Small Town Love Story – Starting in First Grade

Little did we know it as kids, but the courtship between my husband and I started in first grade of St. Aloysius School in Olivia, MN, over 25 years ago. My early memories of Neil go way back. He was the funny kid in class, but also a charmer who seemed to get his way with the teachers.

In third grade, we used to work at church dinners together bussing tables. I don’t think that cleaning dirty dishes off tables was meant to be that fun, but for us it was. We had a competition to see who could get their trash can more full of coffee by quickly collecting unsupervised coffee cups. Occasionally even taking coffee from old ladies before they were done drinking it. I am sure that was Neil’s idea!

Then there was the nasty game of trench. All the boys whipped the ball so hard and it was inevitable that I either would get slammed in the face or catch it to make the thrower be out (the much better alternative). I found it very satisfying to catch Neil’s trench balls to get him OUT.

Neil remembers in fourth grade, that he had worked at the Fall Harvest Festival for St. Al’s selling tickets for a drawing. The winners won pumpkins, and the Grand Prize was a humongous pumpkin. My dad was determined to win the giant pumpkin, and bought an insane number of tickets, making a lasting impression on my husband to be. And yes, my dad did win the giant pumpkin!

Then there was the fifth grade outing to the roller skating rink. Anyone who remembers Jake’s Roller Rink would also recall “moonlight couples”. Well Neil asked me to skate (actually begged) and I said no. I still cannot explain why I refused, other then I was shy, and maybe playing just a little hard to get.

Sixth grade was the year that we sat across from each other in the front row of class. At that point, our class was down to only ten students, so I guess our chances of sitting near each other were pretty good. This was also the first time he hit on me– well, with a softball. I was the pitcher and Neil was up to bat. The next thing I knew, he hit a line drive straight to my forehead. It was much worse then a trench ball, and I wore a hat for several days to cover up the goose egg on my head.

We went down different paths for a couple years in high school, and then became the best of friends again around our sophmore year. He was the reason I got my first detention (the teacher gave detention to both of us for a reason I cannot recall, all I remember is that I was devastated). But, he was sweet and funny and did things a girlfriend could never do, like install a new stereo in my car and change my spark plugs.

We went to prom together our junior year as “friends” but afterwards when he had dropped me off at my parents’ house, he gave me a small kiss. It wasn’t until the Friday night of Corn Capital Days 1993 that he made his next move. We kept our new relationship status from our friends for what seemed liked an eternity, although I think it was only a couple weeks. I am grateful that he was brave enough to let me know how he really felt about me, because I had the same feelings for a long time, but was afraid of losing my friend.

Now, after ten years of marriage and 3 kids, we are still best friends. I feel lucky to have known my husband for so long, and for having memories together that go back to being kids. Even in a small school, in a small town, it is refreshing to know that true love can be found (or maybe I got hit in the head with too many balls?). We are proud to still call Olivia home.

Article written for submission in Don Orth’s third book,

Tags: grade school crush, love story, St. Aloysius