Is it really only in fairy tales that there is a "happily ever after?" I believe the answer is "no." Didn't Cinderella have to survive cruelties, discover her own identity, then follow her dream to attain her "happily ever after?" That's what life is all about.

At 52 years of age I became widowed. The thought of living alone for my remaining years was something I had never envisioned. Yet after 28 years of marriage in a world that evolved from ditto machines to text messaging during that time, how was I to find another mate?

I joined a peer support group for divorced, widowed and separated to make new friends and find my identity - and perhaps find that next someone special. To occupy even more free time, I became active in the neighborhood association which led to a 3-year term on the Board of Directors. Then, since my first husband was discovered at church, that's where I became more actively involved. Though I became close friends with a number of individuals through these activities, there was no hint of a future mate.

Now, back to finding "happily ever after." No potential mate was knocking at my door or phoning to invite me to join him for dinner. Numerous television ads promised the key to finding a mate was to search online. "Why not give it a try," I asked myself. With caution not to give out too much personal information, I joined a couple online dating sites.

When I saw Al's photo, read his profile, then listened to his audio message, I was smitten. My heart was his. Here was the man I had been searching for. Was this ridiculous or what? How could I fall in love with someone I hadn't even met! Was I setting myself up to get hurt? Was I the one he had been searching for?

Over a period of several months, I had become online friends with several men, and quickly deleted many others. How was I to capture Al's heart? First of all, I had to introduce myself and see if he responded. My sweat glands worked overtime as I prepared my intro, edited and re-edited it. At last, I hit the send button and waited. And waited. Time crawled by an ant's pace. Would he respond? He did! Not only did he respond, but gave me an invitation to reply. I felt like a teenager, all giddy and nervous.

Our written exchanges continued for several months. At last, we decided it was time to share telephone numbers. My voice is blah and somewhat monotone. Before making the first call, I practiced repeatedly my greeting in an attempt to

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