It’s the classic high school dream: meeting your soulmate across the cafeteria or in a shared classroom, and becoming  inseparable. But for June and Dave Hathorn—my grandparents—that dream became a reality. They met at Craig High School, started dating, never broke up, and have now been together for over 46 years. They married on July 23, 1983. In an era of casual dating, “situationships,” and ghosting, what’s their secret? June and Dave’s story didn’t start with a romantic grand gesture. It started with a classroom called Earth Science—or, as they nicknamed it, “Dirt Science.”  “I was a sophomore, about 16 or 17,” June said,, “We would just throw sarcastic remarks to each other.” It was this playful, sarcasm that led to them spending time together after the bell. Their post-school hangouts were simple: “We played a lot of basketball together,” June said. Simple moments, not expensive dates, laid the foundation for their connection. Due to things like popularity and peer pressure, high school relationships always come with a social dynamic. “Grandpa was very popular with the ladies,” June said. It sometimes  made her worry. Dave even pointed out that some of the sassy competition was her own friends! June, on the other hand, says she was “kind of in the middle.” But popularity didn’t matter to them—their classmates didn’t really care about the couple dati

ng. However, Dave’s best friend, Russ, was another story. Russ cared because the new relationship took up too much of Dave’s time. The couple went to every event, including homecoming, together. When asked if they ever broke up or took a break, the answer was a simple, definitive “No.” “We were always together,” Dave said. While they shared sweet, classic high school moments like going to dances, their typical teenage fun had a slight rebellious phase. “We would go rollerblading,” June said.  Dave then offered a glimpse into their rebellious side, admitting they often hung out in the Palmer Park parking lot. “Yeah sometimes we would have a couple beers,” he said. These moments—the sarcastic remarks, the rollerblading, the basketball, the time spent just being together—were what built their undeniable strength. Both une and Dave feel that relationships today might not be as strong as they used to be, but they have some strong advice for high schoolers hoping to want to be high school sweethearts. June’s #1 rule: prioritize your friendships. June’s advice is not about finding “The One,” but about keeping your own life together during this time. “Stay with your friends. Guys come and go into your life, and you don’t really get to know them,” June said.  Your friends are always there and first. A partner should add to your life, not replace anything or anyone. Dave’s warning: give them room. Dave’s advice focuses on the commitment itself: space is essential for a healthy, long-lasting bond. “Don’t suffocate the other person,”Dave said. Giving your partner room to breathe, pursue their own interests, and maintain their friendships is key. True connection thrives on two independent people choosing to be together, not two people who rely constantly on each other. Their journey from “Dirt Science” sweethearts to a couple celebrating almost five decades together proves that sometimes, all you need is a little sarcasm, some rollerblades, a basketball, and a lot of commitment to make a high school love story last forever.