“It’s like a scene from a movie,” I always begin. “We opened our car doors simultaneously, and then our eyes met. We started talking as soon as we got in line. And that’s how it all started.”
How I met my husband over 20 years ago is one of the first stories I tell when meeting new people. Our young-adult sons have heard it so many times they could recite it in their sleep.
Here’s the condensed edition: We lived in separate states and attended the same concert with friends in Kansas City. Standing outside the venue for hours before the show, we struck up a conversation with the right recipe of depth and flirtation. At one point, I paused to whisper to my friend Sara, “I’m going to marry this man.” And then, 18 months later, I did.
The longer version includes a tiny fib about knowing how to knit that forced me to actually learn how.
I tell this story a lot, not just because I love to tell stories, but because sharing our meet-cute keeps our love alive during the mundane, not-so-romantic moments of real life.
It Fosters a Sense of Adventure
When I look at photos from when I met my husband, I think of two things: 1. Why did I ever complain about that porcelain skin? 2. I had so much fun!
I had fun because I said yes to adventures, including a 10-hour van trip with friends to stand in line for a concert. I slept on acquaintances’ couches, drank truck-stop coffee at 2 a.m. and initiated conversations with handsome strangers. Yes, age was on my side, but so was spontaneous action and authentic connection. It reminds me to say yes when my husband invites me on a winter hike, even when I want to stay inside, and to plan the spring break trip, even though the budget is tight. (I’ll avoid the truck-stop coffee, though. Some adventures are best left in the past.)
It Encourages Tech-Free Time
If I had been scrolling Instagram Reels that December night, I would’ve missed one of life’s greatest opportunities. Instead, I was present and brave. I’m not planning on meeting a new husband every time I engage in grocery check-out small talk, but I might learn about a new variety of apples to try. Real-world connections are invaluable; I don’t want to miss them while checking meaningless notifications.
My husband and I put our phones in a different room during important discussions, and when we schedule a date night, phones are off the table. Our love began in a low-tech world; it flourishes when we prioritize tech-free time.
It Strengthens Family Connections
Research shows that family storytelling strengthens bonds and fosters resilience. If this is true, my sons should be ready to conquer the world! Sure, they might roll their eyes at the sappy details of our meet-cute, but deep down, I know they love hearing about our younger years. Learning about our hardships and perseverance — including the season when “date night” was spending $2.14 on sundaes at McDonald's — has taught our boys that real connection isn’t about avoiding challenges but growing through them.
Because of our storytelling, our sons know love is magical and mundane, requiring hard work and hand-holding. Hopefully, someday, I’ll listen to them recount their own romantic meet-cutes — without rolling my eyes.
It Rekindles the Initial Magic
I don’t believe in soulmates. If we focus too much on fate, we forget about the struggle. Marriage is a cycle of ordinary rhythms: emptying the dishwasher, discussing finances, stressing about aging parents and cramming in a date night.
Still, I recognize the magic in the moment we first met.
If our van had arrived at the concert two minutes later, I wouldn’t have been waiting in line next to Chris. If I hadn’t been wearing my cute thrift store hat, maybe we wouldn’t have started chatting. If we had met one year earlier, I would have been in a different stage of life and not ready to leap into a long-distance relationship. There are a thousand what-ifs that could’ve prevented the happy ending to our love story.
Remembering the remarkable circumstances of that first meeting reminds us why we chose each other and helps us endure the hard parts of marriage: the death of a parent, a deep conflict about parenting, a season of unemployment.
As my wise grandma used to say, “If it’s meant to be, it will be.” When I think about our story, I know it was meant to be.
I may have less energy than I did that night 20 years ago, but I have more love for my husband and a profound appreciation for the importance of our meet-cute narrative because it’s a reminder of what matters most — saying yes to adventure and finding magic in the mundane.
Do any of you have a meet-cute story? Let us know in the comments below.
Franziska Barczyk
Follow Article Topics: Relationships
