All you need is love: A collection of stories for First Love Day
Posted on September 18, 2023 in
Love is many a splendored thing. In honor of First Love Day, we asked a few of our resident couples to share their stories, some of whom have been together for 50 years and counting!
Dan and Kim C.
Love isn't something you find; it's something that finds you! And that's true of Dan and Kim C., who grew up together in a very small town near Sidney, Ohio. They were "backyard neighbors" from elementary to high school.
Kim and Dan started dating when Dan was a high school senior, and Kim was a sophomore. They dated about three months before Dan left for basic training in the Air Force, being stationed in San Antonio, Texas. They fell in love at different times - Dan knew way before Kim! She realized it while he was in South Carolina on spring break during his senior year of high school.
In the spring of Kim's junior year of high school, Dan came home from North Carolina to attend Kim's high school prom. He proposed during a slow song on the dance floor, and Kim was totally surprised! They married during the infamous "Blizzard of '78,” and the wedding was postponed two days because of the blizzard and its aftermath. They just celebrated 45 years of marriage on Jan. 29, 2023.
When asked what they like most about their relationship, they say, "We both like the same things. We enjoy spending time together, but we both appreciate our time to ourselves. It is a good balance."
Their advice to newlyweds is, "Communicate. Show appreciation to one another, even for small things. It really does make a difference."
John and JoAnn C.
John and JoAnn C. met at the YMCA in Dayton, Ohio. At the time, JoAnn managed the coffee shop there and John lived at the "Y,” after being transferred to Dayton from McKeesport, Pennsylvania to manage the Hanover Men's Shoe Store.
Interestingly, their first date was at 10 p.m., after JoAnn closed the coffee shop. John walked JoAnn home to "The Loretto,” a Catholic-run boarding house for young women "for her safety," as she was being followed by an ex-prisoner who lived at the "Y," and she was afraid to walk alone.
One thing led to another and they fell in love at the "Y". John would pay 25 cents for his coffee and give JoAnn a 25-cent tip. After several weeks, he said, "Don't you have a quarter in your pocket (her tips) to pay for my coffee?". She did, and they began dating.
At The Loretto, they would move the sofa in the living room, so the nuns could not see them hugging. This creative thinking got them reprimanded, so they decided to get married. They were married on July 4, 1960, at St. Remy's Catholic Church, in Russia, Ohio, after only three months of dating.
This July, JoAnn and John celebrated 63 years of marriage. They have two sons, three daughters, 15 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. What they love about their relationship is that they openly communicate with one another, are supportive of each other's likes and dislikes, and are comfortable with each doing what they like to do.
When asked what advice they would give to newlyweds, they say, "Communicate openly, and tolerate one another. Be involved in financial decisions. Share in each other’s beliefs in faith. Treasure your time together."
Kathleen and Harold C.
Kathleen and Harold C. met at school and over the years, saw each other in classes, ball games, church and other functions. Their first date was to the Piqua Skating Rink for a school-sponsored skating party. While they were at the party, someone pulled the spark plug wires off the car motor, and Harold had to reassemble the wires back on to get home. Kathleen remembers being very impressed that Harold could do that!
Needless to say, they had a spark, and went on to date in 1952 and 1953. In April 1953, when Kathleen was a high school senior, Harold was drafted by the Army. He was sent to Camp Breckinridge, Kentucky for basic training.
Harold proposed on Kathleen's 18th birthday. The night included dinner in Troy, and then the couple returned to Urbana to Kathleen's home. Harold proposed to Kathleen in her parent’s living room with her parents and sister present, and they married in Kathleen's home on Sept. 5, 1953, while Harold was on a weekend pass. Fast forward to today, they are blessed with three children, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.
When asked what advice they would give newlyweds, they say, "Always say, 'Yes, dear', and to pick the right person.” Impressively, Harold and Kathleen celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5, 2023!
