TriMet gives one lucky couple a Valentine's Day treat
February 14, 2011
This morning at Pioneer Courthouse Square, TriMet celebrated local couples who met their partners and spouses while taking transit. One lucky couple – who met at a bus stop during Portland's 2008 snow storm – received the grand prize in the agency's "Did You Meet Your Sweet on TriMet?" contest. The prize was a night's stay at Hotel deLuxe and dinner at Graci's.
Danette Burchill and Matt Haynes of Portland were the lovebirds whose story made hearts flutter. With the city blanketed in snow, the two first spotted each other while waiting for a delayed Line 20 bus in December 2008. According to Danette, it was Matt's charming and playful spirit amidst a crowd of strangers that piqued her interest. Coincidence, and perhaps fate, brought them together a few weeks later. They plan to marry this summer.
Danette's entry in TriMet’s "Did you meet your sweet on Trimet?" contest:
Matt and I met while waiting for the #20 on December 23, during the snowstorm of 2008. Buses were understandably delayed and a group of 10 people had accumulated at the bus shelter on 28th and East Burnside. “Well,” Matt said to the crowd “would anyone like to play an alphabet game while we wait? How ‘bout ‘vegetables: A-Z?’” “Hmmm. I don’t know...” I replied. “Could we include fruits as well?” “Uh, all right, I guess.” he said and got us going. The whole crowd enthusiastically played “Fruits and Vegetables” and had started “Rock Bands from the 70s and 80s,” when the #20 arrived. I was impressed by Matt’s boldness, playful spirit and how he brought a group of strangers together into a community, if only for a moment. Once on the bus, I thought to myself: ‘Now that’s the kind of guy I’d like to be with. Too bad I’ll never see him again.” I was wrong. It turned out we were next door neighbors. Three weeks later, we were taking the #20 again, and Matt asked me out on our first date. We are getting married on July 9, 2011. Thanks, TriMet!
TriMet received love stories from 29 local couples who met their significant others on MAX, a bus or at a bus stop. Some of TriMet’s other favorite stories are included below. Today’s event was sponsored by Portland Mall Management Inc. and Hotel deLuxe.
Robin and George Helm, Portland – I never expected to meet my husband on a TriMet bus, but then it really isn’t that surprising considering there are few places where a group of strangers can become friends so quickly. While every bus trip starts with that inevitable and sometimes dreaded wait time, I came to appreciate the daily ritual of standing with “the regulars” as I waited for the bus to take me downtown. I stood with an accountant, an engineer and a banker and developed strong bonds with them, so much so that we worried when anyone of us was the least bit late. Would Sally miss the bus? If we altered our schedule in any way, we’d have some explaining to do the next day – not out of obligation, but because we became friends, and sometimes friends worry when routines alter. I no longer need to explain why I’m not at the bus stop; my husband (the engineer) knows everything now. And Sally? Well, 18 years ago she served the cake at our wedding. We still get together to share laughs and she, admittedly, still occasionally misses the bus.
Jason and Michelle Baker, Portland – Nice Socks: A Story of Love and the MAX
It wasn't so much the delicate 7:17 a.m. light on the MAX Blue Line as the fact that the cuffs of my rain pants were tucked deep into my socks in a most unprofessional manner for a school teacher. A bizarre, if only slightly so, version of an early rush hour fashion statement. Any fellow bike commuters will,
however, sympathize with the dilemma of just what to do with one’s pants to keep them from tangling in the gears of one’s bike. A cold, rainy, early spring ride through NE Irvington to the Lloyd Center MAX station and a decided shortage of coffee that morning conspired to keep me from untucking my pant cuffs. A life-changing decision as it turned out. I hung my bike up, and by NE 60th Ave had settled into my morning ride. At that moment, my wife Michelle, the beautiful stranger with whom I had shared more than one significant glance over the past few days and perhaps weeks on our shared MAX, saw her opening. “Nice socks” she said from across the aisle. I looked down, then up. Our eyes met again and the rest, as they say, is history.
Janel and John Fausti, Portland – My “sweet” story begins on TriMet bus #44 headed into downtown Portland one rainy February morning. With only one available seat, fate presented me with my future husband. We talked incessantly until reaching his stop in Old Town with no time to exchange phone numbers. From my stop on 5th and Oak, to my office two blocks away, I could think of nothing but the man I had just met. I told all my friends my “ships passing in the night” story. One month later, on yet a different TriMet bus, I unknowingly took the seat behind my future sweetheart. Looking out the window into the grey clouds, my day brightened when the man in front of me turned and said “Hi Janel!” My heart skipped a beat as I realized he was the man I connected with earlier – and he even remembered my name! He offered me his business card, and I called him three days later. Our first date was at Kells Irish Pub after which we both rode the bus home to our respective stops. We married five years later, following engagement pictures at the Kings Hill MAX stop, and have been happily married ever since.
Amy and Evan Werner, Portland – I was only half paying attention to the fellow waiting next to me for the streetcar. Reading my horoscope, absorbed most of my interest as we engaged in mundane chit chat. I was shocked when he asked, “Say, would you like to go out to lunch sometime?” just as the streetcar curved towards us. That’s when I turned to look at him. He was cute! And didn’t seem the least bit creepy. I said, “Sure” and we both awkwardly and excitedly stepped onto the streetcar together. I didn’t have a pen with me but my lipstick had a sharp edge. He hesitated to use it before scrawling his name across the cover of the Portland Mercury. “Evan” it read. Even his name seemed nice. I wrote my name on the lower half of the cover before tearing it and handing it to him. “Amy” he said and smiled. We’re now married and commute every morning by bus. He often kisses my hand before I get off. I’m very pregnant and have a bit of a waddle to my step these days. Our baby is due the week of Valentine’s Day. Who says public transit isn’t romantic? UPDATE: Amy had a 10-pound baby boy – Alden Grant – yesterday!
Ellen Grimm and Asher MacArthur-Grimm, Portland – It was dark and rainy that night as I got on the #15 at Burnside and NW 21st. I was heading to Belmont to meet with a friend even though I was working early the next day. As we made our way through downtown, the bus was filling up quickly. Even so, I noticed her when she got on the bus. She sat across the aisle from me, and I kept sneaking glances in her direction. As it became more crowded, she got up so someone could sit. She moved farther and farther back as more people got on, but I kept looking back at her. When she got off the bus, I saw her look back over her shoulder as she walked up the street. The next morning, I looked at craigslist Missed Connections, and I was amazed when I saw “#15 Cutie Tuesday Night” posted there. It was her, and she was looking for me! I sent a reply, and she emailed me back. We agreed to meet up, and three years later we're still so happy together. Oh yeah, our first date? Met in NW, had dinner, and (of course) took the bus together over to the east side for coffee!