Nephew #1 and spouse were in middle school together. They were 13. He would complain about girls being jerks to guys and she was the shoulder he always went to cry on. They also shared the loss of an immediate family member at very young ages – that was something they really bonded over. When they were 14, my sister said to me, “One day, N will figure out that SHE’s the girl he really wants!” They started dating at 15, will be married five years this summer and have 2-1/2 boys (#3 is due in September).
Niece #1 met her spouse the first day of freshman orientation when they were doing ROTC drills. Both are active duty now and stationed in Germany. Dated five years, married for three.
Niece #2 met her fiance junior year of college. Getting married in November.
Youngest sister met her DH as a blind date for senior prom. Married four years later. Had their 30th anniversary last month.
DH and did the long-distance thing for a year and a half before I moved to Philadelphia. First date: corned beef sandwiches as a deli near Times Square (in 1982, when it was a hellhole). I had been stood up for a date, and he explained why some guys were insensitive jerks. Asked me to dinner that night so I wouldn’t be stuck in a hotel alone. Went out for Chinese with a group of folks from Georgetown, but asked to go dutch because he didn’t have $$ for two dates. Next night went to the top of World Trade Center – tickets were $3. Told me in Central Park the next day I was the one. Took me a while longer to come to that conclusion. Fortunately, his summer internship paid enough to cover the huge phone bills. Married 35 years, together 37.
My first BF was my best buddy starting freshman year of HS, didn’t date til I came home from college for winter break freshman year. We were serious from the get-go; we had known each other forever. Broke up with him after 2.5 years when he said he thought I should wait tables (and drop out of school) while he went to grad school. I knew if I married him I’d wind up crazy or divorced, so I went with my gut. He went on to have three wives, all of whom left him.