Love at First Sight: A Story of Romance and Adventure
In 1973, amidst the hustle and bustle of London, I found myself living in a sharehouse while completing my postgraduate studies in chemistry. The sound of my sputtering Finnish motorbike echoed through the streets as I arrived home one summer evening, covered in oil spatters, to an unexpected surprise. Sitting in our kitchen was a beautiful Swede named Barbaro. She had appeared out of the blue, seeking refuge from a rough patch in her life. Instantly captivated by her charm and progressive Scandinavian mindset, I was intrigued by her company, which far surpassed that of the British girls I had met at the time.
Due to her unique qualities and the fact that it was her first time in England, Barbaro seemed like the perfect companion for a day-long mission to purchase a second-hand refrigerator from my uncle in Guildford. As we drove through the picturesque countryside, my suspicions were confirmed – this was a woman of exceptional character, someone I desired to know better, even if just as friends. Mind you, I was already engaged to be married at the time.
However, love has a way of surprising us. Both my fiance and I became fast friends with Barbaro, and even after she returned to Sweden, we maintained contact and eventually visited her together. Over the course of a year, everything changed. My fiance broke off our engagement and found a better match, while I found myself a newly single PhD graduate, a homeowner, and awaiting a new job. With a renewed sense of purpose, Barbaro filled my thoughts.
Our mutual disdain for football served as another unexpected connection, sparking a flicker of hope.
With two weeks to spare before my new job began, I mustered up the courage to ask my mother to foot the bill for a phone call to Sweden – three pounds in those days – and invited myself to visit Barbaro. At first, she declined. However, half past midnight, she had a change of heart and called my mother back to confirm her acceptance. It was in that moment I realized that this relationship had the potential to evolve beyond friendship.
As a naturally rational person seeking stability, I arrived for my planned three-day visit with the intention of asking the right questions to gauge our compatibility. We engaged in frank conversations about politics, religion, the environment, and culture, and astonishingly, found ourselves in agreement on nearly every topic. Our shared aversion to football served as yet another unexpected spark, igniting the promise of a future together.
When two individuals align on the fundamental aspects of life, love and lasting chemistry have room to flourish. Despite having our own lives, careers, and homes in different countries, we couldn’t ignore the excitement that came from envisioning a shared journey.
By Christmas, we had arranged for Barbaro to join me in England, with the plan to live together for a year before deciding if marriage was in the cards. In the end, however, we couldn’t wait. A few months later, we hastily tied the knot at the registry office so Barbaro could secure her papers and begin her life in England. Thus began our 46 years of blissful matrimony.
Love, Stability, and Adventure
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‘It was looking like it could be more fun if we joined forces’: Steve Roberts and Barbaro on their honeymoon in Norway, 1977.
There has always been an air of wonder surrounding Barbaro, even after all these years. Yet, lasting unions require a firm foundation beyond the allure of “love at first sight.” The practical approach we took in developing our relationship may not seem romantic, but it has led to a remarkably stable and reliable connection.
Even now, we find ourselves in agreement on almost everything. We hold deep respect for one another and have raised two extraordinary children. While we pursue our own hobbies – Barbaro immerses herself in yoga, and I continue to cherish my motorbike – we find great harmony in calling Australia home for nearly four decades. Our shared love for travel, food, and even TV shows adds to the joy we find in everyday life.
While time may have taken its toll on me physically, Barbaro remains the same impressive and independent young woman I met in my kitchen fifty years ago. Our journey has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I can confidently say that not a single thing has gone awry. Each day feels like a celebration.
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