36 | FEBRUARY 15 • 2024 J N E very family has “that” sentence that can have everyone dissolve into laughter because it reminds them of something from the past. In Lauren Slutsky’s case, it was her Holocaust survivor Grandma who said something memorable. But let’s backtrack. Meet Lauren, a born-and-bred Detroiter who grew up in Farmington Hills and attended Eagle, Warner and North Farmington. Her grand- parents, Nomi and Walter Lion, moved to a condo in Florida when she was in fourth grade and her family would often fly out to visit them. “Starting in 1982, there was this big group of kids from around the country, all visiting their grandparents in Fort Lauderdale at the same time, ” explained Lauren. Within that group of friends was a boy from Atlanta who was visiting his grandpar- ents, Ben and Evelyn Belchinsky: a certain Jeremy (Jeb) Belchinsky. He was shorter than Lauren, but that didn’t matter. The two developed a crush on each other and showed it in the special way that preteens do. “We’ d share Walkman headphones … I’ d save him a seat at the pool with my towel … We sent letters to each other during the year, ” remembered Lauren. They usually hung out at Lauren’s grand- parents’ condo, Jeb said. One day, Jeb’s grandma called Lauren’s Ggrandma to thank her for having Jeb over all the time. “I hope he’s not a bother, ” Jeb’s grandma said worriedly. “No, no, he’s a really nice kid, ” Lauren’s grandma poo-pooed her. “ And you didn’t have to call me … It’s not like they’re getting married or anything!” Actually, grandma, fast-forward a decade and that’s exactly what they did do! But, at the time, Lauren was in sixth grade and Jeb was in seventh. First, they finished middle school, then high school and went on to college — Jeb at University of Georgia; Lauren at Eastern Michigan — and briefly lost touch. After they’ d graduated, Lauren’s best friend, Erin Shafritz, moved to Atlanta. “I still knew Jeb’s phone number by heart so the first time I went to visit Erin, I called him, said I was visiting Atlanta and why don’t we meet up?” Lauren said. They agreed to meet at the Cheesecake Factory. Lauren told Jeb, “It’s been five years since we saw each other; I might not recognize you. What will you be wearing?” The answer: A white shirt and jeans. Lauren and Erin waited, checking out each male who wore a white shirt and jeans, until Jeb walked in and Lauren realized she’ d had nothing to worry about. “ After about seven men, there was Jeb in his white shirt and jeans — and he looked exactly the same!” They picked up where they’ d left off, cute crush included, and soon they were talking all the time. Eventually, Lauren moved to Atlanta. By 1996, Jeb was ready to pop the ques- tion … but he couldn’t do it without Lauren’s grandma present! “That was how we met; where it all start- ed! She was part of it!” Lauren laughed. So, Jeb drove Lauren on a surprise trip to grandma’s condo in Florida and only then got down on bended knee. “She always loved Jeb; she’ d seen us both grow up. She was so excited about it!” Lauren said. Actually, everyone was excited about it. Lauren’s friends had all heard about “Jeb from Atlanta” since they were in middle school! “Who’ d have thought we’ d have reconnect- ed after all those years; it was kind of crazy, ” Lauren said. In 1997, they married at Temple Israel and in 1999, moved back to Michigan. They live in Huntington Woods and are the proud parents of Ari, 22, a senior at University of Michigan, and Lola, 19, a sophomore at University of Wisconsin-Madison. They attend Aish HaTorah. Jeb is self-employed and distributes and sells spinal medical devices; Lauren has her own hand-beaded jewelry company, “Love, Lauren. ” She also works for inSIGHT Through Education, which funds Holocaust education in the Palm Beach County school system in Florida. They fondly remember the sweet old days when they were kids, although now — unlike when they first met — Jeb is taller than Lauren! This column will appear biweekly. If you’d like to share your ‘meet-cute’ story, please email burstynwithjoy@ hotmail.com. ‘At Bubby’s Condo’ ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER OUR COMMUNITY HOW WE MET Lauren, Ari and Jeb Ari, Jeb, Lauren and Lola In middle school, Lauren was taller than Jeb.