“We” sort of started via text message — literally my first text message ever, because I was late to the game. All the games. Here I was, a sophomore in college, and I’d just bought my first cell phone years after my friends all started carrying them. Also, I’d never had a boyfriend.

But his first text wasn’t a heart-fluttering proclamation of love. It was an invitation . . . to go grocery shopping to help him get ready for an upcoming dinner party at his house. (Insert sound of crickets here.) I texted back for the first time ever: “Ok.” It was an auspicious start if ever I saw one.

We did go grocery shopping. We did start emailing back and forth daily when he was out of the country for three weeks. We did talk on the phone until 6:00 a.m. one day when I had to leave the house for a big conference at 6:45. We did go on our first date the night I turned 20. We did keep texting each other — “<3” and “:-x” and “XOXOX!” We did fall in love. And we are living happily ever after.
Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone — especially to our beautiful couples who are experiencing the first Valentine’s Day of their marriage, and to our beautiful couples who are experiencing the last Valentine’s Day before their marriage!

And happy Valentine’s Day especially-especially to my own Valentine. XOXOX!

~ Laura