Once my Creative Writing class asked me to take a casual character of mine, develop him as normal, and then have him do something spontaneous or out of character. The character I chose is from an early novel I tried to write (Observations from a Sidewalk Cafe). My character is suicidal, but, at the end, he falls head over heels in love with a waitress. The only conversation they've had is when she asks him what he'd like to order.
My piece, though certainly out of character, received severe criticism for presenting him as a "first-sight" lover. The criticism was that such an occurrence was impossible. That first timers were either lust or attraction, but not love. I don't know if I disagree or not. I can't confirm by experience and that is certainly an experimental question. Some claim that it exists. I don't know. It's like saying Miracles don't exist. Some believe it's not really all that provable. Or how about Tongues, whether or not it be a spiritual gift, the question is, is it still available in the supernatural sense? I don't deny it - as much love at first sight, as well as Miracles or Tongues - exists, I'd like to think it does, but won't go either way (at least not too dogmatically).
But I did find some interesting notes by P. G. Wodehouse (Uncle Fred in the Springtime) that might enlighten you. Here goes... "He spoke a little huskily, for he had once more fallen in love at first sight. The heart of Pongo Twistleton had always been an open door with 'Welcome' clearly inscribed on the mat, and you never knew what would walk in next. At brief intervals during the past few years he had fallen in love at first sight with a mixed gaggle or assortment of females to the number of about twenty, but as he gazed at this girl like an ostrich oggling at a brass door-knob it seemed to him that here was the best yet. There was something different about her that differentiated her from the other lodgers."
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