Unexpected Paths to Love: A Tale of Soulmates Found

True Love Forever Day

I've always been intrigued by how couples meet their soulmates. Growing up in Germany, we were fortunate to have one of the BEST next-door neighbors anyone could hope for—the Ettingers! They and their much older kids babysat us when our parents went to the theater, organized extra special Easter egg hunts in their garden, and Mr. Ettinger was our Santa every year (a secret I didn't uncover until I was 15!).

What made them unique was their origin story: Mrs. Ettinger, Inge, hailed from the very north of Germany, Hanover, while Mr. Ettinger, Max, was a local Bavarian. How could their paths possibly cross?

Here’s their remarkable tale: Max, a young soldier during WWII, was visiting friends in Ingolstadt during a rare home leave. Coincidentally, Inge was also visiting the same family, traveling by train from Hanover. They met at their mutual friend’s house and were instantly smitten. When Max boarded the train to return to his post, to his surprise, Inge was on the same train heading back to Hanover. Naturally, they struck up a conversation, during which she mentioned she worked in a bank in Hanover. However, they parted ways without exchanging contact information.

Max couldn't get Inge out of his mind. Once the war ended, he embarked on a journey to Hanover, despite the city being heavily bombed. He went from one destroyed bank building to another, inquiring about someone named Inge who worked at a bank. It seemed like a futile search, but eventually, someone recognized the name and connected them. The rest, as they say, is history! I remember how they were polar opposites yet a perfect match.

As for how I met my husband, well, while not as dramatic as their story, it was just as unexpected. At 48, I had somewhat resigned myself to not finding my match when, at a colleague’s son's 4th birthday party, there he was! A few months later, we were married. We recently celebrated our 14th wedding anniversary and grow happier together every year. Our secret to happiness? Stay true to who you are and always respect each other.