With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, IMA member Nick shares a heartwarming story about the intersection of maths and love…
I’m not here to dive into love algorithms, the best way to match on that dating app starting with T, or the most statistically effective pick-up lines; but to share a story about an I <3 Maths badge and how it changed my life.
The IMA I <3 Maths badges have been much loved by attendees at IMA events for many years. I proudly wear mine on my lanyard everyday to work. I frequently get asked about it, to which I always fondly respond that it is the reason that my wonderful wife, Beth, agreed to go on a date with me.
Beth and I met on the afternoon of 30th January 2018, at a regular cafe at the University of Manchester. Neither of us lived in Manchester at the time, I lived in Derby and was visiting the University for work, whilst Beth lived in Germany, and was visiting her sister in Manchester.
As my colleague and I sat down for lunch in the cafe, I casually glanced up—only to see Beth walk in. In that instant, time seemed to freeze, and I found myself completely lost in thought. When I finally snapped out of it, my colleague was already teasing me, and I was left in shock at what had just occurred. It was a feeling I’d never experienced before, but in that moment, I made a decision: if Beth was still there when we finished lunch, I was going to introduce myself.
She was indeed still there when I had finished lunch, and I so I plucked up the courage to go over and say hello. I wish I could say I was as smooth as James Bond, but I’d be lying. In this case, the bumbling mathematician stereotype was unfortunately spot on. Despite my nerves, I managed to get through it. I handed her my number and told her I’d be back in Manchester for work the following week and that if she would like to go for lunch with me, to text me or call. After a brief moment of confusion—when she mistook me for the waiter—she accepted my number, told me her name and we went our separate ways.
To my delight, Beth later called me and accepted my offer of lunch. When we met for our first date, Beth told me the reason she decided to take a chance and call was because I was wearing an ‘I <3 Maths’ badge on my lanyard. She figured any guy bold enough to wear a badge like that had to be a nice guy.
Ironically, I was wearing that badge by chance having attended an IMA East Midlands branch event after work the week prior.
These days, I always wear an ‘I <3 Maths’ badge on my lanyard, and I treasure the badge I was wearing that life-changing day.
And that’s how a simple ‘I <3 Maths’ badge turned into the catalyst for a love story—convincing my now-wife to take a chance on a date with me.
Nick Brusby, CMath MIMA
