Is true love merely a construct, or can it genuinely ignite in an instant? When I was 13, this question had yet to cross my mind. At that age, I was beginning to take notice of girls, though the idea of love, especially love at first sight, felt foreign and abstract. All that changed when I discovered my passion for music. I played keyboards in bands with friends and fantasized about making it big in the rock scene. My older sister and I loved Elton John, and when we learned he was coming to town, we pleaded with our mother to take us to the concert. With great enthusiasm, she packed us, my sister’s friends, and her younger sister, Susan, into the family station wagon.
Being the youngest, Susan and I ended up squeezed in the back, where I first laid eyes on her. She was striking, tall with long brown hair and captivating brown eyes. I felt a sudden rush of emotions I had never experienced before. At that moment, amid the excitement of heading to a live show, I found myself wondering if this sensation was what people meant by true love. Choosing a seat next to her at the Fabulous Forum was a no-brainer. While Elton belted out his hits, my mind wandered, not focused on the stage but on Susan. Did she feel the electricity that pulsed between us? Could my braces and glasses be a deterrent, or did she feel that same spark?
As the concert ended, I was eager to create more chances to see her. With her being a grade below me at Portola Junior High School in Tarzana, I scoured the courtyard during lunch and between classes, always looking for a reason to strike up a conversation. Often, I’d use new Elton John albums as my excuse. We shared long, animated phone calls until a sibling would inevitably interrupt us.
My affection for her grew stronger with every encounter. Susan was not only intelligent and kind; she also possessed a quick wit and a love for music that resonated with me. Gathering my courage, I eventually expressed my feelings to her, adamant that we would end up together. She patiently listened to my declarations but gently let me down, saying she didn’t feel the same way and hoped we could remain friends. I was crushed, but I dared to believe it might be a temporary setback.
Over the years, our communication dwindled as life took us in different directions. While I played in various bands, Susan blossomed as a star in her high school choir. By the time I turned 16, my family had relocated, making our unexpected encounters unlikely. Yet fate smiled upon me when Susan visited the area one summer day with her sister.
When she emerged from the car, my heart raced—could things be different this time? My braces were gone, cozy contact lenses replaced the bulky glasses, and I had grown taller. To my surprise, she casually suggested we should go out sometime, which I instantaneously turned into a definitive date. We went ice skating and out for burgers, and she remained just as captivating as I remembered. With a playful glint in her eye, she confessed she wasn’t a good skater, yet she danced around me effortlessly. Our first kiss that night felt like the culmination of all the years of waiting, and from that moment on, we were inseparable.
Fast forward 50 years from that night at the Elton John concert on October 6, 1974. Susan and I have weathered life’s storms together, played in bands, launched businesses, and traveled far and wide. We’ve raised two wonderful children and now cherish the joy of being grandparents. Throughout these decades, every time I see her, I feel that initial sense of love all over again.
I’m a semi-retired strategic adviser in the music and audio industry, having enjoyed a rich career as a studio musician and product designer. Susan and I, both hailing from Los Angeles, still make music together at our home in Ventura County. Each memory we’ve built echoes that magical moment from our youth when love first entered my life, reminding me that sometimes, true love really can strike at first sight.