Five years ago, Pauline Eaton

was looking for a house in Fayetteville. When she got a little lost, she

decided to ask the person next door if the house she was looking at was

the one for sale. Eaton did not get the house, it had already been sold,

but she did find a friend, who on Dec. 27 will become her husband.

Eaton, 72, and Clifford Lee

Burdick, 84, forged a friendship that day. Both widowers, the two began

dating three years later, and two months ago began planning a small Christmas

wedding. On Monday, the pair picked up their marriage license from the

Probate Court in Fayetteville. After a wedding in front of a group of

family and friends, they will honeymoon on Singer Island, near West Palm

Beach, Fla.

The couple enjoys traveling,

working in the yard, participating in church activities and visiting with

their families and friends. Eaton also stressed that their relationship

is stronger because they have some differing interests, Burdick is a football

and golf fan, while she is an avid reader.

"I think the key to a

successful marriage is to let the other person develop their own personality

and have their own interests," said Eaton. "Otherwise, you may

as well just kick the bucket."

When asked what attracted them

to each other, Eaton said that Burdick has a great personality. "Everybody

just loves him. He's not a griper or a complainer."

Burdick recalled that after

he met Eaton he called a friend of his and stated that he had just met

the most beautiful lady. Eaton said that he said that because he was desperate.

Their engagement did not involve

a ring hidden in a dessert or an announcement on a diamond vision screen

at a sporting event, but it got the response Burdick wanted. "He

just said to me, 'Go get ready and we'll get an engagement ring.'

I thought he'd never ask me."

The two look forward to many

happy years together and both are firm believers that God puts you where

he wants you to be. "We are looking forward to the new year and we

truly believe the best is yet to come," said Eaton.