We can't help but remember our first loves, even if we'd rather forget them. Whether it was a high school sweetheart, your first real relationship after college, or the first person you said "I love you" to, chances are that person still holds a powerful spell over you. Now a brand-new TV show is betting on the fact that -- if you haven't already found him on Facebook -- you'd like the opportunity to reconnect in real life. Or maybe on live TV.
Each Wednesday, "First Love, Second Chance" follows a couple who have decided to reunite and discover whether they still have sparks. OK, we can see the appeal of re-discovering the one who got away, but what would possess someone to do it front of a large chunk of America? We asked a few of the "First Love, Second Chance" cast members to find out -- including the pair who got their second go at true love last night.
Then we asked a handful of women whether they'd ever go back.
TV COUPLE: Twelve years ago, Pam and Chris had their first alcohol-fueled tryst: She was a bartender, he was her favorite customer. But back then, he liked hitting the bottle a little too much, and just when things started to get serious, Chris got a job in another state. Today, Pam is a teacher living in New Jersey, and a clean, sober Chris is now a cabana boy (be still, our beating hearts) in Miami Beach. Our prognosis: Depends on how many of the 12 steps Chris stuck with. And, as much as we'd like to have him fan us while we sipped mojitos, last we checked, cabana boys don't exactly have career longevity. We dock him points for his past substance-abuse problems -- and current career wha?! -- issues. But maybe Pam's looking for a bad boy outside of the classroom?
Chris and Pam's episode aired last night, but we're not going to ruin it for you. Here's what they had to say going into the date (then you can go see what happened):
"I had no expectations," Chris told us. "I just wanted to have fun and see Pam again. I thought it would be great to see her. And you know, if anything happens, it happens."
And it's hardly surprising that for a teacher, this was all about what Pam could learn from the experience. "I don't have any regrets," she said. "Everything you do is a lesson to be learned."
TV COUPLE: Chris and Breanne first met a decade ago at the University of Canada. After dating for a year, Chris laid his feelings on the line -- and used the L word. But when Breanne didn't say it back, he walked away. Fast forward 10 years: She's a writer living in L.A.; he's an Arctic explorer who globe trots for a living. (By the way, great casting, TVLand!)Our prognosis: We love a man who works with penguins, but long distance is a bitch, and cell reception where he travels won't be a walk in the park. But there's always Skype!
Besides, Breanne's optimistic: "I think if people are single, and it was a healthy, good relationship the first time around, absolutely anyone can fall in love with their first love," she says. (Watch their episode on April 14.)
With all this talk about first loves, we were curious, so we asked a few friends if they would want to see a formative ex again:
REAL LIFE STORY: Though she already found him on MySpace, Annie's still wondering about a guy she calls her first love. The two were together in high school but broke up when he enlisted in the Navy. While it's been years since they've spoken, she decided to innocently reconnect on the Web.
"I knew I was past the breakup, past the new marriage he has with someone I know and past the young love we once had," she says. "[But] I requested him as a friend on MySpace, and he denied my request."
REAL LIFE STORY: Chloe may have stopped talking to her boyfriend cold turkey after their bad breakup, but she isn't completely closed to the idea of trying again.
"I'm not entirely against it," she says. "But I think there would have to be a legitimate reason you want to reconnect. He will most likely not be the same person you knew back then, and you will realize you weren't meant to be friends either."
REAL LIFE STORY: Alli doesn't think stepping back into the past would ever be for her.
"I'm in a wonderful relationship with my current boyfriend, and I would never want to look back," she says. "He treated me poorly -- kind of led me on a bit -- and I now realize how I am better off without him."
REAL LIFE STORY: After 10 years of zero communication, Dani's ex-love found her. The two met for dinner and even had breakfast in bed.
"I didn't expect that to happen," she said. "Just thought we'd catch up on our lives, and there was no awkwardness. It was nice to see him, but he was new and old at the same time."
REAL LIFE STORY: While cleaning out her inbox, Katy found her high school boyfriend's email address and decided to shoot him a line. About six months later, he responded with a friendly reply but also mentioned that he had a girlfriend, which made her wince, since "he was really hot and used to be all mine."
With the help of Facebook, she discovered current photos of the high school sweetheart and was ecstatic to see that he's not as hot as he used to be.
"He's fat now and so totally not the hottie I dated," Katy said. "It's not supposed to be a competition, but his girlfriend gets this version of him. I got the stud version AND his V-card."




















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Friday 19 March
By NotjLo82
Oh wow, what timing. I JUST finished my foray into First Love Reunion-ville about a month ago. Finished being the opperative word. Last August, my HS sweetheart, whom was my big FIRS, best friend and the guy I was MADLY in love with and attached to the hip with, contacted me through Facebook (of course) and we started a reconnection that turned into a rekindle and re-attempt. Unfortunately....things were not as magical and Perfect as I had thought these 10 years since I moved across the country and things ended so suddenly. After seeing him for the first time since HS (which was a rather big shock in itself) and all the reminiscing and sentimental nostalgia, I realized we were VERY different people (almost opposites,) in different places emotionally and, ahem, maturity-wise, and that he might possibly be harboring some rather unsavory, even nasty personal demons that I had NO idea were there until now. Of course, being the older and wiser me, realization and good ol 20/20 hindsight hit me like a ton of bricks - the signs were always there, I just chose to ignore them in my hormone and love induced dilusions in HS and for the first few months of our pretty intense reconnection. So it ended, just like that. With a bitter taste in my mouth, but with a LOT of questions I held for years suddenly answered. I know what would happen were I to be with him....and that is NOT a place I want to be or person I want to become! So, glad I took the chance of MAJOR hearbreak (I felt attached these long years to this dude!) and found out the answer is a big old NO. But it was kind of like learning the truth about Santa Claus.
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Wednesday 24 March
By Terri
I am so sorry things did not work out for you but with your story just makes me feel happyer that i chose to take a chance on a relationship that at the time did not end well. But we have been back together for 3 yearsin july an we took things a lil slow at first but after about 6 months of that we started liveing with eachother an He had asked me if i would marry him said he lost me before an did not ever want to loose me again. I said yes we got a date an 6 days before the wedding I had a stroke an was in the hospital, thought that could be used as a exit for him to get out of being with me but I was wrong We still got married on our day just did it in the hospital. well I am again so sorry it did not work out with you. Hope you have or will find someone soon. Take Care.
Saturday 20 March
By v
my college sweetheart contacted me on facebook last summer, after 26 years apart. fast forward to now; i left my husband and he left his wife. we're getting married in sept. i did a little research and this is actually pretty common. your first love forms your image of "love". the heart wants what it wants.
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Wednesday 30 June
By freespirit
I am so happy for you and hope that I get the same ending. I recently found my first love on facebook. We have talked and met once, the feelings are just as strong as before. It has been 31 years since we seen each other, I am 45 and he is 46. We were 14 and 15 back then. Both of us are married but not happily. We have both agreed, being christians, that we hold true to the vows we have taken. I hope I have your ending.
Monday 22 March
By kim
my story starts at age 15 he was 16. yes first love. broke up after he cheated and unable to trust him. 3 years later reconnected made wedding plans with the rings bought, date set and honeymoon plans made broke it off again. about 8 years later reconnected again. i had moved 600 miles away. he was going to leave his wife of about 5 yrs. well he stayed with the commitment he had made (that was a first). 21 yrs later they divorced. he contacted me again. really went through alot of trouble to get ahold of me. i'm still 600 miles away. rejected the offer. now it's 36yrs from day one thinkn i've made a huge error in judgement. neither one of us stayed in a relationship, we do have a common family member that keeps us informed of the other. he has made another commitment #4 not sure how it stands i can only guess. i also have not stayed in a relationship. i would never become a home wrecker but he comes to mind quit often and especially when i travel home.
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Monday 22 March
By kim
dear v
wish mine would have ended happily ever after. life would sure have been different. good luck but not sure leaving the commitments you've made is the right thing to do but the heart wants what the heart wants. i do agree with that.
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Wednesday 24 March
By Gail
It was the late 60's. I was 16; he was 20; My mother called him the drifter because that is what he did; he drifted in and out of town taking odd jobs, traveling; he always called me, mailed me and we were together when he did make it to town. I even sneaked away to spend Christmas with him when he went to visit his family one year. I was so in love with him and thought he was so handsome. He was that blond beachbum type from that era. My heart dropped when he walked into a room. I went to college and we lost contact throughout the years. Whenever I thought of passion and great sex, I thought of him. I always kept all the letters and cards
Fast forward 34 years. We found each other through Reunion.com for some odd reason. His wife had died and so had my husband; It was a long distance thing at first. But on the phone we still had that easy breezy relationship that we always had as kids. We spent our first weekend together at the beach. We continued to get together for the occasional weekend and I thought we might make it permanent. But I went down there and spent 12 days and knew it wasn't to be. Of course we had both changed. After a few days I knew I could not spend the rest of my life with him; He was still a great guy and I loved him, but I knew we had to move on. He is my best friend now and I am his; If I needed him for anything he would be here and I would do the same for him. I am glad we have this relationship and very happy we found each other again.
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Wednesday 24 March
By Terri
well i had ran into my old high school sweetheart after 30 years an we ended up getting married an are very happy So I am glad i got back together with him an would not trade him for anything. just goes to show you just never know what life will bring you.
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Thursday 25 March
By Jerrold
I would like to have a second chance at my first love.
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Friday 02 April
By Laura. Barkley
I know just how you feel!
I had met my first love when I was just twelve years old. He would drop by with another guy who enjoyed talking with my parents. Over time and a lot of laughs ,he and I began to develop a more than just friendly relationship. Though we never let it evolve into anything more than an occasional make-out session, I knew that I loved him. but I never told him at the time,.
But, often times, Dale told me that he loved me and hoped we could be together always "someday." Our love grew gradually, and I believed that we were both content, at least for the time being.
But devistation came in a mere instant!
Late that third summer, while I was still fifteen, my family received an invitation to his wedding! Though I had met this woman on a couple of casual occasions, I was led to believe that she was only a school friend with whom he had no romantic interests.
I was so shaken by that invitation that my legs turned to "jello" and I literally fell to the ground. No one, including Dale, had known my true feelings.
My parents insisted that I accompany them with the rest of my family to my Love's wedding. It proved to be the most humilitating experience of my entire life! I was so sick "imagining" what they were up to, that I could not eat or sleep for months. Though I felt that Dale betrayed my love, I also knew that had I told him (and perhaps showed him) how I felt, he may not have gone off to find a girl nearer his age (he was 4 years older than me).
Many years later, through a mutual friend, I learned that Dale and Debbie only married because she had become pregnant and they felt marriage was the best solution. Sadly, she lost the baby due to a miscarriage, and they were never able to conceive again.
I went on to marry and have a family of my own. Dale stayed with Debby.
After my children were grown and away from home, my husband and I divorced. I was single for three years before meeting up with Dale again at a benefit function in a neighboring state. At that time, he was recently widowed and nearing retirement.
This chance meeting left me breathless. I became giddish with delight at perhaps rekindling our romance. After several hours of chit chat and reminiscing, we exchanged phone numbers and flew back to our homes.
Dale telephoned me the next day and we talked for five hours straight. I eventually told him that I had loved him so much but, because I was so young, I felt that I could not tell him at the time.
It was as though time had stood still for nearly 35 years! We both were exstatic over our new-found love. Dale came to Detroit to visit me later that fall and I flew to Milwaukee to see him that next spring. Our romance flurished. We were both mature and had no inhabitions.
Then, four years later, and after he had retired from his job with the City of Milwaukee, I suggested he move to Detroit so that we could be closer. I thought that he would jump at the idea, as we seemed to be getting along so well. He had nothing in Milwaukee holding him there.
Instead, Dale found religion. He told me that he didn't truly love me and that what he felt for me was simply lust . He also said that he believed that I "really" didn't love him, either, as I had said I did. (I guess he thought he knew my heart and believed that I only felt lust for him, as well).
Concequently, he dumped me flat and I never heard from him again.
That was nearly five years ago. Who knows if he ever remarried or ever will. He might find true love eventually, but mistakenly label it as " Lust " for the rest of his life.
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Friday 09 April
By Deena
Yes... :) We met at 11 & 12... dated - if you can call it that - on and off until we were 16 & 17. We were each others first love and first "uh hum...." anyway, things ended badly because he cheated - but he was young and hormonal... unfortunately sometimes I still go back to that moment and feel hurt...
Now 24 years later we reconnected on facebook. Apparently, we both had thought of each other all these years. A few years prior to reconnecting I saw his sister - she even told me he always regretted letting me go. The love was still there... I would say within a few days of just emailing - we both knew we wanted to be together. Met in person after a month of just computer IM and email, a few phone calls ~~ he told me months later that he knew he wanted me to be his wife that first day we met again. That was March 09... July 09 he asked me to marry him. Wedding date is set for Aug - on his birthday. That was the day we picked 24 years ago when we were kids... floating around a lake - "someday... we should get married on my birthday".... I was very surprised he remembered saying that. He said he never forgot that day. And oddly enough... every year his birthday rolled around... I would think to myself - I should be getting married today. :) We are very happy, very much in love, and excited to finally spend our lives together. We are blessed that now we are older and wiser - and over all the BS that comes with growing up and maturing. So YES YES YES... sometimes reconnecting with your first love can be wonderful.
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Tuesday 20 April
By spike
I was madly in love with R - the greatest guy in the world, but culturally, we were very different; it broke my heart to end the 2 year relationship; I remember crying my heart out for days on end; I made sure he could not find me; I thought it would be easier that way; even dumped our mutual friends because I knew they would let him know where I was. I loved him too much to be his friend... fast forward; married the guy who was "all the right things" and was miserable; one day - 10 years later I sent an email; he got back to me very quickly; it was like time never moved; he looked the same; he loved me the same and now, 3 years later, we are very happy, feel very much the same as we did; I just knew that I didn't want to go through the rest of my life without trying to see if I made a mistake; I did, I suffered for it and now I'm so happy.... Go after your heart; if its meant, it will be so easy.
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Wednesday 05 May
By dee
i did and it was a HUUUGE mistake! we have been going back and forth for 12 years over that time i had hooked up with him,we dated three times and after this time,he cheated on me,broke up with me via aim.(yes aol instant messenger) telling me he cared about me but didnt love me and that hes been confused over the past 12 years! broke my heart over and over and over again.and yet i still was crazy about him to give him those three plus chances!a big part of me died that day when he did it,less than a month ago now.i see now that this was all a lie.and that he kept coming back bc i would give him those chances.bc i guess i was a great time filler.my hearts broken and hes out having the time of his life.and now i feel ive wasted the better part of a decade allowing him to come and go as he pleased into and out of my life.bc he was my first love.dont be like me.dont delude yourselves.if the relationship ended,then leave it that way.
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Wednesday 02 June
By panda
we first met 11 years ago.recently we met again coincidently.my feeling for him come once again when he confess that he had a crush on me during high school.i see this relationship kind of bumpy as we on and off.we went stable at first and nearly broke up but deep inside our heart we love each other so much.i tried my very best to keep this going for i fear to lose him.dear,i love you.i can't live without you.there's no way i can forget you.so,please work hard to keep our relationship going.
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Wednesday 01 September
By Pam Vaughn
I seen my first love after several years (of trying not to see him) We made a pack many years ago after our relationships didn't workout (after several atemps) we would always keep in contact no matter where we were at or who we were with! Fine!...We have talked for years over the phone at work, from home and even in parking lots for hours on the phone. (Oh did I mention I've been married for almost 20 years now! He is still single!!) ...To make a long story short...We seen each other at a funeral service and something sparked! We have been talking and seeing each other off and on every since. Now he tells me he is ready to committ ...(only about 25 years to late). I have come to admitt to myself I am still in love with him and looking forward to hearing from him everyday now! Via text, voice mail ...whatever! We still know each other like the back of our hands. We have been through so much together (in high school and afterwards) we just have a certain connection that either of us has never had with anyone else! (Myself..not even with my husband of 20 years)...It's NOT about sex! We just have long conversations about life issues, hopes, dreams. families, personal/private relationships...we go shopping together...hang out on Saturday afternoons...may even catch a movie... anything! He's exciting, loves to talk, spontaneous, giving, affectionate, caring, GOOD looking , loves to travel, and so much more...Ienjoy being with him but I don't know how much longer I can keep this up! Confused
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