Couple Who Dated As Teenagers Find Each Other Again After 20 Years Apart
Tim and Alysa Mounce used to date back in high school but didn't speak a word to each other for 20 years. Until they found each other again.
High school romances rarely survive the test of time. As people grow up and mature, they often drift apart or realize that they want different things. But in Alysa and Tim Mounce's case, their story defied these odds despite having been estranged for 20 years.
Alysa and Tim Mounce, 41 met in high school, twenty years ago. They dated for a while, broke up, and went on to marry other people. But then, both divorced, their paths crossed again!
Despite the years, they never stopped thinking about each other
After high school, both Alysa and Tim ended up going their separate ways, as life most often turns out to be.
"We were what you’d call childhood sweethearts in our senior year at high school," Alysa Mounce told Metro UK. "We ended up going our separate ways as a lot of people do after college."
Alysa and Tim met again in 2016, when both got divorced from their partners at the time. Tim was thinking of Alysa and sent her a message on Facebook. She answered, delighted to hear from him.
Tim sent me a message just after Christmas 2015. That was the first time I heard from him in 20 years.
Alysa Mounce to Metro UK
Alysa describes the rest as very natural. It was like no time had passed.
"When Tim messaged, we started talking as just friends and the history we had with other made things feel very natural and very organic, like it was meant to be," Alysa said.
"We picked up where we left off and it was fantastic. He was just like how I remembered him. He’s a very fun person and I realized I wanted that again. We started dating in the February and Tim proposed to me the following May. It all happened very quickly and by July 2016 we were married."
The reunion proved that 20 years had not changed anything: they were instantly attracted to each other.
They were both going through divorce at the same time
Before reconnecting with Tim, Alysa lived through a rough patch with her marriages.
Alysa's second marriage ended in September 2015 following a previous marriage which only lasted ten months. She shared that her relationship was not a healthy one and when Tim tried to reconnect with her, she instantly felt the difference.
I proceeded with my previous relationship when I probably shouldn’t have. I was desperate for a family life and structure, but the relationship was unhealthy.
Alysa mentions that the breakup was difficult on her. "I struggled with the trauma of the break-up and did grieve that it was over. I was angry at what happened and felt lost," she revealed.
"Tim had just joined Facebook when he messaged me, and he said he had been married for 15 years but was going through a divorce."
At first, Alysa tried to help him mend things with his wife. Her own experience with divorce had taught her a few lessons. "I actually encouraged him to try to work it out with his wife because I already knew the ramifications of a divorce."
But Tim's marriage was not meant to perdure. Instead, its ending was what led these two to reconnect.
Once we got talking and I remembered how fun Tim was, I realized I wanted to have that again.
Alysa Mounce
It was like the 20 years never happened
Tim invited Alysa to spend Valentine’s weekend with him, and they got engaged after three months of dating, with a wedding in the following July in Tim’s hometown of Newport, Oregon. The couple's four children from their previous relationships all attended the ceremony.
"It felt like I was marrying a friend as well as the person I love. It feels amazing to be loved for who I am, and I feel accepted. We are very comfortable around each other."
"I feel like I am living in a fairy tale and I never thought that would be me. The timing felt so right for us both and I had no worries over how quickly it all happened."
I am the happiest I have ever been now, and it just feels like it’s meant to be.
Alysa Mounce
Real connections never truly disappear
Tim and Alysa prove that a real connection truly stands the test of time. If you know you have that, it is always worth putting in the effort to reconnect with that special person, be it a friend or a lover.
As Tim an Alysa's story shows, sometimes, it only takes a message on Facebook to reignite the spark.
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Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.