by Sharon Mendoza

Created on: May 29, 2008   Last Updated: April 18, 2009

Flying across the country to meet a stranger from the internet was completely out of character for me. My children thought I was crazy, but my mother cheered me on. Having been so happily married to my step-dad, whom she described as the "love of her life," she said to me, "You go for it, Kiddo! I want to see you as happily married as I was!" Though I appreciated the sentiment, I wasn't ready to admit to seriously considering any life changing decisions with someone from Wisconsin that I'd so recently met on an internet singles site.

"Mom, nothing's going to happen between us; it's merely a fluke that Ken and I are going to be in the same place at the same time. It only makes sense to meet," I said. She gave me one of her "I know what you're thinking" glances. Her inarguable mother's intuition annoyed me, so to further dissuade her from thoughts of potential matrimony I continued, "I'm not expecting a dramatic change in my life by meeting this man; I'm just doing what Ruth suggested and getting out of my comfort zone-you know, trying something new." I casually gazed out the car window as I tried to control the mounting excitment building within.

"Sure," she winked, "it'll be good for you!" Kissing my cheek, she dropped me at the airport terminal. I exited the car quickly-it exasperated me when she implied she held a sixth sense about my future. My mother!

Since my original intent for flying to Salt Lake City was to visit my married daughter Suzanne, her husband Richard, and her family, Ken agreed to meet at their home in the company of my three grandkids, the oldest no more than five years of age.

"You've asked him to come here?" Suzanne said indignantly, clearly not thrilled when I informed her I'd invited my internet friend to her home. "For all we know, he could be an ax murderer, Mother!" Embarrassed enough about the fact that my children were aware I was dating, I squirmed in my seat wondering if I'd made a huge mistake.

"Actually, I think it's a great idea!" said Richard. "Your mom needs to start kissing a few toads before she finds her handsome prince." Shaking my head, I wandered out of the kitchen. Mid-life dating, with adult children in the audience, was going to be more mortifying than I'd expected.

I was in the backyard catching bugs and butterflies with Joshua and Aaron, when Ken arrived at their house. When Suzanne answered the doorbell, I came through the back slider as Ken walked in the front door. Leading Ken through the house, Suzanne raised her

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