Here are some hearts that have been brought together by the Internet. I will add in stories as they come in.
From: Marti (aka Martikins and Calthom)
Thom (CalThom) and I met on AOL (America On Line) in November of 1993 in a "member's room" called Fortysomething. We spent a lot of time just bantering back and forth with each other but found even in those brief words on a screen that we had a lot in common. At that time, neither of us was looking for a relationship. We just enjoyed spending time with mutual cyber friends, (some of whom were already RL friends of mine). I had been on AOL for quite sometime at that point but Thom was quite new to the chat rooms when we first met.
There is one thing that many of us have found online and that is the fact there seems to be a different time frame. What may take people months to learn about one another seems to take just a few days if honestly sharing. Honesty being the key word here!:) Perhaps it is because one gets to know another person from the inside out...without physical distractions. In other words, if honest, one gets to know the mind, heart and soul of another person.
Thom and I spent many, many hours online talking one on one ( an on the telephone) before we decided to meet in Vegas for super bowl weekend 1994. We had developed a wonderful friendship and it was imperative to both of us that, no matter what happened when we met, our friendship was paramount to both of us...and still is!:)
Needless to say, we had a wonderful time in Vegas and decided that a long distance relationship would be very difficult soooo... I came to California from Denver on Valentine's day, 1994 and we have been together ever since. With the exception of the few days that I had to spend in Denver organizing my move to California.
On March 3rd, I made the big move to California. We were married in Las Vegas on November 12th of 1994. We were joined there by a number of family members and some very special online friends who wanted to share our day with us. What fun we had!!! :) It hasn't been a bowl of cherries by any stretch of the imagination. I found out in March of 1995 that I had cancer and Thom had open heart quadruple by-pass surgery in January of 1996 but, this is life! I feel that both of our medical problems were eased by our being together and also having a whole lot of support from our online chums whom we both cherish.
For all those who might think that the internet is not a place to meet nice people, I can only say that they aren't giving it a chance. Thom and I have met some incredible people through this marvelous medium whom we have translated into "real life, lifetime friends" and my dear friend Rachel is just one special friend among many!:)
Warm hugs,
(~._.~)
_{ Y }_
()_~ ~_()--,--`,-{@
(_)-(_)
Marti(aka Martikins and Calthom)
by Ulana (aka Mriya)
We might have stood side by side picking out tomatoes at the grocery store, or possibly walked past each other in the parking lot at the mall, or the bank or even the library. We lived less then a mile apart - both leading very busy lives consumed with careers, children and putting our lives back together after difficult and trying divorces. Neither had the energy left over to invest in frequenting the usual places that people meet. Neither really considering a relationship as a priority at this time of our lives.
Both of us had been encouraged by friends to go on-line as a diversion - a place to talk to people, a place to extend ourselves into a larger world. For me being on-line was a perfect compromise. It was a place to meet people and talk to them without worrying about leaving my children with a baby-sitter. It was a place to explore being single again, in the safety of my own home and to my surprise a place to make meaningful friendships with people both near and far.
We met in the local BBS. Initially just chatting about life and sharing experiences, which later extended into telephone conversations and discovering that we had experiences, hopes, dreams and many values in common. We met for lunch about a month after our first conversation on-line. A lunch that turned into a long walk in the park - then sitting under the trees on a picnic table and talking until, to our surprise the day had somehow turned to dusk.
We became friends. We began to go to IRC functions together, where we both met and made many, very meaningful, supportive, lifelong friendships. Over the last two years the friendship has grown and evolved into the magic we share today. The magic of mutual respect, affection, admiration, and love - the strength to rebuild our lives and the joy and contentment of sharing the difficult, the beautiful, the exhilarating and the quite times together.
Maybe someday we would have met at the grocery store, or at the bank, or at the book store. Then again maybe not.
Life on-line is nothing more or less then life off line. It is an opportunity - like any other moment. One gets out of each moment only what one is willing to invest. Life on-line has all the elements of reality - because it is reality - another detention of reality. If one is willing to be honest and open - one will find honesty and openness. If one is willing to give and share, receive and accept people for who they really are one can find the joy and magic of friendship and love.
Unfortunately many people approach the on-line experience - in the same manner as they approach life in general. They are looking to fill a void in their lives - an emptiness and looking for someone to make them happy. Blinded by their own needs they get involved with people who are neither honest or caring and sometimes dangerous. Their disappointing and frightening experiences are written about, and talked about in the media as though these experiences are unique to and caused by cyberspace. Look around - these are the experiences common in everyday life - which extend to cyberspace - because it is part of the 1990's reality.
From: Martha (aka DrJon's Nerys)
Jon and I first met as a result of a Web Personals Ad which he had placed shortly after the first of last year. (1996). I responded to his ad; and we communicated via telephone and Internet Relay Chat for quite a few weeks before we actually met face-to-face in March and exchcanged verbal greetings at a Pacific Northwest gathering of what has fondly become called "the Pacific Northwest "group" .
We dated each other exclusively for about 9 months, and have recently become very happy domestic partners. We are both quite contented with our relationship as it is, and are very happy with each other. WE expect to be together for a very long time. If it hadn't been for Internet Relay Chat and the World Wide Web, we would never have met!!
Jon and I continue to be quite involved with the Pacific Northwest group gatherings, meeting weekly for coffee and meals - occasionally at our house and occasionally at local area restaurants. As a large "Portland" group, we have what amount to monthly "parties" where we celebrate birthdays and the simple fact that we all met as a result of IRC and the Web; and we cherish each other as good friends. The total Pacific Northwest mailing list numbers over 100, give or take a few; the greater Portland area "IRC friends" number approximately 25 or 39 when we are all able to get together. Regular Wednesday-night coffee partakers average between 8 to 15.
We have ALL found the internet a wonderful place to meet people, make new friends, and develop lifetime relationships.
From Barbara (AKA Songstrs/Songs)
I have made so many wonderful , lifetime, friends on the internet. They are treasures to me. They have sustained me in times of troubles and have shared with me in times of joy! I will be forever thankful to my friend Jim Kemp who first introduced me to IRC in August 1995.
Martha (Nerys) asked that I share with you my wonderful experience of meeting someone online which has turned into a relationship of love that I never dreamed would exist for me. Clyde and I met on #40soup on the Efnet around the first of April 1996. He was in Houston, Tx and I in Portland, Or. At first we just chatted about life in general, getting to know each other, and both wanting to meet in real life. As is common with most online relationships, our "chats" online soon became "chats" on the phone. Many hours of both IRC and phone time.....feeling more and more that we we're destined to meet. I have always felt that there are no coincidences in life. People come into our lives for purposes. Such is true of all my dear Pacific NW IRC friends (and other IRC friends around the world). And such was true for Clyde and I.
I flew to Houston at the end of April to meet this man in real life. My dear friends in Portland were concerned for me. They all told me of horror stories of people going to meet other people and having bad things happen. They love me very much and I know their concerns were very real. However, I felt deep in my heart that this was to be a good "trip" and that there was really no reason for my friends to be worried for me. To help make them feel better, I got the phone number of one of my good IRC friends' daughter and son-in-law who live in Houston, just in case I needed help. Well.....I must tell you, it was the best weekend of my life. As soon as I got off the plane to meet Clyde I knew this was going to be good. And, then I met his son, Eric (who is 7 and whom he has joint custody of). Eric and I became good buddies the first day we were together. Watching father and son interact was a vital decision maker for me in knowing that Clyde was truly a good person.
Soon I was on the plane back to Portland, feeling like I'd left behind something truly special. Plans had been in the works for a GTG (get together) in Arlington, TX for the first weekend in June, so here was another opportunity for me to come see Clyde and meet some of my other IRC friends in real life. The month between visits I spent time with my Portland friends and lots of time on my computer with Clyde. We found that we missed being together, and the idea of my moving to Houston came up several times. So tempting too!!
I finally decided I wanted to spend my life with Clyde in Houston, and with his permission, made plans to move here. My friends were very concerned again, and rightly so. I had only known this man a short while. How would I know that this would last, they would ask. What about a job, they would ask. Some of my dear friends were very happy for me and encouraged me to do what I felt was in my heart the right thing to do. Those friends made it easier for me to put aside the fears of other friends. So, I gave my resignation notice to my boss and started making plans to move to Houston in July.
Time came for my second visit to Houston and Clyde and I had a wonderful time meeting our IRC friends in Arlington.....Zach being one of the people I truly am glad I got to meet as he was a true friend online for a very long time. Again, the weekend went by too quickly and on the flight home, all I could think of was that the next time I came to Houston it would be for the rest of my life.
The month of June seemed to go on unendingly!!!! So much to do too. Packing, seeing friends as often as I could, knowing it would be a while before I would see them again. Finally, on the 4th of July, Clyde flew into the Portland airport. We went to breakfast with a big group of my friends, and then hooked my car up to the U-Haul truck and headed out on the highway towards Texas and my new home.
I've been in Houston over 6 months now and never have regretted the decision I made. Clyde and I have had our ups and downs, like any other couple in any relationship have, but through it all our desire to be with each other and our love for each other has outweighed any hard times we've encountered. We continue to learn about each other and enjoy out times together. The only downside to this whole episode is that I miss my dear friends in Portland very much, and again thanks to the internet I can keep in constant touch with them. We will be in Portland in August for a week, so I will get to see and hug and cajole once again with all those dear people and see my family too.
Without the internet and IRC, I would have never met this wonderful man. I truly believe that being able to communicate with so many people in so many places is allowing us to make connections that would otherwise never have been possible. My friends in Portland are truly "family" to me.
There is always a good and bad side to everything. The good side of the internet are the relationships we are developing with people we many never have known in this life. I think it truly outweighs the bad side of the internet, which is what you only hear on the news....it sometimes angers me that the media isn't as quick to show how good the internet has been for many, many people!
Well, enough of this. You are more than welcome to use our story in
your release of your song written to honor all of us who have found
happiness through the internet.
Again, all my best to you and yours as you continue down life's path. May
God bless you and continue to give you the riches of friends and "family" on
the internet. They are priceless, these friends of ours. They are gems in
an otherwise dismal rubble of life.
Love and Hugs, Barbara (AKA Songstrs/Songs)
Debbi McKay "Talented" in IRC (usually DALnet)
I listened to the clip that you have of your song, and I must say I am truely impressed.
I find it amusing these days with the sleaze bag talk shows making fun of something that does, in real life, happen. My story is one of those:
I met my husband "MorrisDCat" as he was, and still is called online some 11 years ago on a system that was at the time called QuantumLink. I do not know if it is still in existance, but it was owned/operated by the same people who have AOL today. It was for those people with Commodore computers only. We became one another's best friends. We were there for each other when we needed a shoulder to "lean" on, and we cut up with one another just as though we had known each other all our lives.
I got involved in a serious car accident about a year after we "met" online. He was there online when I thought the bottom of my world had fallen out from under me. He kept me going under some serious pressure, as I was unable to work for a year, and had to send my children (I was a single parent) off with relatives in order for my own secure feeling that they would be taken care of properly and fed because I didn't know where my own next meal was going to come from, much less theirs.
I got the opportunity to move to Connecticut to stay with some friends of mine while I healed up from my accident, and "Morris" was only a 2 hour drive away. We joked around about what would happen if we took our relationship offline to a real life situation. We tried it, and it got more and more difficult for us to be apart from one another (we'd alternate weekends going to see one another). Next thing you know, I'm moving in with him, and then shortly after that we're talking about marriage.
We got married on the 19th of December, 1987, and I must say, we've had some bumpy times, but what couple out there in the "real world" doesn't. We've survived all those times, and we're still in love as much, if not more than we were when we were chatting with one another online 11 years ago. He's my best friend, my mentor, and my general all around pal, he's someone I can depend on to be there when I need him, and he can depend on me because he knows I'm just a reach away. It's great, and I'm happy. And I'd already been through 2 bad marriages.
I'm sitting here looking at him now, and when I do so, I'm reminded of what a school girl feels when she falls in love for the first time as when I look at him, I fall in love all over again.
Debbi
Tera shares this: Okay, *yes*, its true. . .I did meet my husband over the net. No, we've never been on Sally Jessy Rafael or any other daytime talk show, but we certainly could have with this crazy story. Um, where to begin. . .
Ken was working as a webmaster in Seattle and was fairly active on irc. I was new to irc and had an aquaintance who had told me to meet her on a channel and she would walk me through irc commands. So. . .I got on irc to meet her and realized that I had forgotten the name of the channel she told me to meet her on. So, I pulled up a help menu and figured out how to get a channels list of all the channels on irc. If you've never done that, let me suggest that you stick with it and don't. . .a) it takes forever and b) you will become completely disenchanted with humanity when you see some of the sick channels out there. Anyway, I was a bit overwhelmed. . .but once I got down the list I spotted the name of the channel that I thought that she had told me.
So, off I go into the channel and there are five or six people there, but she isn't among them. So, I figured I would just wait for her. On the channel was a typical Saturday night group of irc'ers. Among them was this guy named "SirNoir". I ended up staying on the channel for several hours talking and laughing with this group of terrific guys. The name of the channel was #nicecafe. The friend I was waiting for never showed up (um, because it was the wrong channel, btw.) But I had a great time.
I was working full time as a lawyer, so I didn't get back on irc for a week or so. I popped back into #nicecafe and SirNoir was there, but we really didn't talk much that night. A couple of nights later I came back in and I began to talk to SirNoir and a couple of other regulars. He and I laughed and talked for several hours again, and made a date to meet on line that next Saturday night. I had to force myself to stay off line until the designated time. . .and then when I did I found out that he had been on early in case I came on. That night we talked all night, until 8 am when I had to go get ready for church. It was just amazing. We had everything in common, our likes/dislikes, a profound love of coca-cola, favorite food (pizza), our religious background, our families. . .it was almost creepy we were so alike.
We began to meet online every night. After about two nights, SirNoir. . .aka Ken, asked to talk to me on the phone. He gave me his beeper number and it took me two days to get up the nerve to call. When I did call we ended up talking on the phone for two hours (not good since we were *both* at work). From then on, we met on line, then Ken called me and we talked till 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 am.
Both of us were kind of freaked out by the whole thing. You can't help but be aware of how odd meeting this way is! On top of that, I was frightened of how "fast" things were moving when we hadn't even met yet. We finally agreed to meet face to face and I was a nervous wreck! Ken drove down from Seattle (I lived in Whittier, California at the time) to help a friend move and then drove to meet me and ended up spending the weekend. After about 3 seconds of awkwardness, it was like we had known each other our whole lives.
Ken, he now tells me, had decided to marry me by the time he left that weekend. I was still dazed and frightened by the idea of it all. In a way, I felt like a mail order bride. It was like meeting a character in a book that you read about. I knew that before I could commit to anything I needed to spend more *live* time with him.
So, after lots of long talks, Ken decided to move to California. After several misadventures, which aren't worth repeating, Ken came down to California and then we both drove to Seattle to pick up his stuff and move him down here. It was really that trip when I fell in love with Ken. Meeting his family and seeing him in his "natural element" was what finally clicked in my brain that this was for real. On the way back, we drove down the coast of Oregon and California. It was one of the most fun and romantic times of my life.
A few weeks after Ken moved to California he asked me to marry him and on November 18, 1995 we were married!
Okay. . .the wedding.=-) The wedding went really well, but there were the requisite screw ups. We had so much fun, especially at the reception. Okay, from the top.
I spent the week before the wedding at my parents as Ken's family (ken = fiance) came down from Washington and were here at our house. My girlfriend Tinayn came in from New York and we went for manicures and pedicures and did the last minute running around. I had a minor hair disaster that I had to correct (my hair got too red and I had to tone it down). That night, (as Ken and I were being traditional and didn't see each other since Thursday night, the wedding was Saturday) Ken and I made a date to meet on IRC where we met. It was very sweet and romantic. Several of our friends came on the channel and wished us well.
At the last minute we learned that the florist could not put fresh flowers in the birdhouses that we had painted for the centerpieces so the night before he wedding Tinayn and I stayed up till 3 am (thank God it was an evening wedding) hot gluing silk flowers in them.
The day of the wedding I slept in, and then we began to get ready for the wedding. It was sort of a surreal experience. The day was lovely, but sort of went in a haze. We arrived at the church in our pajamas over our wedding undies (a lovely sight) and I went to the brides room to dress. I didn't try on my dress after it was hemmed and, of course, it was too long, as was the slip. (I think what happened was that I was nervous and lost weight so my tummy was a bit flatter.) So. . . my mom sewed me into the dress to try to make it shorter. All of my bridesmaids came in and dressed and everyone had cameras. The dress looked nice (it would have been nicer had I been 30 pounds thinner) and the headpiece was gorgeous. The flowers, large roses, almost the size of tulips, were stunning.
So we had pictures taken (another slight drama as the room we were going to use for pictures wasn't available and they had to do them outside) and the next thing I knew we were lining up for the processional. My sister in law wanted my niece Madison to walk down with her as she had just begun to walk. Of course my niece decided she didn't want to and threw herself down on the floor mid walk.
The next thing was my walk down the aisle with my Dad. My Father was due to have hip replacement surgery and we weren't sure that he was going to be able to walk me down the aisle, but all was right on the day. The music began and everyone stood and my dad stepped on my dress and ripped out the stitches in my slip that my mom had put in. The skirt was very large and everyone was stepping on it that night. So, one side of the slip was hanging down about an inch. So, I whispered to my Dad to go slow and I slid my feet down the aisle. I didn't dare pick my feet up for fear I would step on the skirt. I was so concerned about not falling that I didn't have time to get nervous.
Wow, I never realized how nerve-racking standing at the back of that church can be. However, with all of the stress, about 1/4 the way down that long aisle I looked ahead and saw Ken, looking so handsome in his black tails and I completely relaxed and reminded myself why I was there.
My only other memory of that walk was when I got to the front, I turned to look at my future in laws and my mother in law mouthed "I love you". It was such a sweet thing to do. That is the kind of people they are though. They have welcomed me into their home and family with open arms.
There ceremony was about 25 minutes long. My friend Allen, who was my singing partner in High School, sang "Some Enchanted Evening" and we had a Celtic harp and flute play as we lit the unity candle and gave our mother's roses. Then suddenly my veil was raised, we were kissing and the wedding was over.
After the wedding we took pictures together. I didn't cry during the wedding, but I almost did when I saw Ken tearing up a bit during our vows. Of course, I almost laughed too, when a fly landed on the Minister's nose. I squeezed Ken's hand so hard, I'm surprised it wasn't bruised. I knew if he started to laugh, I would be gone. Everyone was so relaxed and the wedding party was having a ball. My girlfriend Tinayn was jumping up and down trying to get my niece to smile so the wedding pictures should be quite spontaneous as we all were laughing at her. The photographer brought a backdrop, so we got some photos that will look like studio portraits of Ken and I and our families.
Southern California rarely gets fog inland, but that week we did and the ride to the Country Club for the reception was quite foggy. By the end of the evening fog was rolling into the reception room, which was kind of cool and eerie. The country club is right on a lake and the site of the fog rolling in over it was really amazing. The wedding party walked in together and the country club looked beautiful. We had pictures of Ken and I from birth to the present on the sign in table, which seemed to be a hit.
My dress had a sweep train that was put up into a bustle, but Ken accidentally stepped on it (everyone was as the dress was too long), so my mom sewed (again) the bustle up for me, but it was still too long. We went around and greeted everyone. We had about 110 guests at the reception. We had a buffet so that people would get up and mingle instead of just sitting at a table and not getting up all night.
We ended up dancing and laughing and playing so long at the reception that before we knew it the DJ was announcing the last dance and we had forgotten to leave! Everyone was saying that it was one of the most fun weddings they had been to in years. We just danced and danced. (A challenge in that long dress!)
We went to the Embassy Suites, a hotel with nothing but suites in it. When Ken and I first began to talk somehow we were in a conversation with some friends and the topic came around to lingerie. Ken, jokingly, asked me what kind of lingerie I wore and I told him that I wore a little number with lace at the throat and lots of tiny buttons and flannel to the ground. It became a big joke with us. So. . .for the wedding night I saw my chance. I borrowed a Lanz nightgown from my cousin Cherie and when we got to the hotel I told Ken that I needed the bedroom to myself for a few minutes to get out of my huge dress. So. . .I put on a sexy black nightgown and over it I put this huge powder blue and pink nightgown, flannel from the neck to the floor. I open to the door to the sitting room slowly, lift the nightgown and put one leg out and then reveal the huge gown. Ken laughed so hard he fell off of the couch. =-) hehehe.
The next day we drove to Las Vegas for several days. We stayed at the Las Vegas Hilton which was really lovely. We didn't do much gambling, but stayed in doing honeymoon things =-) When we did get out we did a lot of sight seeing, giggling and snapping photographs. Ken had never been to Vegas so I we went to look at all the new and big casinos.
We splurged on ourselves and ate each evening in 5 star restaurants, dressed to the nines. We were treated like royalty and quickly learned that everyone, it seems, loves newlyweds. We also went to see Michael Crawford's new show (the guy who was the original Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Weber's P hantom of the Opera) called EFX which was quite amazing.
And we returned just in time for Thanksgiving with out families! Introducing people to "my husband" was quite odd. I suppose that I will get used to that in time.
From Debbie B.:
Sam and I met in feb. of this year in yahoo chat....our first conversation was very brief,as he is very shy and left in the middle of the conversation. When I discovered he had ICQ I sent him a mesage....we have been talking since then....he has joined me in my regular chat room, where he has made some new friends....he has come out of his shell a great deal since that first conversation.
We were unable to talk to one another for about six weeks when I moved with my roommate. That is when I realized that I was in love with him. We have spent many hours on the computer and on the phone, getting to know one another. I love the sound of his voice,and now I have a face to put to that voice, as we have exchanged photos. He realized he was in love with me during my move as well,but neither one of us had voiced our feelings for the other until recently. That first I LOVE YOU was magic, and every one since then makes my heart sing. I am going very soon to spend some time with him. I am in Tennessee and he is in North Carolina. It is very possible that there will be a wedding within the next six months.
Thank you for letting me tell you our story. Im my chat room there are a few more couples just like us...and one of them proposed to his lady in the chatroom in front of 70 people. She said yes in front of 70 people. It was the sweetest thing.
Will let you know how things go with Sam and myself. I now know that nothing is impossible!
