Is there such a thing as love at first *sound bite*
Is there such a thing as love at first *sound bite*
Is there such a thing as love at first *sound bite*? Well, if you’d asked me a few years ago, I would’ve said, “Not a chance.” I always thought that whole “love at first sight” thing was just rom-com fluff or something people said to sound poetic on talk shows. But here I am—living proof that not only is it possible, but it actually happened to me.
I fell in love before I even met her in person. Yep, you heard that right. I was 47, already had a couple of long-term relationships under my belt, and thought I knew a little something about how love works. But then came Verna. We met on Facebook, exchanged a few messages, and boom! Within three days, it was clear this was something bigger than either of us expected. By day six, we met in person. Five days later? Engaged. I’d always pictured myself as one of those people who take their time, but when love decides it’s going to knock you over, it doesn’t mess around.
Here’s the timeline:
– July 4, 2018: Became Facebook friends. (fireworks were involved.)
– July 13, 2018: Met in person.
– July 18, 2018: Got engaged.
– November 11, 2018: Tied the knot.
It’s been over six years since then, and I still have moments where it feels surreal. Now, I’ve had my fair share of relationships before, and not all of them were the best decisions, where I learned more about myself through trial and error. But with Verna, it was different from the start. It was like coming home—except this home didn’t care if I was in sweatpants with my hair a mess. It was comfortable. Effortless. No “putting your best foot forward” nonsense. We were just… ourselves. Almost as if we already knew each other, and now it was just a matter of sorting out the little details—like who leaves their socks on the floor (not pointing fingers, but it’s definitely not me).
Now, don’t get me wrong—comfortable doesn’t mean easy. We have a very dynamic relationship, and honesty is at the heart of it. That’s a beautiful thing, but it’s also challenging. It’s one thing to be honest about the little stuff, like saying you didn’t love the movie they picked. But being *truly* honest, baring your soul about the deeper, more sensitive topics? That’s a whole different story. For me, that took time. I wasn’t used to being fully accepted when I opened up. In the past, I held back because, every time I let my true self out, it didn’t exactly get a standing ovation. But with Verna, I learned it was okay to let it all out—I’m accepted for just being me. She’s been open from day one, and while it took me a while to catch up, I’ve come to realize that it’s okay to be completely myself, messy parts and all. These days, I’m getting better at baring my soul—more and more with each passing day.
She’s my biggest teacher, my mirror—and not always the funhouse kind! We challenge each other, listen to each other, and yes, sometimes we frustrate each other. But that’s part of the beauty. Verna is a passionate fire dragon—seriously, she’s fiery. I’m the quieter one, and for years I thought that meant I was the calm one. Turns out, just because you’re not raising your voice, doesn’t mean you’re not sitting on your own volcano. I used to bottle things up and let it all out in my studio, swearing like a sailor. (Verna knew about this habit and let me have my space.) Over time, I’ve gotten better—well, mostly. Let’s just say old habits die hard.
What we’ve learned together, though, is that sometimes the best thing you can give someone is space. You can’t force wisdom down someone’s throat—believe me, I’ve tried. But giving each other room to figure things out on our own has been a game-changer. Funny enough, the less you try to fix someone, the more they figure things out on their own.
I could go on for days about this, but I just wanted to shine a little light on our relationship and share something we’ve learned along the way. Hopefully, it helps someone else on their own journey.
So yeah, love found me at 47, in the most unexpected way. And if you’re still out there wondering when and how it’ll happen for you, trust me—it can happen anywhere. Doesn’t matter if you live on a farm, in the city, or even stranded on a desert island. When it’s meant to be, the universe has this magical way of making sure love finds you.
Blessings on your journey!
Written by: Laresa Perlman