The Nut & Bolt Dance

They were both in their sophomore year at college. They  were both from small Kansas towns. They were both at the  “Nut & Bolt” dance put on each year by the school.  The deal was that the school gave the boys a bolt and the  girls a nut, all different sizes. At the dance you were to find  the matching nut or bolt and dance with them (the person holding the nut or bolt), not the fastener itself. 

Daniel went to the dance with his buddy Dwayne. Donna  was already there. Almost immediately, Dwayne noticed  Donna, and asked her to dance. Daniel could not  remember if there was a nut & bolt involved, but he didn’t  care. He watched for a moment, and then decided that (in  his words, “to mess with Dwayne”) he would cut in on  Dwayne just as a slow song was being played. He can not  recall either if a nut & bolt were ever discussed. All he can  remember is that he pulled her close, and they danced the  rest of the night together. Neither can account for Dwayne  after that slow dance. 

After the dance they talked nearly all night, walking by a  pond on campus, until campus security ran them off.  During the next days and weeks they found out a lot about  each other. Daniel discovered that Donna was a musician  and a little bashful. Donna found out that Daniel was very  outgoing and self confident. “I give Daniel credit” said  Donna, “ he tried to play it cool, arriving late for the dance, being suave and assured in his loud Hawaiian shirt”. This  worked just fine until Donna was in his arms. 

 I asked him, “when did you know?” “know what” he said?  I just looked at him and grinned. A moment later he  sighed, looking at Donna, and said, “Chuck, I knew that  night.” I looked at Donna then, she blushed, but looked me  straight in the eye and nodded in agreement. 

“We had a whirlwind courtship”, Donna explained. About a year later they were married. That was thirty years ago! 

Now with children and grandchildren, they make their way  to the beach together for this anniversary as they did for  their 25th. I asked them both, “How, how do you stay together and in love for thirty years?” Donna says it’s  some luck, some work, some fate. Daniel agrees. They  know each other’s likes and dislikes. (I know this because I quizzed them) Donna likes peanut butter and all  types of music. Daniel likes his life and his family.  

I think it is more than that. I watched Donna as Daniel was talking, he was telling me a story about their son and a  snow storm, but I was watching Donna. She was radar locked on Daniel. He finished the story and Donna said to  me, quietly, “He’s a great dad.” Later, I watched Daniel as Donna was talking to me. He was grinning and nodding. They were in total sync, talking to a complete stranger. They were like a nut and bolt. Made to work together.

Happy 30th wedding anniversary Mr. & Mrs. Daniel &  Donna Crouse, of Asheville, North Carolina.