Valentine’s Day is above us, and love is in the air.
Erin Jensen of USA Today Entertainment Reporter has convinced them to start a nationwide search to help them find Valentine’s Day for their dream date in New York City. The nominations came from the coast to the coast.
When Jensen prepared for her first date, we wanted her to give some inspiration to others in the dating pool, so we partnered our readers with the stories of their first dates. I asked to share with you.
From high school lovers to casual dating app meetups, we’ll show you some of our favorite stories.
These submissions have been compiled for style, length and clarity.
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The perfect match for his brother
In 1966, Helix, a New York high school, sponsored Computer Dance. A survey was completed and responses were fed to a room-sized computer. (People over 50 remember the card with a pencil-in response.) The computer matches. In the dance, we wore numbers and looked for the perfect companion! However, I turned to the young woman who was ironically matched with my younger brother. I convinced him to trade numbers. He was caught up in a very attractive cheerleader and I pursued the date of my dreams. It was a great night for me and I went on my date for ice cream at my local Howard Johnson.
So now I’m debating myself about how to handle this situation. Do you tell her that she really didn’t match, or should fate make our future decide? At the door of her house, we said goodbye, and I made the decision to tell the truth and spill the beans. I didn’t know how she felt about my switch with my siblings. Luckily she was fascinated by how I went to these lengths to chase her. And the rest is history.
We dated through university, we got married in 1971, have 3 amazing children and 7 amazing grandchildren. And we are so lucky to have a nuclear family that cares for each other when we are together and truly brings happiness to all of us. Incidentally, I still have her badge from the dance in the scrapbook. I had little idea what it meant in the last few years.
Submitted: Howard Zlotov, Pennsylvania
Together year: 53
Somewhere midnight
On the big ve day of 1966, I attended a party hosted by a colleague (I knew) and his cousin (He knew). I was walking down the door, and almost immediately a tall, handsome man in a three-piece suit approached me while I was wearing a party hat. He had a military style haircut because he had just left the military, but I thought, “My hair is going to grow.” (Remember this was in the Beatles era, and the long hair was styled.) He told me, “That hat is you,” and stayed with me the rest of the night. . Every hour of the night, he tried to kiss me, saying, “It’s somewhere in the middle of the night,” but I resisted, making me wait until midnight for my first final kiss. We left the party and got some fresh air. He said, “That’s my horse,” and I laughed and broke.
We agreed to meet at the Mummers Day Parade in Philadelphia. I bought some coffee and went to our archival conference hall. I was worried that I would forget what he would look like. I didn’t. We spent the next five hours watching the parade and he took me to see the ice capade. We got married in 1968 and he started bringing me coffee!
Submitted: Kathryn Beckett, Virginia
Together year: 56
After all, it’s not that casual
In the gay community, the first date may also schedule a hookup…and cancel if you’re making someone hotter. I fell into that trap as a gay 20-something identifiable, “desperate romantic, but not looking for something serious.” I was an avid user of all kinds of dating apps, including Tinder, Grindr, Hinge. I was scrolling late one night and realized that there was a particularly cute suitor who I had forgotten to answer for over two weeks. I had to swing big to dig out myself from now on. I replied, “When?” I sent a message to the boy, “Let’s make-out.”
After somehow resuscitating this almost flat connection, we planned to meet at his place on a Sunday night. However, given my rule that there is no first date on the weekend, I cancelled again. So, on a humid Monday in June, we had our first date. It was a light roasting of his empty apartment, consisting of late night stories rather than deep or superficial. He was intrigued and insightful with curly mullet, charming light brown eyes, and playful tattoos that he danced with his tone olive sparkling arms when he spoke. , it was fascinating. This casual connection turned into a 4-hour, authentic, riveted conversation. It was a magnetic night without agendas or manipulation that I normally worked for.
Submitted by: Jack Gerci, Pennsylvania
Together year: 2½
The party helped them to beat their love
It was 1987. We met at a party. Neither really wanted to attend. He saw my silhouette from across the large, dimly lit banquet hall on my way to the woman’s room when I arrived. He quickly connected with a mutual friend and asked who I was. Our friend, Ronnie, was pleased to introduce us. John was kind and proved to be a gentleman as he walked me into my car after the party.
The next day, he planned our date: bowling. “Yeah, sorry, did you say bowling?” “Yeah, give it a try.” “Okay.” When I arrived at the alley I saw all sorts of people bowling. …It blew my mind! I loved it and have been bowling ever since. I joined the league and hit 299. The perfect game is shy. That was exciting. And fast forward to 2025 and we’ve been together ever since. We got married in January 1990 and have two beautiful adult children. One blessed us with her beautiful granddaughter. I’m better at bowling than my husband now, and I love it!
Submitted: Michelle Fountain, Virginia
Together year: 37
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Sweet Shop Dates Lead to Lifelong Lover
When I was a sophomore at Purdue, my friend advised me that freshman Nancy Dillon wanted to see me. After three tries, I contacted her and arranged a date for the coke at the Student Union Sweet Shop on campus on Sunday afternoon. I bought two cokes and we came to sit and get to know each other. I learned that she lives in Indianapolis with her mother and sister and lost her father when she was 13. She graduated from the state’s largest high school. She learned that I grew up on a farm and attended one of the smallest schools in the state. I also found out I like her so much and asked her for another date. She agreed.
We have never dated anyone else for the rest of our lives. She passed away in 2023. She is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
Submitted by: Lynn Webster, Delaware
Together year: 63
“If you find what I’m looking for, please call me.”
I managed a bike shop in Charleston, South Carolina, and Cindy came to buy a bike. She didn’t find anything she liked, but she left me a phone number and said, “If you find what I’m looking for, call me.” For our first date, we went to the comedy club and met Pat Paulsen, a popular comedian at the time. It was my first date love!
Submitted by: Terry Dockery, Georgia
Together year: 40
Prince Charming missed a dinner reservation
We met on a Christian dating site. Both gave up on finding love (we are both older), we went on a date after calling each other. We were two hours apart so I didn’t think this would work. We met in my hometown on a Friday night. He kept calling, saying he was late. We missed the reservation, but he finally showed up! When I saw him I was immediately captivated – very handsome, dapper, sophisticated gentleman. We talked for hours throughout the evening and it felt like we were “I’m going to do that.” He asked me to see him for lunch and offered to stay in town so that I could see me the next day.
We met on a Saturday and being with him for lunch was even better than dinner the night before. We were together for over two years. We still can’t believe how lucky and blessed we are to find each other! We had been grieving before, so deep faith in God brought us much closer to each other. I found someone who wanted to spend the rest of me forever. He showed me that not all men are bad, and that love conquering everything. It’s like a fairy tale to me, he is the charm of my prince.
Submitted: Linda Cook, North Carolina
Together year: 2
I’ll meet me on the way
My partner Avery and I have begun dating long distances. He is from North Jersey and I am from Philadelphia. I met at Penn State a month before graduating. Our first date was a meal between a hike at the Princeton brewery and lunch. We love the outdoors and have been hiking hundreds since. I’ve had quite a few beers ever since!
Submitted: Cailyn McCutcheon, New York
Together year: 5
Chili Cheese Burger and Drive
We were 16 years old. Rose matured for her age. I wasn’t. I couldn’t believe she agreed to go on a date with me. She was beautiful, and again, I wasn’t. I ripped her through Griffin’s truck stop and took her to a chili cheeseburger and fries. I was sitting next to her, not across the table. She was very aware of me. She’d heard me talk about myself like someone important and I knew I was because I was sitting next to her. We drove for a while and then I took her home and walked her to her door. Chaste, I kissed the sweetest lips I’ve ever touched. My heart was beating desperately in my chest when she asked if she would go out with me again. She said with a smile.
We ran through senior years and had three of the most beautiful daughters a man could ask for. And they gave us seven wonderful grandchildren. secret? Romance girlfriend. Romance girlfriend. Romance her for the rest of your life. Please don’t stop.
Submitted: Ken Bailey, Oklahoma
Together year: 22