<Kelly raises her hand>
8 years ago, like at the dawn of the internet, I was on a usenet newsgroup for cultural exchange (not a single's dating group). I was looking for someone from Poland so that I could ask about a particular holiday tradition. While there, I managed to get into a random conversation with another university student who lived in England - he was looking for people from DCI. For two years we were internet "pen pals". If anyone would have asked, I would have gladly called him my friend, even though I had never met him and I only saw his picture on the 'net.
Then, one summer I moved to England on a work visa. Since I was working in the same town he was, we decided to meet up. After all, if he was some kind of sicko, it would have surfaced in two years worth of daily e-mails. He was just as funny and engaging in person as he was online - completely consistent. Like some bad movie, we realized we had feelings for each other. That was 1997. Of course, I did have to go home eventually and we worked out a long-distance relationship.
Then, by good fortune, his company sent him to California on a project (he was a management consultant). So, he was living in the US; but he had to go back to Britain eventually. Because my dad worked for an airline, we were able to visit each other "often enough". Then I received an offer to study for my Master's degree at the University of Bristol in England. Hooray, together again.
So, for those of you not keeping track, Neil and I have been together for 8 years, 6 of those as boyfriend and girlfriend. My family loves him, his family likes me and it's all good.
The key is that, back when this occured for us, meeting people from the internet wasn't that "weird". After all, most people on the net at that time were computer geeks or students.
For what it's worth, one of our friends met his girlfriend through an online ad and they've been together a long time and are quite happy.
It can happen, you know!
.....Kelly
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