We Met at 16. Our First Kiss Tasted Like Garlic

Hi, everyone! We asked on our Facebook page: “What was your first love like: all butterflies, or major heartbreak?” We got so many comments, and Sophie wrote to us too. She met her husband at 16 and is still happy with him today. It's such a sweet love story that we wanted to hear more.

Dear Sophie, you've been with your husband since you were 16. How and where did you meet?

When I was a teenager, I worked as a marshal at bike races, handing out race numbers and so on, to earn a little extra spending money. They always needed helpers, so I brought a lot of friends and classmates along. My neighbor Robert, who's a sweetheart, brought a classmate from his school. Robert had already told us he'd love to set the two of us up.

What was your first impression of the man who's now your husband?

I remember it exactly. It was May 22, 2004, and I was on my way home when my neighbor came walking toward me with “that” friend of his. My first thought was, “Oh my God, THAT'S supposed to be him?” (And I did not mean that in a good way…)

Ouch. And Achim, what did you think of Sophie?

I thought she was pretty stuck-up!

How and where did the first kiss happen, and when did you know you were a couple?

Achim ended up working as a marshal too, so we worked side by side, and he barely paid any attention to me. That bugged me more than I expected. A week later it was my birthday, and he showed up with a rose and wished me a happy birthday.

One more week after that, we met for our first “date” at a döner kebab shop. He handed me a beautiful love letter, and then came the first kiss – the taste of garlic did nothing to spoil the moment. We've been together and inseparable ever since, and I knew right there in that kebab shop that I wanted to marry him someday…

There are soooo many changes at that age. Finishing school, college or job training – did you do all of that together?

We were only 16 and 17, so moving in together wasn't even on the table. I did an apprenticeship in the civil service, and Achim started a full-time vocational program and earned his Fachabi (a vocational high school diploma that qualifies you for a technical college). We saw each other every day. He biked over to my place in all kinds of weather on his black-and-red bike. Even if we only had an hour together, he made the trip every single day.

Two years later we got lucky: my parents bought a small bungalow, and we actually moved in there together. After my apprenticeship I started working in the family business (it's been over 18 years now). After lots of stopgap jobs and additional training, Achim landed a permanent position 15 years ago in his dream job, as a sanitation worker and driver.

In your twenties, a lot of people want to sow their wild oats. Did you two ever feel like dating someone else?

I'd be lying if I said no. Of course I briefly wondered what it would be like to get to know someone else. But I quickly realized I didn't really long for another man – why would I? Achim is my best friend, my rock, my biggest support, and he's always been that.

And how was it for you, Achim?

Not really, or if so, only during a “rough patch,” but I think that happens in the best relationships. Especially in the early years, you have to grow together first and build a future. To be honest, I realized pretty quickly that no other woman could hold a candle to her, and that we always support each other in reaching our goals.

How did the people around you react to your teenage romance? Did anyone ever say things like: Don't tie yourself down to the first person you date?

We got engaged on our third anniversary, but Achim wanted to wait on the wedding until we both had permanent jobs and could afford a dream wedding. I remember that my sister and my parents didn't exactly look thrilled when we told them about the engagement… Achim's parents also got together at a very young age, so they always stood behind us.

What's the best part about going through life together for so many years?

We've now been through thick and thin for over 21 years (13 of them married). We're renovating our third house (and hopefully our last), and we can ALWAYS count on each other. We became parents for the first time 11 years ago, and that took our relationship to another level, I think. Calling my boyfriend my husband was already wonderful, but having two kids who call him Dad is an indescribable feeling of happiness.

What do you appreciate most about each other?

Sophie: What I appreciate about Achim is that he stayed by my side during a terrible, depressive phase – unconditionally, never blaming me, just standing it with me. And that he works his tail off to give us a good life. And that he's still so good-looking 🙂

Achim: What I appreciate about my wife is that she always has my back, goes through every step with me, laughs at my dumb, dark sense of humor, and that we can talk about absolutely everything and have already been through so much together.

And is there anything that annoys you about the other?

Sophie: Sometimes his drive and tireless work ethic get on my nerves…

Achim: That on the rare occasions we do fight, she still provokes me on purpose…

What do you think is the most important thing for a relationship to last so many years?

Sophie: That's easy: we fix things instead of throwing them away! 

Achim: Never give up, and accept the other person as they are.

What do you wish for the next few years?

Sophie: I'd love for things to calm down a bit at home (our life is pretty hectic right now) so we can enjoy our beautiful home. I also hope our kids stay this happy, and that everyone we love stays healthy, or gets healthy!

Achim: For the future, I'd like more time for family outings, but also some time off as a couple. Next year we're flying to Ireland without the kids, and I'm really looking forward to that.