[James Matthew Najera]

General Discussion Thread 06.22.2025​

Hey GrayViners!

Alright, this one’s for the romantics, the story-sharers, and everyone who’s had that moment where a stranger suddenly became your person.

How did you meet your spouse or best friend?

Was it love at first sight? A slow burn? A happy accident? Did they bump into you at the grocery store or sit next to you at bingo night? We want all the details—the sweet, the funny, and everything in between.

As for me, one of my closest friends and I actually met at a library—we both reached for the same mystery novel, laughed, and ended up swapping reading recommendations (and stories from our lives) ever since. Just goes to show, you never know when someone wonderful is about to walk into your life.

So tell us—how did your story begin? Let’s fill this thread with warm fuzzies and maybe a few happy tears.

Cheers!
Blue

 

[dkleslie52]

We met at a karaoke bar. Friends, but it grew.

 

[redbayqueen]

I was 14 years old. He was my 26 years old Vacation Bible School teacher. Its a long story but I guess I chased him until he caught me. I invited him to a party at my house and he came. I had no phone. One day his brother handed me a note wherein he asked me for a date. Took a while but I finally wore my parents down and they let me accept. We went to a drive-in movie. We married about a year later. Have three children. We were married for 56 years before the Lord called him home at the age of 83. I would do it all over again.

 

[Jackics56]

He knocked at my front door on Friday the 13th selling a singles club membership… 5 months later we were married! 38 years later still in love and married !

 

[Gigi73094]

Blind date. A gift from a friend for my thirtieth birthday Married for 31 years and still in love

 

[Gayle B.]

My husband and I were both serving in the military. I worked in a dark room where I had too many headaches. I went to the eye clinic and met a guy who would ask question after question about me. My childhood through being there that day. I was extremely shy and couldn’t wait to finish and get out of there. It turned out that I needed glasses. One night after supper chow he brought them to my all women dorm. This was before coed dorms for singles. He made sure that they fit well, etc. The other women said I should check him out. I really didn’t want to as I NEVER was going to be married! I had plenty of reasons but that’s not important right now. After a few weeks I did! When he asked me to marry him he gave me a letter and a ring. The letter was to his mom asking her permission. It had to be notarized with her signature. He wrote to her on the day we met! He knew that I was the girl he wanted from day one. How romantic, huh? We were married 9 months later. That was over 52 years ago! We didn’t have any children so we made peace with that. I wouldn’t change anything!

 

[tonihkawilliam54]

We met at church a few times, & then we'd see each other at the local casino, & we'd visit between playing games. She would always invite me to come to her home, but I would never show up. Then, a week before Thanksgiving, she showed up at my home. When I asked what she was doing there, she said, "I came to get you!". We have been together ever since. Then we got married the next year & have been together for 16 years!

 

[Arkie98]

My best friend and I were working in a small sandwich shop and up the street went this cool 55 Chevy and a hot driver. I remarked to my friend as he made another loop around the square. As he pulled in to park my friend said oh my gosh that is my cousin. Long story short we went to a basket ball game and continued from there. We dated, b roke up, married others yet we always knew where the other was. We were engaged once but as kids 16 and 20 never happened but long story short, we reconacted and spent 11 yrs together til the Lord took him home. 40 years we were together all total and never did marry. Miss him yet today.

 

[Marilea]

My parents and I were members of a Presbyterian church in Springfield, VA. The youth group met in the lower level of Mike’s parents home. Mike would play his guitar and lead us in singing hymns and folk songs. Later our group went to a church camp for the weekend. The group went in kayaks and Mike asked me to go with him. Then he asked me to go to a movie with him. I was age 20 and had never been on a date! We went to see The Sound of Music and as we came out, he said”I’d like to have 6 kids, too, and I want you to be their mother!” A few dates later, he asked my parents for permission to marry me, and he proposed in our basement. We were married for 50+ years before he died of a heart attack 3/29/2020. We had 4 children, 3 boys and, finally, a girl.

 

[Gayle B.]

My parents and I were members of a Presbyterian church in Springfield, VA. The youth group met in the lower level of Mike’s parents home. Mike would play his guitar and lead us in singing hymns and folk songs. Later our group went to a church camp for the weekend. The group went in kayaks and Mike asked me to go with him. Then he asked me to go to a movie with him. I was age 20 and had never been on a date! We went to see The Sound of Music and as we came out, he said”I’d like to have 6 kids, too, and I want you to be their mother!” A few dates later, he asked my parents for permission to marry me, and he proposed in our basement. We were married for 50+ years before he died of a heart attack 3/29/2020. We had 4 children, 3 boys and, finally, a girl.

Thank you for sharing your personal experience. So tender too. Me and my husband met in the military. We could never have children. We are fortunate to have lived through carbon monoxide poisoning 5 years ago. It has been a struggle with our mobility. We are grateful to even be alive! We have been married for over 52 years and know we are living a blessed life together.
Im so sorry for your loss. I pray you find peace and comfort in your heart. I will be praying for you.

 

[Hazeleyes]

I met my best friend at grammar school. We have been friends ever since. In our last year of grammar school on Fridays we took our lunch to baskin Robbin’s ate our lunch and then had an ice cream cone for the walk back to school.

 

[TriciaR]

We met at a karaoke bar. Friends, but it grew.

Thank you so much for sharing @dkleslie52 ! Karaoke bars are such a fun place to connect—no wonder it sparked something special. Do you remember what song either of you sang when things started to shift from friendship to something more? We'd love to hear more of your story!

 

[TriciaR]

I was 14 years old. He was my 26 years old Vacation Bible School teacher. Its a long story but I guess I chased him until he caught me. I invited him to a party at my house and he came. I had no phone. One day his brother handed me a note wherein he asked me for a date. Took a while but I finally wore my parents down and they let me accept. We went to a drive-in movie. We married about a year later. Have three children. We were married for 56 years before the Lord called him home at the age of 83. I would do it all over again.

Thank you so much for sharing such a touching and memorable love story @redbayqueen . It sounds like your connection was truly one of a kind—56 years of marriage is such a beautiful testament to the life you built together. The image of that handwritten note being passed along by his brother is just lovely. Do you happen to remember what movie you saw on that first date at the drive-in? Your story really stayed with us—so full of heart, determination, and lasting love. We're honored you shared it with us.

 

[TriciaR]

He knocked at my front door on Friday the 13th selling a singles club membership… 5 months later we were married! 38 years later still in love and married !

Thank you so much for sharing @Jackics56 —what a fantastic story! Who would’ve thought a knock on the door on Friday the 13th would lead to 38 years (and counting!) of love and marriage? Did you have any hesitation about the day being Friday the 13th, or did it just feel right from the start? We'd love to hear more about what happened after that first meeting—was it an instant connection? Stories like yours make us smile. Thanks again for letting us be part of it!

 

[TriciaR]

Blind date. A gift from a friend for my thirtieth birthday Married for 31 years and still in love

Thank you so much for sharing @Gigi73094 —what a beautiful birthday gift from your friend! A blind date that led to 31 years of love sounds like something out of a movie. Did you have any idea that night that it would turn into something so lasting? And is your friend who set you up still in your life? We’d love to hear more about how that first date went! Stories like yours truly make our day—thanks again for letting us in on it!

 

[TriciaR]

My husband and I were both serving in the military. I worked in a dark room where I had too many headaches. I went to the eye clinic and met a guy who would ask question after question about me. My childhood through being there that day. I was extremely shy and couldn’t wait to finish and get out of there. It turned out that I needed glasses. One night after supper chow he brought them to my all women dorm. This was before coed dorms for singles. He made sure that they fit well, etc. The other women said I should check him out. I really didn’t want to as I NEVER was going to be married! I had plenty of reasons but that’s not important right now. After a few weeks I did! When he asked me to marry him he gave me a letter and a ring. The letter was to his mom asking her permission. It had to be notarized with her signature. He wrote to her on the day we met! He knew that I was the girl he wanted from day one. How romantic, huh? We were married 9 months later. That was over 52 years ago! We didn’t have any children so we made peace with that. I wouldn’t change anything!

Thank you so much for sharing your incredible story @Gayle B. —it gave me goosebumps! From that first visit to the eye clinic to a notarized letter to his mom… what a wonderfully romantic journey. It sounds like he knew from the very beginning that you were someone truly special, and how amazing that he acted on that so sincerely. Writing to his mom the day you met? That’s the kind of devotion we don’t hear about often anymore. Do you still have the letter he wrote? We’d love to know what you thought when you first read it. Over 52 years together is an extraordinary achievement—and your story is a beautiful reminder that love can find us when we least expect it. Thank you again for sharing it with us!

 

[TriciaR]

We met at church a few times, & then we'd see each other at the local casino, & we'd visit between playing games. She would always invite me to come to her home, but I would never show up. Then, a week before Thanksgiving, she showed up at my home. When I asked what she was doing there, she said, "I came to get you!". We have been together ever since. Then we got married the next year & have been together for 16 years!

Thank you so much for sharing your story @tonihkawilliam54 —it made me smile! There’s something really special about how it all unfolded, from those casual chats at church and the casino to that unforgettable moment when she showed up at your door and said, “I came to get you!” That’s pure movie magic. Do you remember what went through your mind when you saw her standing there? And did you end up spending that Thanksgiving together? Sixteen years strong—that's amazing. We’re so glad you shared your story with us!

 

[TriciaR]

My best friend and I were working in a small sandwich shop and up the street went this cool 55 Chevy and a hot driver. I remarked to my friend as he made another loop around the square. As he pulled in to park my friend said oh my gosh that is my cousin. Long story short we went to a basket ball game and continued from there. We dated, b roke up, married others yet we always knew where the other was. We were engaged once but as kids 16 and 20 never happened but long story short, we reconacted and spent 11 yrs together til the Lord took him home. 40 years we were together all total and never did marry. Miss him yet today.

Thank you so much for sharing your story @Arkie98 —it’s one of those rare and powerful love stories that stays with you. From that first glimpse of the cool ’55 Chevy to a lifetime of reconnections, it sounds like your bond was truly one-of-a-kind. It’s amazing how life took you both in different directions, yet your hearts always seemed to find their way back to each other. Forty years of love, even without marriage, is a beautiful testament to the depth of your connection. Do you have a favorite memory from those 11 years you spent together after reconnecting? We’d love to hear more about what made your time together so special. Thank you again for letting us be a part of this heartfelt story. He sounds like someone truly unforgettable.

 

[TriciaR]

My parents and I were members of a Presbyterian church in Springfield, VA. The youth group met in the lower level of Mike’s parents home. Mike would play his guitar and lead us in singing hymns and folk songs. Later our group went to a church camp for the weekend. The group went in kayaks and Mike asked me to go with him. Then he asked me to go to a movie with him. I was age 20 and had never been on a date! We went to see The Sound of Music and as we came out, he said”I’d like to have 6 kids, too, and I want you to be their mother!” A few dates later, he asked my parents for permission to marry me, and he proposed in our basement. We were married for 50+ years before he died of a heart attack 3/29/2020. We had 4 children, 3 boys and, finally, a girl.

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful story with us @Marilea . From singing hymns and folk songs to that first date seeing The Sound of Music, it sounds like something truly special was blooming right from the start. That moment when he said, “I’d like to have 6 kids, too, and I want you to be their mother”—what a sweet and bold declaration! It’s clear that your love was deep and lasting. Over 50 years together, and the family you built sounds just as full of heart. Do you still think of that first movie date when The Sound of Music comes on? We'd love to hear more about what he was like as a dad and husband—he sounds like someone who loved with his whole heart. Thank you again for sharing such a touching and inspiring love story.

 

[TriciaR]

I met my best friend at grammar school. We have been friends ever since. In our last year of grammar school on Fridays we took our lunch to baskin Robbin’s ate our lunch and then had an ice cream cone for the walk back to school.

Thank you so much for sharing this lovely memory @Hazeleyes —it brought such a smile to my face! There’s something so special about friendships that begin in childhood and stand the test of time. Those Friday lunches at Baskin-Robbins sound like a perfect tradition—do you remember what your go-to ice cream flavor was back then? And are you and your best friend still in touch today? Lifelong friendships like yours are truly a treasure. Thanks again for letting us be part of your story!