Augie Sweethearts: Darlene Paul '82 and John Flynn '83

Submitted by Darlene Paul of Bolingbrook, Ill.

John and I first met in a computer science class in the fall of 1980, where we got to know each other, mostly by helping each other with homework.

In the spring of 1981 I was pledge mom for my sorority, the KEs (Kappa Epsilon) and John was pledge master for his fraternity, the Roundels (Rho Nu Delta). We needed to plan a pledge exchange so John suggested we go out on St. Patrick's Day to start the planning. We went to Fat Fannies and Katie McButts in Davenport, where we drank green beer and met a little old man dressed up like a leprechaun . We had a great time and I was definitely interested but John was dating someone so we just continued our friendship.

By the next fall he was single and by October we had started seeing each other. I graduated in May 1982 but John was a year younger. Once he went back for his senior year I would drive to Augustana every other Friday to visit for the weekend. We survived that year apart and after John graduated in 1983 we enjoyed seeing each other a lot more often. We spent a lot of time that summer going to Cubs games and hanging out with Augie friends.

We got engaged in February 1984 and were married that October. Two boys and 33 years later we still have fun and enjoy being with each other just as much as when we were at Augie. We still have many close friends from Augie - many who are couples that met there just like us! Augustana is definitely a special place for us!