LEWISTON – They were in their 40s when they met on a blind date.

Paul and Sally were both divorced. She had two grown sons; he had five children.

“One night my friend called and said, ‘How would you like to go dancing tonight?'” Paul Belisle recalled. “I said, ‘I don’t have anybody to go dancing with.’ She said, ‘I’ve got somebody here that would be glad to dance with you.'”

He showed up and met Sally MacDonald.

“We went out dancing and we’ve been on the same date ever since,” he said. “That was it. We’ve been together ever since.”

Turned out that date was just in time.

She was planning to leave for Wisconsin to get to know a widower she had met through friends. “He was nice,” she said. “But I was hoping to meet someone else to compare.”

Another friend suggested Paul Belisle, telling her, “‘He’s not interested in getting married.’ I said, ‘Neither am I.'”

Soon they were planning their wedding.

Paul liked everything about Sally. She was comfortable to be with. “We shared the same hobbies, likes and dislikes.”

Sally agreed. When they met it was like they’d known each other for years, she said.

That was 25 years ago.

Now 71, she’s a retired Auburn teacher. He’s 72, retired from his plumbing and heating business. They share a love of volunteerism, a big house and a big family.

“We have his kids, my kids and our grandchildren,” Sally said.

Through 25 years of marriage, they have shared common interests. Both are cross-country skiers, hikers and cyclists. He’s a woodworker; she’s a tole painter.

Both are involved in church. They volunteer once a week, reading library books to day-care children. They serve on the stewardship committee of the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary and take Senior College classes at Lewiston-Auburn College.

Both are also involved in Androscoggin Habitat for Humanity. For them, watching families who have no dream of owning homes become homeowners is gratifying. It makes a big difference in their qualify of life, especially for the children, Paul said.

He and Sally have helped build 13 homes, doing everything from hammering nails to serving as chairs of the board.

Before they got married they decided to do their volunteerism together, so they wouldn’t go off in different directions. They have to be careful, he said, not to get overextended. They’ve had to learn to say no.

Reflecting on their marriage, Paul said living with Sally leaves him fulfilled.

“I lived alone for 17 years with my children,” Sally said. “To have someone to share everything with is really wonderful.”

Paul smiled at her and touched her arm.