Couples reflect on relationships, love

After watching hours of "Blind Date" and "Dismissed," it's hard to believe that true love still exists. Even so, it is possible for it to happen in college, where random hook-ups seem to be commonplace. Cupid is still shooting arrows and hitting targets; sophomore Julia Brannon and Ryan Gottschling are prime examples. \nWith her fiery red hair and personality to match, Brannon keeps her boyfriend of two years in stitches. \n"We met while drag racing. He got injured and I nursed him back to health," she said with a straight face. \nGottschling's suspicious brown eyes gave his best friend a weary glance. Her tight-lipped expression soon transformed into laughter. \n"Actually, I knew Ryan from school in Terre Haute. He called me one night to ask me out on a date. I was on the other phone line with a friend, talking about him. He beeped in and asked me," she explained. \nDespite the initial attraction, it wasn't love at first sight. \n"Over a period of time, I realized that I loved Julia. When I got to know her better, that's when I knew she was the one for me," Gottschling said. "Above everything else, we are best friends. Ithink people forget about the friendship aspect, and that's why relationships end."\n"It's also about finding the right person -- and also about how much they pay you," Brannon said with a snicker. "But seriously, we are really compatible, and that's why it works for Ryan and me."\nJohn Bancroft, the director of the Kinsey Institute, approves of Brannon and Gottschling's pattern of dating. \n"I suppose the common sequence is for a relationship to start with infatuation and grow into another type of love over time," he said.\nPast Valentine's Days have been practical yet romantic for Brannon and Gottschling. \n"One year, Ryan made me dinner; I was impressed," she said. "Last year, we went to different colleges, and I drove in from Evansville to spend time with him."\nValentine's Day 2002 just might prove to be the best yet for this eccentric couple. \n"We're going to spend the weekend at a lodge out-of-state," Gottschling said, as his girlfriend gave him one of her signature smiles. \n"I can't take the distance, I can't take the miles, I can't take the time, until I next see you smile." These lyrics from the song "The Distance," by Evan and Jaron, probably sums up Jill Marlow's situation well.\nMarlow, a native of Rochester, New York, came to IU to study ballet. She left behind Tommy Maier, a student at State College of Courtland in Courtland, New York. Maier is also an athlete, playing on his school's ice hockey and lacrosse teams. The three years of dating have made it hard for Marlow to be away this Valentine's Day. \n"Knowing I can't see him when I want is difficult to deal with at times," she said somberly. "I deal with Tommy being so far away by reminding myself of the day that I get to see him, and how happy Iwill be."\nThey met during high school, Marlow said. \n"I met Tommy my sophomore year. He was a senior in my swim class," she said as she paused and smiled. \nThis year the couple will spend Valentine's Day together -- on the phone. \n"I did send him the cutest card and I bought him a bear that matched the bear on the cover of the card," she said. "I like to try and be creative for him." \nAlthough Valentine's Day is just once a year, Marlow likes to show her affection each and every day. She believes that this is important for all couples. \n"Being in a long distance relationship, all we can do is tell each other that we love each other and miss each other on a daily basis," she said. "Quite honestly, it makes such a big difference"