Jim Fletcher remembers meeting his wife, MaryAnn, in first grade.
Originally aired December 9, 2011 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Transcript
James Fletcher (JF): It was the first day of first grade. And there was this kid who said to me, that’s MaryAnn Lando, she can read.
MaryAnn Fletcher (MF): [Laughs]
JF: And I just fell in love with her right there.
MF: Nine years later when we went to the new high school we started dating. And then we went through college and I think we were trying hard to grow up and mature in different ways. And so we decided that it was time to try out life apart.
JF: Yes I asked you to please not get in touch with me, because I knew if I saw you again I couldn’t help myself.
MF: That was the hardest thing I ever did. And so we went our separate ways for 22 years, and then in 2009, I checked my e-mail and there was a message from Facebook and it said Jim Fletcher has sent you a message. And my heart stopped. We exchanged one message each and then I said, this is crazy, there’s no reason we shouldn’t talk.
JF: I knew five minutes after we talked the first time that I was still in love with you. And we decided that we should meet. So I got to O’Hare, and you know, I’ve not seen you for years, I’m seeing people of the same hair color, maybe that’s her, maybe that’s her…
MF: I heard somebody call my name, and I turned around and you were there and you dropped everything—you dropped your coat, you dropped your suitcase—everything to the ground, and just enfolded me in the biggest bear hug and you looked at me and you said, ”You are every bit as beautiful now as you were when I first fell in love with you.” And that’s when I knew I never ever wanted to let you go again.
JF: And we’ve been together ever since. And every morning I wake up, and I know that I’m with the woman I was always meant to be with and always will be with.