I always thought that if some guy from the past reached out to a woman many years later, the general female reaction was "ewwww, no way!"

Which one?

And no. No way.

No. My first love from my teenage years is exactly what and who my mom thought he would be (nice guy, not very bright, blue collar/LMC life) and I don’t want that for my life today.

Do it, but without expectations. You may be completely different people or it may work out perfectly like it did for so many of the PP in this thread.

My high school boyfriend and I found each other 35 years later. It has been the best and sweetest relief my life. Do it, OP. It’s so lovely that I can say the first boy I ever kissed will be the last man I ever kissed.

Of course. Relationships with common childhood or young adult memories are special.

My Dad did it! They’re very happy.

It’s like rooting through smelly old garbage..,

Assume you are different people now. But sure. If you were compatible NOW

I've always held a torch for my first love and idealized our relationship. I ended it so I think of him as the one who got away. I spent time with him at a reunion recently and he pretty much made it clear he wanted us to cheat on our spouses together. It turned me off completely, so now I'm over that. Glad it only took me 20 years .

I’m very good friends with my HS and college boyfriend. We’re both divorced and in our 40’s but I’d never get back with him romantically. We had sort of stayed in touch over the years but rekindled the friendship after the divorces.

I have thought about it. But at this stage you are two completely different people with a shared memory. You might as well meet someone new.

Do it!!

Married him 3 years ago at age 39.

If you found yourself in mid life and both parties were unattached would you re-kindle your first love from your teenage years or would you leave it in the past ?