We’re not married…yet, and we’ve only been living together since June, but we’re both incredibly happy. We both know we’ve found the person we want to be with for the rest of our lives. I felt like this occasion was something that I’d like to share here for a couple reasons.
The first is the plain fact that it happened here, on the SDMB. Because of this board, two people, from different sides of the U.S., who probably never would have met any other way, found their perfect match. Both of us used to be a lot more active on the board, but I’m sure there are many people here who don’t know our story. Anyway, I’d just like to applaud the people who make this board happen because, without it, I might never have met this incredible woman. Thanks.
The second reason I wanted to share it is because I feel it is kind of a misunderstood sign of this time we’re living in. I know there are other people here that will understand this. psycat and I both took a lot of heat, from everyone we knew, for pursuing an “online relationship”. I’ve heard , “Oh! You met her on the internet?” and “What, did you guys meet in an AOL chat room?” so many times I could kill the next person who said it. It was almost invariably said by people who were totally ignorant of this “online culture”. So many people still don’t understand, and I see it every day here as well, in the “Why do people get so upset? It’s just a messageboard!” Well, it’s not. The whole internet is a community and it’s brought us all together (some closer than others ;)). And the “rules” of interaction are still being hammered out, but it’s not something that can be dismissed or laughed at anymore. I swear, my biggest part in fighting ignorance this last year has been in the role of trying to make people understand what these communities are like and how online relationships happen. It’s been interesting.
Well, anyway, I’ll take a break from waxing philosophic on y’all and just say:
As an aside, I’m in a wedding in April for two friends of mine that met over the internet. ICQ, to be specific. And lord knows I’ve met some of my favorite people through this medium. Chin up, Demo. The internet becomes less shady and more mainstream all the time. At least you didn’t pick her up in a bar.
You met her on the *internet?*? Ewwwwwww… Gross. I thought you got high one night and just got lucky on your random number dialing game.
You guys are excellent people, and the two of you together make the both of you even better. Congratulations on your first year. I know this is the first of a gazillion. My best wishes to you.
pat
PS:
I agree with you about the online community bringing people closer. Some of the people I have met here and only talked to online, or met once, are some of my best friends and favorite people.
I met Juliana (My wife) on IRC 4 years ago now. We still have to explain how we met. It always makes for a good story, and it does give the kids bonus points when explaining it at school. Or it will when they get old enough.
As some of you know, I met my husband online as well. I know what you’re going through, believe me
I hope all the years that follow are as great as this one for you. You two make a great couple!
Love,
Rose
Congrats Demo and psycat. Here’s some warm happy anniversary thoughts for you. Thanks for sharing your story… it gives the rest of us a little hope I’m sure.
I just found out today that my dad (widowed for about a year) looked up his old high school sweetheart on the Internet. I guess they’ve gotten re-aquainted via email and now they’re picking up right where they left off 40+ years ago.
Congrats to you two and I hope he can find the happiness you guys have!
congrats & good luck…one of my friends met her hubby on the net…she invited him to stay for a weekend & he just never left. They’ve been married four years now. Congrats again.
As someone who met one of my best friends on the Internet, I can attest to just how cool it can be. Hope things keep going as well as they have so far, if not better!
Two of my favourite posters - two wonderful people. To see them so happy together is a truly wonderful thing.
Demo’s right when he describes this as a community. We’re not faceless names: we’re each an individual sharing opinions and expressing thoughts about the world around us in an intelligent, sharing and caring manner. We share our lives, our dreams, our very souls here. Anyone who doubts that wasn’t around when Wally passed on.
I consider myself very fortunate to have found these boards and to have made the friends I have in my time here. To see couples such as Demo/Psycat and Satan/drainbead so happy is just further emphasis of how this board impacts the so-called “real world.”
So cheers Vince and Shannon. Here’s to many, many more years of happiness together with each other and with us.
I’ll be toasting you both this evening.
1984: David Boon makes his Test debut, Madonna gets her first hit with “Like a Virgin,” and Prince releases his album Purple Rain, USSR boycotts LA Olympics, Velma Barfield, convicted of the fatal poisoning of her boyfriend, becomes the first woman executed in the United States since 1962, Michael Eisner took over the Disney Corp, Apple Corp. released the MacIntosh personal computer. It included sound-sampling technology that could play recorded sounds
sniff How on earth did I miss this thread yesterday? Blame it on PG & E.
Well, it has been an incredibly fantastic year, and I too thank the people that keep this board running , for it was here that I met my lifemate. Thanks. And thanks to everyone for your kind words and well wishes. They mean a lot.
I can’t believe it’s been a year already! I am so happy that you two found each other, and that you didn’t let a little thing like living on separate sides of the country get in your way. (I’m still a little bitter that you were at a truck stop 15 miles from me during the “tornado”, but I’ll get over it.)
As for the whole stigma of “online relationships”: the way I look at it, the minute you physically MEET someone, it no longer matters HOW you met. I classify all the people I have met from this board as my real-life friends, who I just happened to meet online. I don’t think it’s anything to be ashamed about, but I understand that a lot of people just don’t get how great it can be.
My wife and I met in a chat room four years ago. I didn’t even have a computer. I was at a friend’s house, I came over after a *really[/] boring date, and I ended up chatting with her on his computer until 5 a.m. We talked on the phone every Sunday for several months before I met her in person (I lived in Missouri, she in New York). Now, we’ve been hitched for 16 months.
Back then, people thought we were crazy – especially her friends. But, I’ve always thought that it’s better than a blind date or a dating service. Hell, even somebody you think you know can be a totally different person on a date.
I can’t believe it is already a year…seems like yesterday!! You are a great inspiration and example to others. You never know where you’ll find your true love
