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Joyce Huber, 66, and Bob Dolliver, 73, have been together for five years. They have dates on Wednesdays and the weekends, when they usually watch movies; Dolliver owns over 2,000. MICHAEL STONACEK/Missourian

By GABRIELA LESSA
news@columbiamissourian.com

Five years ago, Joyce Huber and Bob Dolliver met at a party for singles through a friend they had in common.

He asked her out by e-mail and brought bread on their first date instead of flowers. Since then, they have traveled together, shared each other’s interests and met each other’s families.

Dolliver is 73. Huber is 66. They are dating and don’t want to get married. They just want to enjoy their life together, and are having a great time.

Both are retired. Huber likes painting and takes as many art classes as she can. Dolliver teaches a course on old age at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute and describes himself as addicted to movies.

Here’s how it started: In November 2002, a friend persuaded Huber to go to a singles dance on a Friday night. She thought the prospect a little frightening.

“At this age, it is hard,” Huber said, but she went anyway.

Dolliver went to the dance, too, and they started talking. “Later, someone came up to me and said, ‘You sat in a way that no one else could talk to her,’ ” he said. “I didn’t even realize that!”

They chatted about a movie, but neither could remember the title. The following Monday, their mutual friend e-mailed both of them with the name of the movie, “Terms of Endearment.” That was how they discovered each other’s e-mail addresses.

The same day, Dolliver asked Huber out. “On our first date, instead of flowers, he brought loaves of bread!” Huber said, laughing.

They went to The Upper Crust that night. They have been there many times over the past five years, and they always sit at the same table that they chose on their first date.

What is it like to be dating at this age? “It’s lovely,” Dolliver answered on the spot. For him, a highlight is blending families.

Huber has been married twice and has three children and two stepchildren. Dolliver has been married twice and has two children. They say their kids are happy for them.

At first, Huber’s family was a bit shocked by her new boyfriend’s attitude after he called her house on Thanksgiving and said to her granddaughter, “I think your grandmother is hot!”

It wasn’t the only time Dolliver did that. On Valentine’s Day two years ago, he put an announcement in the paper that read: “Bob thinks Joyce is hot.”

The family has since warmed up to him, and the two have evolved as a couple.

In the past five years, they have been to Italy, Australia and New Zealand. In August, they plan to go to Maui.

They also watch lots of movies — Dolliver has about 2,000 in his personal collection — and discuss them.

Huber is becoming more interested in movies; Dolliver is learning to like art.

“This is probably the happiest time of my life,” Huber said.