The way my mum and dad got together was like something out of a cheesy romance movie. Mum was eighteen and Dad was nineteen when they met at a house for a party. At the time, my mum had a boyfriend, but after talking to her, my dad could not get her out of his head. He then spent a month searching for her, only knowing her first name. He found her boyfriend, who was now her ex, but he told my dad that he had no idea who he was talking about.

At the beginning of the next month, my dad was out on a date at a pizza parlor… where he saw my mum on a date, as well. They all decided to sit together. Halfway through, my mum’s date ditched her, so my dad decided to take both girls home. He dropped off his date first so he could talk to my mum for a little longer.

They came to a stoplight, and the radio was playing a song called “Little Arrows”, which is about Cupid shooting arrows at random people so they’ll fall in love. My dad leaned over the steering wheel and looked up at the sky.

Mum: “Um… what are you doing?”

Dad: “Lookin’ for arrows.”

Mum tells me that she knew right then that this was the man she would marry. Two weeks later, Dad proposed. They were together for almost thirty years before Dad passed away.

Two of my coworkers — [Woman] and [Man] — are dating each other. Everyone in our department agrees that they’re the cutest couple we can imagine, but they’re actually really good at not letting their relationship interfere with work in any way.

This story takes place shortly after we all start coming back into the office after a year and a half of working from home during the global health crisis. It’s a particularly cold winter day, and [Woman] decides to do something about it.

Woman: “That’s it! I’m turning the thermostat up! I’m freezing my butt off!”

Man: *In a stereotypical fake whining voice* “Oh, no, not your butt! That’s my favorite part.”

Everyone in the office freezes — pun not intended — and then bursts into raucous laughter when we realize what just happened. [Man] and [Woman] catch on and turn beet red from embarrassment.

Man: “Um… I forgot that we’re at the office and not at home, so… can we all just pretend that I didn’t say that?”

Coworker: “[Woman], now I understand why you were so careful to make sure you were on mute during all of our Zoom meetings!”

That set off another round of raucous laughter, with the couple joining in despite their obvious embarrassment. It really helped boost morale after so many months of chaos trying to coordinate everything while working from home.

The couple is now happily engaged, and they’re still good about keeping their relationship separate from work, even though we still make the occasional joke about this story at their expense.

I’m taking orders for the drive-thru, and this man makes an unusual request.

Customer: “Hey, if I order a [Chicken Sandwich], could you cut a hole in the middle for me? It’s for a joke.”

Me: “Let me go check with the kitchen staff.” *Does so* “All right, we can do that; I’ll just ring it up as a special request.”

The man gets his food, and I don’t think much of it. Later, however, the man comes through the drive-thru again and identifies himself as being the man from earlier.

Me: “Oh, I remember you. How did the joke go?”

Customer: “It went well. See, every year, I give my wife a flower for our anniversary, but this year she was insisting, ‘You don’t have to get me a flower. Just get me a [Chicken Sandwich] or something.’ So, I got her a [Chicken Sandwich] and stuck a flower through that hole you cut in it for me!”

My husband and I, along with two of his siblings, all get married within a six-month timeframe. A family friend on their side gifts each couple with a weekend marriage retreat. We each go on a separate weekend, and we are now chatting about our time at a family dinner.

Sister-In-Law: “[Husband] and I had dinner at [Restaurant] and then watched [TV Show] at the hotel. What about you guys?”

Brother-In-Law: “[Wife] and I went to [Restaurant] and watched a movie back at the hotel.”

Me: “We went to [Restaurant] for dinner and then window-shopped around the town. Just enjoyed each other’s company.”

Sister-In-Law: “Did you guys watch anything?”

My Husband: “I don’t think we turned on the TV at all while we were there.”

Sister-In-Law: “Really? So, what did you do during the breaks between [Retreat] sessions?”

My Husband: “Err, what do you think a newlywed couple would be doing during their time alone?”

She turned a few shades of red.

My husband works in a coffee shop. On the days he works, if I have nothing better to do, I usually come to sit in the cafe and keep myself busy on my laptop.

One time, a regular sees me playing Pokémon on my phone and strikes up a conversation with me about the game. Sometime later, the regular brings this up to my husband.

Regular #1: “You know that girl who always comes in when you’re working? She’s into Pokémon, too! She seems like your type. You should ask her out sometime. She might say yes!”

Husband: “The one who sits by the pastry case?”

Regular #1: “Yeah!”

Husband: “You’re a few years late; I married her already. That’s my wife.”

Regular #1: *Shocked Pikachu face*

Most recently, I accompany my husband again to the cafe and am browsing Not Always Right while he works. A couple of regular customers come in, and my husband informs them that he’s only going to be there for a few more days before he leaves the country permanently.

Regular #2: “No way! Where are you going?”

Husband: “Australia. My wife is from there.”

He points to me, sitting by the pastry case. The customers turn to look at me. I smile and wave.

Regular #2: “Oh, she’s your wife! I was wondering why she’s always here!”

Regular #3: “I was literally about to suggest to you one of these days that she seems like she has a crush on you and you should ask her out!”

Regular #2: “Yeah, I always thought you two would make a cute couple!”

My husband gestures toward his Pokémon hat and my equally nerdy sweater.

Husband: “Gee, I can’t imagine what could have given you that impression!”

Meanwhile, I was laughing hysterically.

I must admit, though I didn’t need the validation, the idea that random strangers repeatedly want to set me up with my husband is a great way to know I chose the right man!