best of smart
On my third day in college, a discussion leader divided up a class for a debate. One side of the room would defend the existence of God, the other deny it. As people shuffled around uncomfortably at the most poorly designed ice breaker of all time, I noticed that the atheist side was just me and a beautiful brunette. “Heretic,” she whispered at me.
—Ben
Postscript: Six godless months later, she’s still whispering sly witticisms in my ear.
best of surprising
I was driving the groom into the church parking lot when I saw her. She was hauling this ridiculously huge green Victorian costume she had to wear as bridesmaid out of her compact car. It was like an ant carrying a grape. The groom knew something was up when I fell dead silent in mid-sentence…and stayed silent.
–Irresponsible Uncle Billy
Postscript: Ten years later I was driving the cakes to our own wedding.
sweet
My slouchy bag dragged in the water as I bent over to pick up debris left over from fixing a summer camp dock. I looked up and that’s when we met. Things were messy, then they were easier, and now I only receive his drunken Facebook messages. He always made fun of that bag. He still makes fun of that bag.
—Sara
Postscript: I don’t want to keep in touch with him. But on occasion I find myself thinking about him and wondering if I should give him a call.
sweet
We were both rigging our sails at the lake to go sail boarding. I forgot my boom at home. I asked him if he would keep an eye on my stuff while I ran back for it. When I returned an hour later, there he sat, watching my stuff like a hawk.
– Cherie
Postscript: We married, and a few years later, we were still windsurfing together even as I was pregnant with kid number 3.
strange
He farted under the covers. He gave me a large smile. And then began laughing uncontrollably. Love never smelled so pungent.
—Sharon
Postscript: We’ve been dating for a few months now. Nothing I do in front of him is ever embarrassing.
sweet
One night after a mixer we were texting and he decided to call me. We ended up talking for 4 hours and I had never opened up to someone so early on. I knew he was someone I would love if not romantically, as a best friend.
—Margoth
Postscript: As of right now we have been dating for well over a year and he is still the person I tell everything to.
sweet
In 10th grade, he was the new boy in school….all the girls wanted to meet him…but I got him! We were friends for 1 year, dated for 9, married for 30. The saying “I love him more today than yesterday but less than tomorrow” sounds cliché - but it pretty much sums up my ongoing love for my husband and best friend.
—Robin
Postscript: I still have the same crush on him I had when he walked into class the first day.