Fairy tales are often told to young children to instill a sense of adventure, to promote imagination, and to develop the foundations of love and morality. Not many relate the fantastical stories to reality. Yet Ida, 96, and John Buchanan, 98, have been writing their own storybook for more than seven decades.

They will celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary on Wednesday. Ida met her future husband while living on the dazzling isle of Capri in southern Italy, where she was born and raised. The two met at a U.S. Army base where John served in the spring of 1946 while Ida was playing a game of ping-pong.