Barbara Hoag, Environmental consultant, Redmond

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"Phillip, who I met in 3rd grade. I actually remember his last name, too -- Hied. I lost track of him in about 5th grade... He had red hair and freckles and a big grin. Once or twice, I've thought about him -- I've wondered what he looks like now. He was my first crush. And then there was my 5th grade teacher. He wasn't a crush, but he was the most wonderful teacher... I've been with my husband since 1986 when we met as graduate students -- we carried on a long distance relationship... I love his smile most of all."

Shane Bateman, LAN administrator, Woodinville

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"My wife, Nancy. We've been married for about two and a half years -- we've known each other about six years... We met at work. I heard her laugh and it stuck with me. It's honest -- an honest laugh. You know she's having fun."

Jerry Schiff, Real estate broker, Chicago, Illinois

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"Her name was Diane Glassman. We sat together in our first grade classroom at Cassingham Elementary in Bexley, Ohio. She's living in Chicago now and every six months or so we say "Hi". We lost track for a couple of years -- we never really dated in high school -- but we kept in touch through the years... The first time I saw my wife, Carol, I knew I was in love. I saw her from the back and I loved her hair. I walked up close to see what she looked like from the front, and said "Wow!"... After a couple of weeks, we finally went out on a date -- we've been together for ten years and married for seven."

Tracy Van Den Boomen, Childbirth educator, Kirkland

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"Richie. My dad didn't like him very much because his hair was too long. We were 16. He was a bad boy -- he was wild. We went together all through high school, and longer. I didn't end up with him, but we're still very good friends... I knew I was in love with my husband because he made me laugh all the time. We've been married seven and a half years. I love him madly and we have two great kids together."

Emily Hart, Retired traffic analyst, Bellevue

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"Oh, my gosh, I don't know. I'm 71 and it's been a long time. I'll go back to grade school... His name was Melvin. Melvin Johanson. I'm amazed I remember his name! We must have been about 10 or 11 years old. He was a real nice person. At that age, a lot of boys are kind of snotty, but he was sweet. If he liked you, he treated you nicely. It stuck out. I think he liked me... My first young love was a man I was quite fond of -- Bill Ginsberg. He was in the Air Force and he was 19 and I was 18. He's a doctor today and lives in Washington, DC... When I was in my early 20s, I met my former husband, Herb. It was like a love affair you see on TV. We were married 14 years. He had a great personality and we liked doing things together."

Lucy Grace, Model, Seattle

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"His name was John... I was 18 and he was 20. We met because my sister and his roommate were going out. We were in a band together and we clicked and started going out... My first crush was my sister's fiance -- he's a really fun guy. Then I found out they were going to get married... Now, it's definitely Brad Pitt. I like everything about Brad Pitt!"

Copyright © 1996 by the Bellevue, WA-based Journal American newspaper.

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