by Martie Lownsberry

Created on: April 28, 2009   Last Updated: April 30, 2009

I was a divorced mother of two, in my forties, and living in a small town where the eligible men had all been recycled more times than I could count. So when the time came that I decided I was ready to date again, the Internet was a logical choice. after all, there are hundreds of dating sites, each claiming to have a dating base of thousands, surely out of that many people, half of which were men, I could meet one or two I would be interested in dating, I reasoned.

So I sat down, and spent several days looking at various dating sites, seeing what they had to offer before choosing one. I decided on a free site because I was on a limited budget and spending money that I could put to good use to find a date seemed a bit silly and extravagant.

I also decided to take the passive approach to Internet dating. No, searching profiles of eligible men, no sending flirts, or emails. I simply filled out the profile and sat back and waited to see if anyone would contact me. To my surprise, I received five emails the next day!

Those emails started what was to become one of the most interesting periods of my life. For the next year I had a fairly busy social life, and although I did not meet nor was I looking for any one special during that time, I did meet some very nice men, some unusual men, and yes, I will admit it, some down right strange men. I even made one or two long time friends from the men I dated.

Then my job situation changed, I got a promotion, and learning my new position proved both tiring and stressful and while I still went out occasionally, dating was basically put on the back burner. Then one day I clicked on my email and found one from a gentleman who lived over 800 miles away. Even if I had had the time and the energy, I would not have normally considered dating someone that far away. But reading his email I found myself very touched. His letter explained how he knew the distance was great, but that he found himself very interested and asked that I take the time to get to know him, adding that If things did not work out at least we might both find a friend.

So I answered him, explaining my situation and telling him that while I was willing to share emails, I had neither the time or inclination to start a relationship. He wrote back and over the next several months we emailed one another. As my job, got easier and I had more time, we started talking on the phone, sometimes for hours. I was surprised how many things we had in common and how much we wanted

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