by Victoria Tiegert

Created on: April 02, 2009

Online dating has, over the last few years, made a huge leap in popularity. What started out as something for total homebodies or the bravest of souls is now becoming the dating and matchmaking route for many people who may have scoffed at the idea only a short time ago. There are many reasons for this and maybe the most important is a simple matter of time and availability. The internet has come a long way towards saving time in other areas of our lives and finally, we see it has entered our love lives, as well.

I, for one, am so glad that it did. Several years ago, I was heartbroken after my second divorce and making myself promises to steer clear of men for life. My daughters and I could go it alone and never expose ourselves to lies and manipulation disguised as love again. Well, that lasted all of six months before those familiar pangs of longing and loneliness set in. I realized then that my vows to ward off all men were foolish. I loved being married, I loved being a wife, even to a man who had been so undeserving of all I gave, I had truly enjoyed the giving.

The one thing I did know was that I really would never find a husband in the bar scene again, nor was I very interested in the pickings around our rather small town. Having been married to a local business owner who was quite well-known in the community and given a very undeserved respect by, I decided it would be suitable for me to join the millions of others who went "virtual" to find true love. I signed on to one of the more renowned sites and filled out an enormous amount of information to help match me to my "knight in shining armor".

After a couple of terrible meetings, I met a man who I dated for several months before realizing that, although he was a great person, there was just something missing. The spark, I suppose. He seemed to have it for me much stronger than I did for him. He started talking about marriage and I knew that I could most likely have a comfortable life with him, but I also knew that I needed something more. I made the decision to end it and wait for the spark. I couldn't have been more right.

Only a short time later, there he was. Every quality that I had on the list (yes, I made a list) he possessed. My list was extremely specific, down to the fact that I wanted a man who wore a uniform and that I wanted to be able to have time with my children that was "our time". My husband, who was then just a face on my computer screen, is an airline captain, gone four days a week in flight, so even those things were met. We spent several months communicating via email as we lived in different states, before we arranged to meet in person for our first date. There were sparks!

I won't say that everything has been just perfect. We've went through some hard times, as every relationship does. We've had some things come up that may not typically in a "real life" versus "virtual" love story, but we've made it through. The first couple of years were hard since we had really shared little time face to face and it is easier to put your best foot forward online than in person. After the honeymoon ended, we got to see each other, faults and all, and figure out how to work together to accept one another and still be in love. Regardless, I am so blessed to have found him. He is my true love. He will always be my true love. And, what started out as a picture on my screen has turned into a picture carved out in my heart.

Learn more about this author, Victoria Tiegert.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.