Tell how you met your partner/wife/husband...

[pnggrad79]

New thread, probably been done before, but here goes....

How did you meet your present partner/wife/husband/significant other/boyfriend/girlfriend, etc...?

I will start. At the risk of sounding like a Lifetime movie, I met my wife when she was 16 and I was 27, married to a man, and pregnant with my oldest daughter (who will be 20 in December). I was her high school history teacher. Now, nothing happened until 12 years later just wanted to emphasize that point. I originally thought she was stunningly attractive. She was a star athlete on the volleyball team and she invited me to several out of town games and tournaments. I liked her initially, and thought my feelings for her were largely due to my pregnancy. After my daughter was born, my feelings for her didn't wane in the least. We became really close on an emotional level. I suspected she was gay, but had no confirmation. Nothing physical ever occurred while she was in high school. When she graduated, I decided our relationship was getting too heavy, so I ended it, or so I thought. She was devastated. I tried to make amends 2 years later. To make a long story short, I moved away to South Carolina, and we had little contact, until 1997, when I first realized that my feelings for her only got stronger over time and I missed the hell out of her. When we moved back to Texas in 1998, we got more heavily involved and in 2000 I filed for divorce, and when it was final in 2001, we moved in together. We got married in Canada in 2004. In September it will be 20 years we have known each other...

Now what are your stories, if you choose to share?:)

[Daniel]

We met at the gym across the street from where I work.

It was a Monday afternoon, around 3 PM. I saw this tall handsome blond man working out on one of the machines. He was using winter gloves instead of the usual workout gloves, which I thought was kinda amusing. We talked for about 5 minutes and then he got rather flustered and left. All I knew at that point was his first name. And that I was really, really attracted to him.

A little voice told me that if I came back in two days at the same time- I would see him again. And I did.

After we had been going out for a few weeks, I started having the thought that this was the person I could- and wanted to- spend the rest of my life with.

That was 15 years ago.

[Zerbie]

New thread, probably been done before, but here goes....




Now what are your stories, if you choose to share?:)

I don't think this has been discussed before! GREAT idea!! (I love asking couples how they met! :D:D)

And PNG, your story really DOES sound like a Lifetime afternoon movie - wow! :eek: So glad for the very happy ending!!



A little voice told me that - if I came back in two days at the same time- I would see him again. And I did.

.

You're just a born intuitive. Betcha you're glad you listen to that "little voice." ;)

Now mine:

I was offered a contract to sing a role in a Mozart opera in Italy one summer in July. The contract came in Dec or Jan. I had conflicting feelings, and ultimately, for a variety of reasons, I felt it was the wrong offer, so declined the role and tore up the contract. No other opportunities came up except that I was encouraged to pay tuition to go to a training program in Austria. Despite the apparent stupidity of turning down a role just to go take classes, I had a feeling I was "supposed" to go to Austria. Since I didn't have the money for the tuition, my dad offered to pay for it, and before we sent me off, dad quipped, "Besides, maybe you'll meet your husband in Austria." I replied, "Actually, I think I will."

On the first evening there, all the newly arrived musicians were chatting in the common area, and a professor from Arizona State University was pointed out to me. Since I had been debating applying to ASU for the doctoral program, I wanted to meet the professor from ASU. So I strode confidently up to him, introduced myself and expressed interest in hearing more about ASU. Jet-lagged and focused on something else he was about to do, the prof made a kind of "hmmmpf" sound and waved me off. I was taken aback and thought, well if that's the kind of person on faculty at ASU then I'm not interested! I'm never speaking to that man again!

A couple days later, once we were all past the jet-lag, we met again, and this time he was interested in talking to me - and I, remembering how rude he had been, had something of a wall up. :p But luckily, I wound up assigned to his coaching studio in the last time slot on Friday afternoons. As it turned out, we really hit it off, musically and intellectually, and since we didn't want to stop chatting and hanging out at the end of the hour, we routinely got on a crosstown bus and headed out for dinner every Friday night. That was July 2002. We got engaged in November, and married in May of 2003.

[Daniel]

You're just a born intuitive. Betcha you're glad you listen to that "little voice." ;)

Yep. But actually....I have to work on hearing that little voice. Sometimes, my own voice is talking so much it drowns it out. :lol:

Despite the apparent stupidity of turning down a role just to go take classes, I had a feeling I was "supposed" to go to Austria.


Ah.....voices...feelings....impressions. The universe's way of getting our attention. Now. Who's the born intuitive?! :D

[andrewlittle]

The years from 1995 to 2000 were some of the toughest and, yet, were the period during which I grew spiritually and emotionally the most. During that time, I walked away from a financially successful business career, strated making custom furniture for a meager living, got divorced because my wife (by her admission) married me for the power and money, filed bankruptcy, became homeless for a year, and started working as a church administrator. From the latter, and regular opportunities to "preach", came the push to go to seminary.

In 2001, I started seminary, lived in campus housing, and was pretty much a recluse when not in classes or the dining room. I was determined to remain aloof. A long-time friend, Ginny (also a student), kept telling people what a wonderful guy I was. One woman, Jenna, was the campus "friend-to-all" and was especially friendly with the unlovable. She was determined to break through my wall, but had no success. Ginny had also devined that Jenna and I were perfectly suited romantically, and pressed Jenna to try to get to know me. Since Ginny had told Jenna that I was a furniture maker, Jenna asked me one day about book shelves. My answer was that bookshelves weren't furniture and that she should get go get some cinder blocks and shelving. After that, Jenna just blew Ginny off, telling her that I was simply an obnoxious a--hole. She also told her children to stay away from the stange guy with the really long pony-tail.

One day as I walked to my truck, I noticed that jenna's car wasn't in the parking lot, but that Jenna was on her patio. I asked where her car was. She looked at me like I was an alien, and said it was in the shop but they wanted $500 to fix it. I offered to go get the car, and see if I could fix it. She was reluctant, but gave me the keys. Forty-five dollars and four hours later it was fixed. As I was coming back with the parts, Jenna was leaving with Karl (the friend we are now staying with) to go get the kids and she introduced me to Karl. He looked at me - this greasy, long-haired, grumpy old man - like an alien, as well, and looked back at Jenna like, "You talk to this madman?"

Anyway, the car was fixed, and Jenna said she'd buy me dinner, since I'd missed the dining room meal time. I refused. She insisted. Se's very strong willed, so I gave in. At dinner, she asked why I have noticed her car was gone - she couldn't believe I even knew which car was hers. (I had made a point of avoiding Jenna because I knew I would be attracted to her - she is brilliant in class and I love brilliant.) I made an effort to distance myself, which she totally ignored, and the rest is history.

We were married in England in March, 2004 - she was doing her internship in the British Methodist Church and I was studying at Cambridge.

[dsdrane]

...where to begin....

Oh yes, that's right...you guys already know the story.

:cool::love::cookie::cowboy:

[Daniel]

Anyway, the car was fixed, and Jenna said she'd buy me dinner, since I'd missed the dining room meal time. I refused. She insisted. She's very strong willed, so I gave in.


And you sir- are Mr. Fix It. Your tale brought a big ol' smile to my face.

[Vanessa White]

Jamie and I knew each other for years, as we had mutual friends in the same circle. In 1995/96, I had left my nine year relationship, moved into my own place, and dated a couple of women, none of which were emotionally available to me. I felt rejected and alone, yet believed that something better had to be on the horizon. Talk about having "just a feeling"? My ex asked me to go out to the bar with her dancing one night, I was in grubby clothes and have done up, but said "okay", and went. Jamie was there that night, and we talked a bit, did a couple shots of tequila, and had some laughs. It is not like I hadn't seen her out before, but I left that night thinking about her. About a week later, I saw her out again, and we talked quite a bit that night as well. She asked a mutual friend for my number a couple of days later, the friend asked me if she could call me, and even though I liked her, I was reluctant, but said yes.

We have been together, including our one year hiatus, for eleven and one half years.

And, I fully believe it is forever. She really is my soulmate, and I am hers. I have never felt closer or more connected to any person in my ENTIRE LIFE.

Thank you so much for starting this thread, png. It is so heartwarming to read all of these beautiful stories of love and connection.

Ain't love GRAND?!?!?!?:love::love::love::love:

[BenL]

Charley and I met singing in a small chorale. We rehearsed at a church near the university where he was a student. I was already out of school and working for the company I still am employed by. For those of you who don't know, or don't remember, Charley was a woman when we met. He sang alto. I was in the tenor section. We started out as two members of a bunch of people who would go out together after rehearsals. We gradually became friends and started doing things together. Call it dating ... I was too naive to know that's what was happening. Finally, I decided I had to come out to him, figuring that would be the end of that. Fooled me. He said, "So?" We were married within the year.

Fast forward past the two kids, the dog and the cat in the suburbs. Charley came out to me as trans during the summer of 2003. That was after eighteen months exploring groups for mixed orietation couples, which is what we thought we were. He began transition more that two years ago. Today he sings bass to my second tenor. Ain't love maaaahvalous?

[pnggrad79]

I love all the stories.

When I said Lifetime movie, I am always a little hesitant to tell how my wife and I met, and how this all got started. I remember when she was in my class, and she was dating this guy that I really didn't care for. I thought he treated her badly. Anyway, she came in after school one day just to talk, like she often did, and he came in, sat down behind her and began to run his fingers through her hair and rub her back, and I stood behind my desk, 8 months pregnant, wanting to jump over my desk and (excuse my language) bitch-slap him for even touching her. I thought it and then I thought, "Why am I upset that he is touching her?" That's when I knew... then spent the next 12 years fighting it..What a waste... (who knew love could be so good!!??)

Keep on with your stories, I love them.:)

BTW-she said that she didn't know she was in love with me, then, she just knew that I was someone she knew she would spend her life with...I was like, honey, you were so a lesbian!!!

[u-dog]

I love all the stories.

When I said Lifetime movie, I am always a little hesitant to tell how my wife and I met, and how this all got started. I remember when she was in my class, and she was dating this guy that I really didn't care for. I thought he treated her badly. Anyway, she came in after school one day just to talk, like she often did, and he came in, sat down behind her and began to run his fingers through her hair and rub her back, and I stood behind my desk, 8 months pregnant, wanting to jump over my desk and (excuse my language) bitch-slap him for even touching her. I thought it and then I thought, "Why am I upset that he is touching her?" That's when I knew... then spent the next 12 years fighting it..What a waste... (who knew love could be so good!!??)

Keep on with your stories, I love them.:)

BTW-she said that she didn't know she was in love with me, then, she just knew that I was someone she knew she would spend her life with...I was like, honey, you were so a lesbian!!!

png,

you have nothing to be reticent or uncomfortable about. You had strong feelings for a young person and then acted totally in her best interest as was your responsibility as an adult. Then the universe rewarded your responsible behavior by awarding each of you the prize that you each coveted most. I love happy endings!!:)

[sailaway58]

I like this thread.
My wife and I met in High School 1975. We attended different schools and met through a youth rally that brought churches from within our district together for a fun time.
We met and she liked me. Considering how rare this happened I chose to hang around till she dumped me. We married in 1977 and I still can't believe she hasn't dumped me! I married way above my self (most hetero guys do) and have had a wonderful life with her so far. Sure there were times we could have killed each other, but leaving has never come up.
Who could resist?
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/sailaway58/1976.jpg

[u-dog]

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b92/sailaway58/1976.jpg


OH Sailaway! What a <snigger> great <snort> picture! <ho ho ho hee hee> :rofl: The Hair <hoot, gurgle> is VERY VERY :cool: cool!

Thanks <giggle, snort> for sharing!! :rofl:

[u-dog]

Polly and I met in NYC while in Seminary. A family new to NYC and associated with the seminary had a young elementary age son for whom they needed a babysitter. Dad was still working in the city they had moved from and Mom had to do a lot of traveling. They interviewed many applicants and chose three and allowed the boy to pick from them. He chose me with Polly as backup when I was not available. It was a great job ($3 an hour while we were both awake, $2/hr if the boy was asleep and I was awake and $1/hr while we both slept.) In 1980 that wasn't bad money since I could use MOST of that time to study anyway. Polly and I met handing off the boy to each other and leaving each other notes. Then we started running into each other at Contra-dances. (she was a really good dancer... I was not)

She pursued me vigorously and I resisted furiously! even valiantly but to no avail. I tried warn her that I was gay. we had a conversation that she and I remember absolutely differently. I thought I had told her that I thought I was gay. She remembers that I told her that I liked guys and that didn't seem like a deal breaker to her.

Anyway... One day, while driving over the GW bridge we caught ourselves discussing what baby names we liked. we stopped mid-sentence and looked at each other and asked... What are we REALLY talking about?

Anyway... the rest, as they say, is history.

I'm pretty sure I never ACTUALLY asked her to marry me.:eek: