Today's column proves one thing — if a couple is destined to meet, it can happen anywhere, even at a wake!

— EMILE: "I walked into a friend's room in college, known as the 'hangout room,' and found a guy hanging out watching TV. I walked up and introduced myself. He proceeded to yell at me about how we'd already met in that very room and how could I not remember him!

"Turns out he's a (very) loud talker, not really a yeller, and the first time we'd met, he'd been sitting above me on a bunk bed, and the reason he was so upset was because he'd had a crush on me from that first 'meeting.'

"Sixteen years, nine years of them married, and two kids later, his volume is a bit more under control, but he's still my best friend."

— MITCH: "I met a woman at the wake of one of my dearest friends. There was lots of socializing among the guests, and Laura and I just kept talking about the dear departed. She wrote a magazine article on my friend's legacy and mailed it to me. I called to thank her and invited her to a Tim McGraw concert. We dated off and on for four years.

"P.S. I still believe I'll meet my future Mrs. at a Blackhawks game. Since I'm a lifelong hockey fan, it would be fitting."

— JANIE: "I dialed the wrong number, he answered and was totally confused. He was waiting for a call from someone with my name! Anyway, we had a good laugh, spoke a few minutes longer, and he invited me to call him again sometime.

"Well, I did. We talked on the phone for six months, decided to meet in person, and lo and behold, realized we were in love. That was nearly three years ago, and we couldn't be happier."

— MARK: "I was in Hawaii to participate in the Ironman triathlon. The Sunday before the race, two friends and I decided to run an easy nine miles in the heat of the day to help us get used to the searing heat of the lava fields.

"We had miscalculated the distance and were two miles from our destination when our water ran out. We began to hitchhike. Finally, a Volkswagen pulled over. The driver was a young woman in her mid-20s. She wore sunglasses and a swimsuit, and was covered in salt and sand.

"My friend persuaded her to down some pitchers of water with us and hang out while we cooled down. We talked for an hour. Her name was Kayla. I was intrigued by her opinions. I thought: 'Wow! Someone who actually thinks like me!'

"I asked her if she wanted to get together that night. She said, 'yes.' I cannot explain what I felt when I opened the door. Her smile hypnotized me. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on. We talked all night.

"Eventually, it was time to say goodnight. I walked her to the car and we made plans for the next night. We stood next to her car and talked for another hour. We hugged, and it was the most passionate embrace of my life. The kiss that followed made my spine tingle and my heart race. That has never happened to me before. Four months later, we were engaged."

Did you "meet cute"? Send your tale, along with your questions, problems and rants to cheryllavinrapp@gmail.com. And check out my new ebook, "Dear Cheryl: Advice from Tales from the Front."