Farm boy
I was raised on a dairy farm in Ridgefield. I always said I was not going to marry a farmer.
I went to two different colleges and then moved home, the summer of 1963. I ran into Don, the neighbor boy, who invited me to the Clark County Fair. He was on the Fair Board. Everyone stopped and talked to him. Everyone seemed to love him. I thought maybe I should love him, too.
We were married in the summer of 1964 and bought a farm in Hockinson. We lived there 52 years. Sadly, in 2017, I lost my very best farm boy.
— Irene Ginter, Brush Prairie
Under the apple tree
Bob and I were introduced by a mutual friend. I had a medical fellowship at Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., and Bob was a practicing veterinarian in Vancouver. Our matchmaker wrote to Bob about me and sent him a newspaper article about a fellow who met girls by writing his name and address on a $20 bill. So Bob sent me a $5 bill (he is Scottish, after all) with the following written on it: “Non-vegetarian veterinarian seeks pleasing pediatrician for fun and friendship, must love kids and animals.”
I was amused and intrigued, so we became pen pals. We exchanged photos and phone calls. Our first date, almost three months later in Palo Alto, was a wonderful weekend together. Without a doubt, we were smitten, and I was sad when he had to fly back to Washington.
Thus began the long-distance romance, with letters and phone calls every couple of days and “dates” every four to six weeks. Our second meeting was in Vancouver, and included a tour of the Columbia River Gorge and the Washington Coast. It was on that trip that our relationship became more serious. We also had our first serious disagreement that almost derailed our newfound love. Thankfully, it ended quickly with Bob’s apology over hot buttered rums — at Sourdough Lil’s in Westport, a quirky bar that has never been open any other time we’ve visited there. I like to think the universe was intervening!
It didn’t take long for us to realize we were meant for one another. Still, we had careers and 600 miles separating us, and time was ticking (we were both over 30).
I flew up for a weeklong visit on April 12, 1991. Bob picked me up at the airport and whisked me to dinner at The Parker House. Afterwards, we drove along the riverfront and parked to watch the sunset. He led me across the street and under a railroad overpass to a small park with the most beautiful apple tree in full bloom. It was amazing!
As we kissed under the tree, I thought I hit my head on one of the branches, but when I gazed up, I saw a red-silk apple tied to a branch. Looking back at Bob, he had dropped to one knee. With love in his heart and his grandmother’s diamond ring in his hand, he asked me to marry him. Of course, I said yes. It was our fairy tale romance come true!
The Columbian must have known something magical was in the air. For on the front page that day there was a notice: “Cinderella comes to town” and below it was a large photo of The Old Apple Tree in bloom. We went back the next day and took our own photo. We still visit The Old Apple Tree every year!
— Jackie Smith, Ridgefield
Special family
I was the young unmarried mother of a beautiful baby boy. I had to get a job, so I became a caretaker/housekeeper for a bedridden lady. She could only get around in a wheelchair. She loved my son, Glenn, and I got paid plus room and board for us both.
Not long after I started, she wanted me to help her go to a Valentine party at the Indoor Sports Club. She belonged to this club, and she knew of a fellow that was going to be there. Little did I know, she had it all planned for me to meet him.
Glenn and I were all dressed up in red and white. He was the hit of the party.
Then I got a message from my employer that a very good looking fellow wanted to meet me and my son. I went over to him and yes, he was very good looking! He was in a wheelchair, but I didn’t even notice. We hit it off right away. I guess you could call it love at first sight on that Valentine’s Day! He held Glenn as we chatted, and told me later he fell in love with us both that day.
When I had to leave, he asked if he could see me again and write to me. I told him I’d like that very much.
He did write me almost every day, called me at least two times a week (at a time when it cost money to call long distance) and in less than two years, we were married. I became the wife of a wonderful man, all because I went to a Valentine’s Day party!
— Linda Curry, Hazel Dell
Hey, creep
The year was 1970, my junior year at Columbia River High School. The buzz around campus was the upcoming Tolo (or Sadie Hawkins) dance. This was the girl’s chance to ask a secret crush to a formal dance.
The weeks leading up to the big night were filled with girls chattering and planning their attacks. I really wanted to go, but was afraid of rejection. What if I asked someone and they turned me down? That would be worse than never asking.
I had my eye on a boy in history class. With a big push from a friend, I decided it was worth a try. But days were clicking by, and I couldn’t find the right time.
Finally, the day came. The bell rang and everyone headed to their next class. Luck was on my side. Jim and I were the last two left in the room. I knew this was my last opportunity. My heart pounding, shaking like a leaf, I worked up my courage and walked up to Jim. Slugging him in the arm, I asked, “Hey creep, do you want to go to Tolo?”
I wanted to die. I couldn’t believe I had said that. But to my surprise and elation, he said, “Yes!”
Now I could join the other girls planning for the big night. Dress shopping, hair appointment, dinner reservations, flowers. There was so much to do and not a lot of time.
Jim and I had such a great time that night, we began dating. That was 49 years ago, and we now have celebrated 46 years of marriage. Tolo actually fell on Valentine’s Day that year. Valentine’s Day has, and always will, hold a special place in our hearts.
— Bonnie Tregaskis, Hazel Dell
City boy
Growing up in the big city of Boston, before the daze of the internet, hanging out on the corner was what young men did.
One of those days, my buddy and I were at our usual post when this beautiful girl with hair flowing down to her waist, and pushing a baby stroller, walked by on the opposite side of the street. I mentioned to my bud how I wished to find a girl like that someday.
A few months later, a Navy friend’s fiancee came to my house to deliver a message. Wow! It was that long-haired beauty we had seen. We were introduced. Turns out, the child in the stroller she was pushing that wishful day was her niece.
My buddy was best man at our wedding. This spring, that beautiful woman and I will celebrate our 60th wedding anniversary.
Marie, I love you. Happy Valentine’s Day.
— Carmen, Salmon Creek
Twenty years
I knew he was somewhere in the world.
I was carrying laundry down the hallway one day and wondering where my future husband could be. I was 26. My first marriage had ended, but I liked being married and wanted a better experience. All of a sudden, a surprising thought popped into my head: “Wouldn’t it be funny if he was in first or second grade and I had to wait 20 years to meet him?”
That’s exactly what happened. Looking for a better job, I’d enrolled in a computers-only college and the good-looking student sitting behind me was clearly interested. We chatted at lunch. He was almost 24 and I’d just had my 46th. I had many concerns about our age difference, but he said it wasn’t important. The most important thing going for us is he looked older than his years and I looked younger — but definitely not as young as he.
We dated for almost three years, and when he proposed for the fourth time, I said yes. We’ll be celebrating our 33rd wedding anniversary on March 1st!
— Elizabeth Duke, Battle Ground
Jerky roses
My fiance’s birthday is Valentine’s Day. When we first met and started dating, he told me he always felt like he had to share his birthday with all the couples with their roses, jewelry and fancy dinners out.
I was excited because I never liked the holiday: I think it’s silly that you’re expected to be nice and loving to your significant other on one special day. It seems to ignore the other 364 days of the year. So, I was happy to make the day all about him!
His sister always said he wanted someone to get him a big bouquet of roses for his birthday, so the first year we were together, I bought him a bouquet of beef jerky roses! He loved it, and it’s our tradition now. He still buys me flowers for Valentine’s Day, but I don’t want anything else. It’s his day, his birthday, and that’s way more important than Valentine’s Day. It’s a day to celebrate him, always with beef jerky roses, and we can have the rest of the year to celebrate being in love. We’re getting married this year and I look forward to many more Feb. 14ths celebrating my fianc?’s birthday. Happy birthday, Bruce!
— Jane Sanford, Ellsworth Springs
Big fall
When Dad was courting Mom, they went to a park with a friend, Bill, and his girlfriend. When they got to the park, Dad decided to take Mom for a canoe ride. Bill and his girlfriend stayed on the bank and enjoyed the sun. Mom and Dad floated on the lake, having a very good time.
Suddenly Mom said, “I think I hear a waterfall. Oh my, we are going to go over it!”
Dad yelled at Bill on shore to come out and stop them from going down this stream over the waterfall, but Bill was too interested in his girlfriend. Mom was really getting upset, so Dad rolled up his pant legs to his knees and stepped over the side of the canoe. Needless to say, the water was deeper than Dad thought and he ended up in the water clear up to his waist!
When he got the canoe to shore, they went down to look at the waterfall. It was nothing more than a few little rapids that wouldn’t have bothered the canoe, even if it had gone over. Mom was really embarrassed, but Dad forgave her and married her anyway.
— Harriet M. Hooper, Rose Village
Toned down
My story starts in Las Vegas. Being single in that town is a challenge. People come and go, and there is no real connection. I had a great job, but my love life was not so wonderful.
I was going over to my girlfriend’s apartment for pizza-and-girlfriend time. I was in the fashion industry and usually looked my best, but today I was toned down, dressed in shorts and no makeup — just way too casual for my taste.
I was walking through the parking lot and saw this amazing good looking guy who looked lost. Of course no way I was going to approach him, my gosh, I had no makeup on! Went into my friend’s apartment and she said, “I hope you don’t mind, my best friend’s older brother is coming by. He is visiting from San Diego.”
A knock on the door and that great-looking guy from the parking lot walks in and tosses candy chocolate kisses at my friend. I knew at the first sight, this was the one. Next day, he called my friend to see if he could ask me out.
Well, off to San Diego I went, and have been married to Bob for 30 years. I learned makeup and how you look has nothing to do with attraction and love. We have been living in Vancouver for two years, and we love it here. I love the rain. Very romantic.
Love is strange and for those out there that are not in love, it will happen to you!
— Holly Eklund, West Minnehaha
