SURVEY SAYS: First Love

Valentine’s Day is a time for those who have a current love to focus on that person and express how you feel, but I thought it would be interesting to reflect on your first love.

So, last week, I asked NewsDash readers, “When was your first love?

The majority of responding readers (52.6%) reported they fell in love for the first time between the ages of 16 and 20, inclusive. This was followed by 28.9% who indicated their first love was between ages 11 and 15.

More than 10% said their first love occurred between ages five and 10, while 2.63% each selected “younger than five,” “21 to 25” and “26 to 30.” No one reported their first love occurring later than age 30, and interestingly, no one reported never having been in love.

In comments, there were a few expressions of distaste for Valentine’s Day. One reader said the survey made his head spin: “Whoa, Nellie! We go from Super Bowl grrr, rah-rah, crash ’em, bash ’em to soft kitty, warm kitty. I can’t transition that fast. Mercy me, my head just exploded!” There were some very warming stories about first loves ending up to be life-long loves, and some readers shared what drew them to their first loves. Editor’s Choice goes to the reader who said: “Valentine’s Day is too commercialized. My husband and I have been known to stand in the card aisle, pick out a card and show it to the other person, and call it good! (Without even buying one!)”

Verbatim 

My first love is my only love! We've been married for 46 years.

Just another day for marketing...OMG I have become bitter

My first love was my German Shephard mix. I was a lonely child and she was my best friend and constant companion. I still love dogs more than people to this day. The first "person" I loved is my husband but I didn't know what love really was even with him until my 30's.

My first love was my 2nd grade teacher; it was in Catholic school years ago, so of course, it was a nun. Too bad....

Whoa, Nellie! We go from Super Bowl grrr, rah-rah, crash 'em, bash 'em to soft kitty, warm kitty. I can't transition that fast. Mercy me, my head just exploded!

I was broken hearted when she moved out of town.

'Tis better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all. I will never forget my first love.

Isn't your first love always Mommy or Daddy? Or chocolate?

I still have dreams about my first love...even though I am happily married.

She was the cutest blonde girl in 2nd grade and I didn't get over her until I entered high school.

Verbatim (cont.) 

Valentine's day is too commercialized. My husband and I have been known to stand in the card aisle, pick out a card and show it to the other person, and call it good! (Without even buying one!).

Don't know what happened to her.

He was smart, gorgeous, hysterically funny, had straight teeth without having had braces, and loved me right back!. I look for these same things in men today.

Ah, first love. More like first infatuation. All consuming and mostly fantasy. Eventually, we learn about real love, which is more about will and less about feelings...

He was new to town and came to our door asking me to come out and play. We've been friends since he moved away breaking my heart for 55 more years.

My one and only love and I have known each other for close to 40 years, 34 of those in wedded bliss. We will be celebrating Valentine's Day while on vacation at a warm and sunny beach.

Each day should be Valentine's Day.

It's really hard to differentiate between a true "first love" versus and intense infatuation especially at very young ages. To me, a true first love does not disappear (meaning that you always love the person even if it doesn't work out), whereas an infatuation with someone burns out over time.

I had a puppy type love for the boy in my school & neighborhood - we moved in the same crowd in elementary school. At age 15 he finally asked me out on a date. May 28th we will be married for 50 years and we are still in love.

He was a wild and crazy preacher's son. Occasionally wonder how his life turned out.

I'm not sure that first "loves" actually deserve that name. But I can remember my first kiss like it was yesterday. Fortunately, my wife is a better kisser...