Rea Zaret and Alex Ewing saw each other’s profile on the FirstMet dating website in early August and they never looked back. They sent a few messages to each other and then agreed to exchange phone numbers. Rea recalled how quickly they connected. “We were on the phone for hours and hours. We just hit it off from the get-go.” They decided to meet in person less than a week later in Daytona, where Alex was living at the time. He said there was no doubt that it was love at first sight for both of them. “It all fell into place. It just fit.”

They discovered so many things they had in common. They loved music, both are singers, and they are both huge football fans, although, Rea is a Jaguars fan and Alex likes the Steelers, as he was born near Pittsburgh. They were floored to find out both have dogs with the same name, only spelled differently. Rea’s Lexie is an Imperial Shih Tzu and Alex owns a Pomeranian named Lexi without the e. Thankfully, Alex noted, the dogs were also a perfect match. “When they first met they got along famously, just like we did when we first met.” The only issue is that the dogs get confused about which one they are talking to.

Less than a month into their relationship, Rea was heading to Daytona once again, with friends to attend a Florida Tackle and Gun Club event. She invited Alex to meet her there. He told her he had something important to talk to her about. She suggested meeting him across the street from her hotel because there was no parking available. As they stood in the parking lot of a souvenir shop, Rea asked Alex what he wanted to discuss. It was then that Alex spouted the words she was definitely not expecting to hear. “Will you marry me?” Alex recalls that Rea did not hesitate one bit. “She fell into my arms and said yes.” Rea was still in shock, but could not wait to go back and tell her friends. The organizers of the Tackle and Gun event made a special announcement about their engagement and everyone celebrated together.

Rea and Alex were married outside under a beautiful old oak tree at the Florida Tackle and Gun Club in Mandarin on Nov. 10. The rain held off and they had a beautiful sunset. Alex was in awe when he first saw his bride come down the aisle. “I was taken aback by her beauty and how she looked the day we got married. I started to cry and she said don’t you do that.” Rea’s favorite part was that they included the traditional breaking of the glass at the end of the ceremony to honor her Jewish faith.

They were grateful to have so many of their family members travel long distances to witness their blessed event.

Though they have not known each other long, both Rea and Alex, who are in their 60s, explained that life is short and they both knew they were meant to be together. Rea, who works in the dental field, said she has been divorced for more than 25 years and has never felt this way about anyone. “I just knew it was right and I didn’t want to let this opportunity pass. I have never been as happy as I am right now.” Alex, a widower who is an Air Force veteran and retired mechanic, said everything fell into place for them. Since they met, they have been overwhelmed with joy and look forward to spending the rest of their lives together, starting with the upcoming holidays, where Rea will have her first ever Christmas tree in their home in Orange Park. As Alex described it, “We could not ask for anything better.”

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