Birthday Babydoll," he ended the post.

In September 2023, the couple shared a glimpse of their life together on TikTok to celebrate their 8th anniversary. The clip featured snippets of their wedding, daily life at home, and romantic moments.

Gary and Almeda have over 1,000 TikTok followers as of the time of this writing. However, their videos have reached thousands of viewers already. They continue to share their love story on social media, inspiring those with a similar love story.

In a similar story, a 67-year-old man's family and friends looked down on his relationship with a 23-year-old woman, especially when they tied the knot. However, he believes people are just jealous of his happiness and romance with a wonderful woman.