Guest Post By- Dennis Elton Stanley
Sadly, most people in these days and age do not believe in love at first sight. There are many reasons for that, and I am certainly not here to judge anyone. Instead, I hope you will allow me to share with you why I do believe.
Surely, we can all agree that love is a powerful emotion, maybe even the most powerful. Love can cause us to do wonderful, fantastic, or even horrible things.
In Cheshire, England, on Sept. 27, in the year 1282, my 19th grandfather William Stanley (age 32) and Joan Baumville (age 21) eloped. For financial reasons, a marriage had been arranged for Joan with her stepbrother, but Joan apparently loved my grandfather (Stanley men have that effect) LOL!
So, during the marriage festivities, Joan slipped away to meet William who waited with saddled horses. They escaped to Astbury and were wed in the church by William’s uncle. These actions would bring much trouble to Joan and William, and the loss of her inheritance. But the power of love may be the greatest force on this small planet of ours.
They were married for life until Williams’s death 29 years later.
In February 1969, a young man of 16 sat in what was called “detention hall” at Westside High School. The school was situated in a suburb of Memphis, Tn. called Frayser, not the best nor the worst place to live.
The young man was serving a week there charged with gambling and smoking during lunchtime. This was not unusual for him as he may have spent more time in detention than he did attending class for minor crimes he may or may not have committed. He did not mind because he learned more studying on his own than in class.
But this day would be different. This day something would happen beyond his control that would change his life forever. This young man was me.
The detention hall was held in the school auditorium. Time there was supposed to be spent studying and that is what I usually did, study or draw since my favorite class was art. There were always thirty or so students in detention with me. I always sat alone but the others were in their little groups, as usual.
I heard a disturbance across the auditorium coming from one of those groups and I noticed a blond girl hiding behind one of the seats. There was shuffling and giggling, and I tried to see the girl behind the seats but could not. There were other blond girls in the group but the one behind the seat remained mostly hidden.
I thought about that girl the next day and began trying to find out who she was. One of the other girls from the group told me she attended another school. Normally that would end it, but I could not stop thinking about her.
Two weeks went by and then, I was climbing the crowded stairs on the way to art class. A blond girl passed by on the way down the stairs and as our eyes met, I instantly knew it was her (the girl behind the seats) even though I had never really seen her, her face, or her green eyes. Just then I was knocked down onto the steps because I had tried to stop in order to see her better and gotten run over by other students.
The next day I made sure to be in that stairwell at exactly the same time. Sure enough, we passed and made eye contact again. But this time I raised my hand and said “hi”. She did not speak or wave back, but maybe she smiled. I could not be sure.
From then on, no matter where my class was or what was going on in my life, I would be right there on the same steps, every school day, same spot, same time. We would simply pass by each other, wave, and say “hi”.
I was so excited that she was waving back and returning my greeting, but I did not know what to do next. I had extremely poor social skills and was afraid to have a conversation with her for fear of scaring her away.
This continued for two weeks until one day she appeared in my art class sitting two tables behind me. During the entire class my heart was pounding, I could hardly breathe, and my neck must have gotten sore from turning around to see her and smile. After class, we met in the hallway. I do not know what we said that day. I may not have said anything, but from that day forward Elizabeth sat next to me in art class and “talk we did.”
Elizabeth (Liz) and I were inseparable after that, and we married eight months later. Together we had three wonderful children, Andy, Angela, and Beth. Our lives together can only be described as exciting and “magical” until her passing four years ago.
I was inspired to write this story as our 52nd wedding anniversary would have been this month on October 31st. Yes, we were married on Halloween which is another delightful story for another time.
In case you are wondering, Elizabeth had the same experience. After her visit that day in Detention Hall, she transferred to Westside High School. She knew from the first time our eyes met in the stairwell that we were “meant to be”. She also changed her route in order to be in that stairwell and then transferred into my art class.
So, make of this what you will, but as for me, I know exactly what happened; A girl that I could not even see captured my heart from the first second she existed in my life. I would have never stopped searching until I found her. I never had eyes for another and could never have imagined this life without her. I still love her.
This is what “love at first sight” looks like.
About Guest Author– Dennis Elton Stanley- He is a Christian 69-year-old widower. Still working full-time as an engineer in healthcare. He competes in long-distance speed walking, hiking, photography, musician, and he loves to write. “I am very busy”- as he says.
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Yes, I too believe. My Mum and Dad saw each other over a back fence. She thought he was the neighbor's husband and walked away. He knew he was leaving for the battlefield of Europe in three weeks, .and was unmarried, ,and was glad he wasn't. He called to her and they looked at each other. Forty years later they told their children.
' It was like a bolt from Heaven. We went for a milkshake. Three days later we were married. We had a honeymoon and I sailed off to war . a week later. WE did not see each other again for six months and then not for three years. That's why you were born during the war but I saw you when you were three.. He told me. Love at first sight....Absolutely. He sadly died in the 47th year of their life together.
Thank you Faye for reading and commenting. Another wonderful love at first sight story that you share with us.
Now, that’s the most heartwarming, adorable story I’ve read all day! I wonder how you have information about your 19th grandfather though! 🤔😱We’re 8 centuries ahead! Must be amazing to know about such distant ancestors.
Your story makes me want to believe in love at first sight. It’s a very atypical story and I must say, quite rare.
You are nice to take time to read and comment. Thank you very much! I have researched my family tree through Ancestry.com for several years now. There exist pretty good records in England back to that time.
Beautiful love story! Love this blog ❤️
Thanks for reading and commenting!!
Beautiful story, Dennis!! I'm so sorry for the loss of your beloved Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing love, hope and sweetness with us.
Thank you very much! And thanks for taking time to read and comment!!
What a beautiful story! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Michelle! I appreciate you taking time from your day to read and comment!
Such a lovely story, love it ❤️❣️
I am so thankful that you took the time to read and comment!
No-No
Thanks for commenting Mildred.
Mildred is my blog name and it's my mother's name, but I am a son honoring his mother, and my name is Van Prince!
"Progress is the world's most important Product." _-Van Prince
Ok, love your name!!
sure
my name Is Van Prince and Mildred is my mother's name as my blog name to honor my mother!
I went to Westside High School also... Graduated in 1970... Love this story!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
I should know you Susie. I would have graduated in 69, but Liz and I married and I finished at tech night school. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment.
Oh what a beautiful story and a gorgeous example of "love at first sight". Thank you so much for sharing this 😍❤
Thanks so much Bernie! And I am thankful that you would take the time to read my article and then also to comment!
Love @ 1st sight can & does happen when we least expect it, like it
did with me & my husband 35 years ago & it's something God gave
gave us & we are very blessed for it, it's not easy losing your spouse
after so many years together for so long my heart goes out for you 💓
You are right, this must come from God! Thank you for reading and commenting!!
Thank you, Dennis, for your beautiful story of "love at first sight." <3
Thank you Cheryl for your kind words!
Thankful for love even if it's one that has to develope through time because it was not love at first sight.
That's true too. Thanks for reading and taking time to comment!
What a lovely story! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks so much for reading and taking of your time to comment!
Hmmm, good question. One must be careful of the distinction between love & lust. Great post!
Thanks for reading and taking time out of your day to comment!! I would agree that some have a problem with that.
Such a beautiful post, thank you for sharing!💖
Thanks Cindy! I am thankful that you took the time to read and comment!! Have a great day!
It was my pleasure Dennis! You're most welcome! Thank you. It reminded me of the love that 2 of our dearest friends shared that I posted about today.. He sadly crossed over a few weeks ago. Take good care and a good evening to you! 💖
Wonderful stories!
I definitely believe people have soul mates, but I think it's actually rare to run into them, and more so, end up living your life with them. I think it must mean something very special when that happens.
I'm about to have a guest blogger talk about her first love soon. Coincidental! Love must be in the air, lol !!
Thank you very much for your thoughts! I am just happy that it happened to me!
This is a beautiful love story.
Thank you!!
Oh! I love your story so much! That is so sweet! Real love blossomed form the most ordinary encounters! This should be a movie I think. :D Also the story about your grandfather's romance - I suppose dashing love stories just run in the family. :D
Thank you so much Tressa! Those are some of the kindest words I have heard! Love your name too! Bless you.