Sometimes an old homecoming date circles back.

Nearly 40 years after losing touch, Maretta Ross and Fred Ross reconnected and built a life together after Fred reached out to her on Facebook, according to WALB.

The pair were teenagers at rival South Georgia high schools. “We met at the skating rink in Pelham, Ga., when we were like 15 years old,” Maretta recalled to the outlet after sharing photos of them together from that time period on Instagram.

They dated briefly, “went to some church picnics,” and danced at homecoming together, but later broke up and went their separate ways.

“I hadn’t seen him anywhere, even when I would return home,” she said. “I left, went to college, got married. He got married. I never saw him again in the store when visiting home.”

Maretta was married for 30 years. After her divorce, she said she was at a crossroads and confused about the direction of her life.

“I had been married my whole adult life,” she said, adding that she did not plan to get married again.

Fred, though, never forgot his high school love. Almost 40 years after they lost touch, he contacted her on Facebook.

“He had been divorced a lot longer than me,” Maretta explained. “I had been divorced for like six years, so it was still kind of new.”

She was hesitant, so she reached out to Fred’s longtime friend Todd West before deciding what to do.

“I reached out to Todd, and I said, ‘Should I give him my number? What is he like now? I don’t know him anymore,’ ” she said.

Maretta gave Fred her number, and he called about an hour later. After that, the two “never really stopped” talking.

Maretta said their connection felt “easy,” and after that first call, they met in person and grew even closer.

“It was wonderful,” she said. “We just talked and talked and talked and talked just really got to know one another once again.”

Now, Maretta and Fred are set to celebrate their third wedding anniversary in July.

“We went our separate ways, but made it back to one another,” Fred said.

Asked what advice she would give others about love, Maretta said people should be patient and kind.

“Allowing someone to help lead,” she said. “I was so strong-minded… I’ve had to humble myself a little bit and be a partner.”

“Good things come to those who wait,” Maretta added. “Be kind to everyone because you don’t know when you’ll see them again.”

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