I had a serious boyfriend from the age of 18 through 25 who was 8 years older than me. I went to a commuter college. I met H when I was 22 and he was 25; we went to the same law school but I was a year ahead. By the time I broke up with my first bf, who was my first love (we broke up because he didn’t want kids and I did), H was seeing someone else, to whom he eventually became engaged. H called off the wedding but not the engagement. About 6 months later, the fiance eloped with the guy H suspected she’d been seeing behind his back, which was why he called off the wedding. He called me for a shoulder to cry on and the rest is history.
I did date in that interim period but not anyone that I really wanted to marry. At that point, I was just starting out in my career and was hyper-focused on that. H came along as single at the perfect time. I had already known him for several years by that point so I didn’t have to waste time on the getting to know you stuff, he was in the same career as me and he was drop dead gorgeous and smart. Funny thing is that, over the years, most of my friends told me that I would wind up with H eventually. It turns out that his friends (even the one that was supposed to be best man at his canceled wedding) told him that he would wind up with me as well.
I had a serious BF for about 3 years in HS thru freshman year of college, another one in college and a 3rd one in grad school. H was the 4th serious relationship; our relationship matured and blossomed over the year we before our one year engagement. Dated a few guys casually as well along the way—I like guys and have always gotten along well with males (have had some mean girls in my life who confused and upset me).
Short version of long and colorful story: My wife and I were introduced by my first cousins. Their father, my uncle, is my mother’s brother. Their mother, my aunt by marriage, is the first cousin of my wife’s mother. Say that 10 times fast.
Forgot to mention that the introduction was made when I was a post-doc. I was 25 and she was 22. The uncle in question had wanted to fix me up while I was in grad school but it didn’t happen until after I finished.
@shawbridge 's wife is the second cousin of his first cousins, but not biologically related to him, at least not within the past three generations. I suspect that’s not so uncommon. Certainly not among the crowned heads of Europe!
I once dated a woman who is a first cousin of a bunch of my second cousins. She is also the daughter of my mother’s college boyfriend. My mother had introduced his brother to her favorite first cousin, and they married. We’re still friends, by the way, 40+ years later (and her husband and my wife). We see each other regularly, both at life cycle events of our common cousins, and sometimes independently.
S17 is a straight theater tech major. I told him, great you will meet lots of women. He called me the third day of class and said, good news, bad news. Good news, I’ve met lots of nice girls in my program, bad news, the ones who don’t already have boyfriends, have girlfriends.
Late to the party but met my second (current) husband on E-Harmony. We’ve been together 8 years and both love personality tests (which eharmony is). My coworker in my 4 person office also met her husband on eharmony first. She tried to get me to do it but I held off until I was ready for something “serious.”
We met at work I was a nurse he a resident. Not very exciting.
However we did find out after we had been married 20 years that we were distantly related. I was messing around on ancestry.com and found out we had a common ancestor from around 1780. We grew up in two different states. We periodically like to wind our children up by saying we are “cousins”
@shawbridge, your first cousins are your wife’s second cousins. Their mother is your wife’s first cousin, once removed.
First and second cousins are one or two generations from the common grandparent. respectively.
If you are differing generations then you are the common generation once (or twice etc. removed).
I met my gf almost 2 years ago now. I pulled into a parking spot at Walmart and she was sitting in her car crying. I debated for a bit whether or not to approach her and asked if she needed any help or anything. I finally did. Turns out she just needed a shoulder and a listening ear and I gave her both. After we spent several minutes talking and crying, she went back into Walmart with me and we walked around and shopped together. That was the beginning of a close friendship that has developed into an amazing relationship.
We met at the Irish Embassy in Boston about 25 year ago. While true, this sounds a lot classier than it was… the Irish Embassy was the name of a bar. We had a mutual acquaintance and ended up in a group that went out for drinks after work one night. Turns out we had the same last name… and we still do!
My 6 year relationship with the guy I was engaged to just ended. I graduate college in May, and I am not sure if i will ever find someone again. I love reading these post about how people met just to give me some hope. I can’t wait to read my own post one day. He will find someone when the timing is right. @ChoatieMom
Met junior year. She was an exchange student from CA. Lived on my dorm floor three doors down. Knew she was the one immediately. 33 yrs later we’re thoroughly enjoying the stories of our son’s college freshmen yr! Hope he’s as lucky as I was.
@techmom99 That’s hysterical! D2 is a sophomore at a performing arts high school. I ask her if their are any guys she’s interested in. She’s always telling me all the guys in her MT program are gay. The other day she comes home and says, " Dad, exciting news. I finally got hit on today…by a girl!" We laughed. Theater folk.
We met at a large tech firm in the 80’s. The company was hiring like crazy. Lots of engineers. H wound up in my group and our cubicles shared a wall. I remember him coming into the first staff meeting and thinking to myself “wow, they finally hired a cutie”.
We were good buddies for a while. Then we were more. When we announced our engagement to our common manager he was completely surprised.
