Love Stories. . .
How could I have known that on that day, a trip to the beach with a few friends would set the stage for the beginning of my happy life?
Tom was the cousin of my friend Robert, who had introduced us that day. My best friend Lana and I went over to the swings and sat down. Ronnie, Tom’s best friend, started pushing Lana, and, to my surprise, Tom started pushing me. Before I knew it I had stopped swinging and was in Tom’s arms staring into his beautiful eyes . . . and then he kissed me.
Tom proposed to me 12 days later overlooking Simi Valley. We were married in Las Vegas one week later on Aug. 7, 1964.
In August of 2009 we celebrated our 45th wedding anniversary. In that time we bought our first and only home in Simi Valley, owned our own business, raised three children. We have seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and one more grandchild due in June.
I lost my loving soul mate suddenly just after our 45th anniversary on Aug. 23, 2009. I mean really, who meets the love of their life and marries him three weeks later to spend the next 45 years together? I am so thankful, happy and lucky to say I did.
Although my heart feels broken and I miss him every day, I find comfort in knowing that he is in God’s hands now.
To the world he may have been one person, but to me, he was my world. I will never stop loving you, Tom.
— Rose Leland
Simi Valley
You’ve heard of couples who were high school sweethearts. But have you heard of junior high school sweethearts? My husband, Mark, and I have been close friends since attending Portola Junior High School 30 years ago. He used to sit behind me in class, tapping my shoulder, asking me stupid questions, just to get my attention. Those “taps” turned into wonderful conversations later on, as we shared much of our lives with each other. We always had a unique connection, and our conversations were comfortable and real. We went on to attend Reseda High School and then graduated CSUN together. During college, we lived in the same apartment building and spent a lot of time together. Although we both dated other people along the way, Mark and I always gravitated back to the undeniable connection we shared when we were 14 years old. Ten years after junior high school, Mark and I realized how much we loved each other, and we got married! This June, we will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We have two beautiful children, Brandon, 14, and Madison, 9. We praise God for bringing each of us the love of our lives!
— Karen Schain
Simi Valley
It’s pretty simple; 24 years ago on a warm summer’s day while surfing at Zuma Beach, I met a girl who would soon become my wife of 17 years. Funny how things work out—not really searching for anything or anyone and then, bam, there she was. We went out on a date that night, simple, pizza at the beach. I saw a shooting star later that night and realized she was the one. She claims it was love at first sight. I’m not sure what it was; guys are wired different than women, but, whatever it was, it’s still going. Two great children, a great family, and we are both just as excited to see each other and spend time together as that first night. How lucky can one guy get?
— John Smallis
Simi Valley
A fter several weeks of getting to know one another by phone, a date was set to finally meet in person. Having been introduced by a high school friend of mine, Leo and I were finally going to have an evening out. I was a single mom of four kids, and he was a single dad of three. The odds of us ever being able to get together were huge, but when the doorbell rang on Feb. 3, 1982, and I opened the door, my heart just started racing. After a wonderful evening of dinner and dancing, we spent more long hours talking. The next day I was sure he was the love I had spent the last five years waiting for. We spent every day together the next week and by the end of the second week, while we were talking, out of the blue Leo said, “Why don’t we get married!” As silly as I could be, thinking he was kidding, my answer was, “Sure, I have nothing better to do!” Well, later he told me he was really serious. That was Valentine’s Day 1982; in March I got a beautiful engagement ring, our families met, and in August we had a beautiful garden wedding in the lovely home my family and I were moving in to. To say it was love at first sight ending in marriage in six months truly is a love story. This August we will celebrate 28 years of wedded bliss!
— Cherie and Leo Maciel
Simi Valley
My husband, Shawn, and I have known each other since I was 14 and he was 15. He used to fall asleep in algebra class, and I would throw things at him to wake him up. We dated in high school and broke up, and when he came back to get his transcripts for college I was working in the school office for extra credit. He ask me out and seven months later we were engaged. We got married the year after I graduated high school. We have been married 31 years this April, have three children and four grandchildren. He has always been “the one” through tough times, homeless for awhile in the early years, he joined the service and has supported my dreams at the expense sometimes of his own. He is my Valentine. Happy Valentine’s, my love!
— Lorlee “Lee” Murray
Simi Valley I was dating a high school football coach, but something was missing. The company I worked at hired a contractor to do some work. That contractor was Gus Fauci. This was 1988. His son Geno made a mistake, and the boss’ wife was determined to get Gus to redo the entire office for free.
Gus and I met for lunch to discuss it. I remember telling the girls in the office, “What will I ever talk about?” That lunch turned into 2 ½ hours. Upon my return, flowers were waiting for me from Gus. BAM! My heart did a flip-flop, but I was dating someone else, so I pushed that feeling aside. My girlfriend and I were scheduled to leave for a cruise. The entire time on the cruise I found myself thinking of Gus (not my boyfriend). I even bought souvenirs for Gus and not for the “boyfriend.” On the last day of the cruise my girlfriend said to me, “Who is this Gus?”
Upon our return I called Gus first, before anyone. We set up a dinner date, and that was it. I never believed it when people said, “You’ll know when you meet the right one.” I had been married before, dated a lot , and I was finally feeling like I had met “The One.” Its funny, Gus found out I was dating someone else and he told me, “Im an old-fashioned kind of guy and I want to date exclusively. So you need to decide—him or me.” I remember thinking, I’m going to go with my heart this time . . . and its been 22 years, and I haven’t regretted my decision ever!
Happy Valentine’s Day, Painter-Man.
— Sheree Fauci
“Who is he?” I asked my friend when I first saw him at the church dance. “Oh, that’s Bob Davis. He was widowed with six children,” was the reply. Widowed with six children? The similarity was all too familiar, for I, too, was widowed with six children.
“I have to meet him,” I felt compelled to say.
He readily accepted my invitation to our annual singles ski trip to Mammoth a few weeks later. In the meantime, we had our first date, and by the end of the evening, we both knew. We just knew. This was meant to be. Could it be that our deceased spouses (both having died of the same disease) helped to bring us together? The thought was compelling.
Surrounded by our children, friends and family, we were married in the sacred house of the Lord several weeks later. Seventeen years have since passed and proved what we already knew—that indeed, this was meant to be.
— Dianna Baker Davis
Simi Valley
I don’t know if anyone believes in love at first sight, but I sure do. The first time I saw my wife I knew she was the one for me. I first saw her in a small town in Washington in 1976. Our first date was Sept. 3, 1976, and we got married 10 years later, two of the best days of my life. Throughout the trials and tribulations in life, I know she will always be there for me. She is the kindest, most caring person I know, and I love her dearly. Not only is she a wonderful wife but is a wonderful mother as well. It will be 34 years this year that we have been together, and it seems like just yesterday was our first date. I can’t wait for the next 34 years.
I love you lots.
— Dale Scherieble
Almost 12 years ago I met my husband, Paul. I was working in a salon in Westlake Village and had just gotten out of a bad relationship. In walks my husband-to-be to visit his sister, who I happened to work with. I told his sister, who told his mother, I thought he was cute. When he came in to ask me out, I ran to the back and pretended to read a magazine. He still asked me out even though the magazine was upside down. One Vegas (cheap) wedding, two cats,two kids, illness, debt, fights and a lot of laundry, we are still going strong. I love you, honey. Mean it!
January 1966, Saigon
— Julie Barton
For transportation I decided not to buy a car but a motorcycle, as traffic in Saigon at the time made the 405 look like a speedway. I paid the full price in cash and waited for the ship to arrive from Japan. It finally came, it then left and still no motorcycle. After repeated trips to the dealership I finally had had it with the delays and stormed into the office and loudly demanded the motorcycle or a refund. When my shirt moved as I reached into my rear pocket for my paperwork, the girls at the front desk noted that I was carrying a gun and decided they needed someone who spoke better English to explain that the motorcycle was still in customs while management negotiated “under the table coffee money” for its release. The executive secretary was summoned; I continued to rage on and she began to cry. Feeling like a complete fool, I invited her to lunch, and the rest is history; we have been married now 42 years.
Young man, if marriage is not for you and you make a woman cry, then turn around and run; otherwise “they gotcha.”
— Charles Munroe
Simi Valley Sept. 17, 1951. I fell in love the first day of first grade. She was in the first row, second or third seat, looking out the window. It was love at first sight.
As we grew she became the prettiest and most popular girl in the class. We did some extracurricular activities together, such as square dancing lessons at a classmate’s house.
After graduation we went to different high schools, but we both went to Chiro (teen club) where we danced a lot. I took her to my senior prom (our first and only date) but then lost her.
For 45 years there was little word of her. For the last 25 years I have wanted to organize a reunion to see if I could find her; I just wanted her to know I love her. This past September we held a 50-year reunion. We found her, she came, and, to my astonishment, she spent most of her time with me. The moment came; I put my arms around her and whispered in her ear, “I love you,” and she responded, “I know.” It was my privilege to drive her to the airport, where once again I held her and whispered, “I love you.” This time she replied, “I love you, too.” I am both the happiest and saddest man alive. There are many problems keeping us apart, not the least of which is our families are in two different cities. We stay in touch by e-mails, two or three a week. There will be another reunion this coming September.
— Daniel R. Jenkins
Simi Valley
Ruth was my good friend at the University Woman’s Club at the University of Colorado. I was a hasher (kitchen help), and she was a member of the club. We would go to the Rec. Room and play ping-pong or just talk for hours.
The Korean War came along. I was in the Naval Reserve, so I activated myself. By the time I got discharged, Ruth had graduated and was working in Denver. I looked her up and she invited me to a party at her apartment.
She introduced me to her housemate, Patricia (Pat). That night I went home and told my sister, “I met the neatest party girl tonight, someone you could have a lot of fun with but would never want to get serious over.”
I finally got up enough courage to ask Pat for a New Year’s Eve date. She said, “No, I can’t because Ruth’s brother might be in town and I promised him that I would go to a party with him.” So I asked her, “Would you like to go to a movie tomorrow night.” She said, “Yes.”
It was not love at first sight but it was definitely love at first date. I held her hand as we walked to the movie, and that moment I think we both knew we were soul mates.
We went out New Year’s and have been married for 53 years.
— Kenneth Billau
Simi Valley
