Story Contest Entries

[WebLady]

Submit your stories for the "Soup For The OW Bride's Soul" (http://forums.onewed.com/showthread.php?t=20831) Contest here in this thread. Click the contest link for more details and other chat about the contest; only submissions should go here!

[Aleta]

Geezz, I just don't like to be the first to post, but what the heck, let's get this contest rolling...

I signed up for Match.com for 3 months. After 2 months, I gave up on it, thinking most of the guys online were, well.. weird. I actually cancelled my membership, but I pre-paid. On the last week of membership, I received a wink. I checked out his profile. His humor and sincerity is what caught my attention. We wrote for just a couple of days.

Greg sent me his phone number and mentioned he was going to his parents' home as it was a celebration of his birthday. (Family oriented!) I thought, "Hmm, it would be a nice to call him and wish him a Happy Birthday." (Later I found out that he was surprised I called, figuring I would send him my phone number instead. He said it took gumption for a woman to call a man.)

We didn't have a long "match.com" email or phone courtship, which I'm glad about. Match.com was a means to start our relationship, not the basis of it.

Our first date was at a Coffee shop. It became the place we would go to for breakfast or lunch during the months we would date. So, it was not a big deal when (2 years in dating) Greg asked me if I wanted to go to the coffee shop for breakfast one Sunday. We found "our spot" - the same table we sat at when we first met. It seemed like a typical morning. What I didn't know was that Greg had asked the owner to hold off on our breakfast until our families arrived. Which they did, with cameras and a video. I turned surprised to see them.

Greg said, "Guess what I'm doing today." He got down on one knee in front of our families and asked if I would marry him. I was crying. Oh my gosh, just tears of joy that couldn't be contained. The owner of the store brought complimentary champagne for the family and we had a wonderful breakfast with the group. Being there with loved ones and sharing our engagement was important to both Greg and I, as we're very family oriented.

I could share other funny episodes of trips Greg and I have been on, like the time that he thought he saw dead bodies floating in the river up in the mountains (come to find out, the people were snorkling in shallow waters, seriously, though, we were trying to get 911 on our cell phones until we realized...). Or the time that Greg went to the Ladies Room at Cracker Barrel (most of the time, the men's room is on the left, but every once in a while you go into a Cracker Barrel with it on the opposite side.. Greg wasn't paying attention and suddenly sees this odd metal box in the stall and thinks, "What in the heck?")

Time with Greg keeps me smiling.


It's those smiles that our relationship is based on that brought us through one of the worst days of my life ~ the phone call about him being in a head-on car accident.

He has a strong spirit, which makes him all the more attractive in my eyes. I marvel at his ability to heal and not break under the pain and changes, which have happened since... Our love has only become stronger. With a wedding date right around the corner, I've never been more sure of anything in my life.

[rainbowtreat]

ok here I go, I am not much of a writer but I hope I achieved what I was trying to get across to you. And that is just how much Nicholas loves me and what we endured to get to where we are today.

Nicholas and I met in a quiz chat room. Just friends for the longest time. He in WV and I in NH. Once we finally became a couple we dated on line and over the phone for seven months. I wanted more than that. I wanted him in person. I had informed him of this in the beginning. I told him I did not want just a phone and pc realationship. Something always seemed to stop him from getting up here to see me. I had had enough and even though I loved him very much I had to break it off.

I met a local guy. We started dating and shortly there after my kids and I moved in with him. It seemed that life was good. Atleast for a while. After a few months I felt something was missing from my life. Over the time I had kept in touch with Nicholas. A phone call here and there. E-mails sent back and forth every so often. I never let myself realize that he was what was missing in my life. Not until just before Christmas that is. I then realized what I needed and wanted was not what I had. It was Nicholas.

I had left a few messages, text and e-mail, for Nicholas but never heard back from him. Christmas night I broke it off with the guy I was with. Never meant for it to happen at that time or in the way it did. It just happened. I tried every so often to reach Nicholas as I needed to talk to him. All I ever got was voice mail. Later that night after the kids were in bed I called him and finally got him on the phone. He was expecting me to tell him I was getting married. Asuming I had got a ring from the guy I was with for Christmas. I told him it was the exact oppisite. I told him I broke up with the guy and I wanted to be with him. He was floored. I went on to explain that all I need and want is to be with him. To marry him and have a baby with him. ( so forward after a year apart I know ) I informed him if he wanted a second chance with me he had to be here.

When I called him the next day he told me he was woke not knowing if what had happened was a dream. He had had a few drinks and was not sure if the call was real or not. Once he heard my voice again he was relieved that it was not a dream. He and I were back together and he was already making plans to come up to see me. He was determined not to let me slip away again. He was prepared to do what ever he had to to keep me.

Two weeks later he was here for a four day weekend. It was the best weekend of my life. Seeing him in person for the first time at that airport was the most amazing feeling ever. His plane was delayed and I was waiting in the wrong part of the airport. I got a text asking if any one was there. I went down the stairs and saw him walking toward me. I started walking to reach him. It seemed to take for ever. No one else seemed to be around us. I know there was but not that I noticed. I was set on reaching him. We hugged and kissed before we even said hello. We hugged for the longest time. We had an amazing weekend. It was hard to let him leave.

He was back again for a week around Valentine's day. He brought me a huge Tender Heart Care Bear. He bought it when we were together the first time. He held on to that bear as well as the hope that one day he would have me back and be able to give me it.

He was supposed to have been back here within a month to live. He ended up with a busted ear drum and was unable to fly. So two months later he was here to live. Now here we are. Married for over two years, a one year old little boy, and about to celebrate our fourth Christmas together.

Nicholas left his family, friends, and the only life he had ever known to be here with me. He wanted, hoped, and prayed for a year that he would get a second chance with me. If that is not love I don't know what is. I thank God every day that he waited for me to come around and realize I was still in love with him. And oh how I love that man.

[starsthrumysoul]

Our engagement story...

Paul and I have been together since 2003. Somewhere between our first and second anniversary, I realized that he was THE ONE, and in 2005 we moved in together. For the next couple of years we talked here and there about getting married, always in a roundabout way. But then in 2006 he asked me to go ring shopping. Needless to say, by the end of 2007 (yes, 2007!) and no ring, I was getting antsy!

On Christmas Eve last year I had to work. The plan was for me to go right from work to his parents house at 5:00 for his annual family Christmas party. I was alarmed when I pulled in the driveway and Paul immediately ran out the front door and to my car. I rolled down my window with a puzzled look on my face, and before I could say anything he said "Yea, that's where I wanted you to park. Just making sure." So I got out of the car and we walked up the driveway. He ran ahead of me quite quickly and reached behind a not-so-conspicuous rather LARGE piece of plywood (he hates it when I tell that part) that was leaning against the garage. All of a sudden the board lit up - he had written a message in Christmas lights on it. I looked at him puzzled, and he asked me to read it. Paul doesn't have the best handwriting to begin with, so this was tough. I said "Does it say Merry Christmas?" "No," he replied. So I took a couple steps back and squinted, and could not for the life of me figure out what it said. After guessing wrong a few more times, he gave in and said "it says WILL YOU MARRY ME!" The next few moments were fuzzy, but involved one of us screaming (okay, it was ME), and lots of hugs and kisses. Finally he said "well?" and I realized that I had never given him an answer! Of COURSE the answer was yes! After some more hugs and kisses we headed inside for the party (his mom was nervously peering out the window as we walked up the stairs, which I had to giggle about).

On the way home that night, I said to him "I'm really suprised that you didn't have a whole shpeal planned... I had always pictured this moment and figured you would want to say something sweet to me" (or something to that effect). He said "I DID have a whole shpeal planned, but you kept kissing me so I couldn't get it out!!" When we got home I had to use the facilities REALLY bad. When I opened the bathroom door, Paul was there in the hallway, kneeling, with the now-empty box in his hand. He proceeded to tell me the most wonderful things I've ever heard, things I couldn't have even dreamed of him saying to me. I was so teary-eyed by the end that I couldn't help but kneel down with him just to be in his arms.

When you have found someone you want to spend the rest of your life with, you can't wait for the rest of your life to begin... I feel that way with him, and am so excited about our future!

BTW, I think that this contest is SOOO gonna draw some tears!!

[CtPryncess]

When I met Mike on Paltalk, it was the last thing on my mind, as I was currently in a pretty much dead marriage and still am until my divorce is final on October 1st. The idea of a new relationship just didn't seem to be an option. My first husband broke my heart by having an affair on me with my niece November 2007. I have been unhappy in the marriage even before his infidelity occurred and tried so desperately to bridge the huge gap in our marriage but he shunned all attempts. I felt more like a single woman rather than a married one. So I spent a lot of time with my friends in chat rooms. Thats how I met Mike, he was fun to chat with or so I thought until I realized that he blocked me from the program. I tried to ask my friends to find out why he did this and they got no answers from him. Then one night he came into the chat room and I asked him why he blocked me. He sent me a whisper and I replied, I can't respond to you unless you unblock me. He asked me how to unblock and I told him and he pm'd me. He told me that my flirting was a little to much considering I was still married, but that he felt bad about blocking me. We exchanged numbers and chatted and talked all the time. He was unsure about what was happening, as we got very close, simply enjoying each other's company. He is younger than me by 16 years. He was due to graduate in June 2008. I told him that I wanted to be there, because he worked so hard on his studies. He was flattered that I would even ask to come there, but very happy too. One night he suggested that instead of coming for a week in June, to come in April instead. I told him that I would luv to be there for both but I felt it was best to go in June because I felt that was too important to miss. He was disappointed but understood. After I got off the phone with him, I looked at my budget and felt I could swing both after all, which made him happy when I called him and told him the good news. I went to Mansfield Ohio for the weekend on April 17th. This was the first time going to Ohio and Mike had plans to show me around and wanted to take me to the prison where they filmed The Shawshank Redemption as we both luv that movie, but sadly it was closed when we went. Meeting for the first time, I expected I would be such a nervous wreck, as I normally am when I meet new people. When I got off the plane and headed to meet him, I knew who he was right away and he did too. We hugged as if we knew each other what seemed like forever. It didn't take me long to warm up to him and true to his word he made my weekend enjoyable by showing me around. He took me to this place called Steak and Shake, something we don't have in Connecticut. The milkshakes are absolutely awesome and I can only manage a small one. I had forgotten what fun was, it's been so long that I truly didn't want to get back on the plane and Mike felt the same way, but I had to. That weekend made me realize just how unhappy I was and that if I wanted to be happy in my life, things had to change. When I got back to Connecticut, my husband met me at the bus station. We went to subway and talked. He asked me if I was intimate with Mike and I said no, which was the truth because Mike gave me much more than sex, he gave me pure companionship. Mark (my husband) had hoped that I would have, said he would have felt less guilty for what he did to me and it would have evened the score, but that just isn't my style. I feel that I'm a better woman than that and stronger one as well, as two wrongs don't make a right. We decided that night that we will get a divorce and by the beginning of June everything was set in motion. Not quite sure why it takes from June to October to make it final, but there you go. June came and I spent a week in Mansfield Ohio. Met all of his family and friends. They were wonderful to be around. I found it weird that he gets along so well with his sister, even if he does tease her most of the time. The hotel had a swimming pool and we made good use of that. Prior to that it had been years since I have gone swimming and it was so much fun. Mike took me to Cedar Point, which is I'm told one of the most popular places to go for roller coaster rides, which I'm not a very big fan of, as I am afraid of heights. Mike was sure he could help me overcome my fear. The first ride we went on was the Demon Drop. It was scary but bearable. I managed to go on a few roller coaster rides, which were kiddie rides from Mike's point of view. He managed to get me on a ride called the Power Tower. Let me tell you, there are two choices to take. One is you go up real fast and descend slowly down or you go up real slow and descend very fast. I choose the one where u go up slow but descend fast. When we got to the top, omg I kept my eyes closed the entire time and when we dropped, it was the worst feeling and it would bring you up a lil and drop you again. We got off the ride, I headed for the nearest bench and sat down. I told Mike that I need to collect myself and then found myself crying for a good 10 minutes. Mike felt so bad about it that he felt he "had" to win me a prize, even though I felt it wasn't necessary. He did the game where you put the water in the clown head and filled up a balloon and went against a little girl. It didn't bother him that he beat someone much younger than him if it meant he won something for me lol Over all the week was wonderful and again I still hated the idea of going back. He promised me that he would come to Connecticut for my birthday in August as I was due to turn 40. So he came up for a week. I knew that he had bought a ring but he kept insisting that I don't know what kind of ring it was by saying it could be a friendship ring, a promise ring or an engagement ring. Either way I didn't care. I knew I met someone special and I wasn't looking. August 22 was our 4 month anniversary of being a couple and he pulls out the ring from his bag. I didn't know what to say. I knew it was going to happen but was still shocked when it did. He told me he had intended to give the ring to me as an engagement ring but felt that we should take it slow and so it was turned into a promise ring. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed, but I was also fine with it. When I tried on the ring, it is a little too big and needed to be resized. On August 23rd, we get ready for my bbq birthday party with my family and friends. It was the best birthday party that I remember having since I was a kid. Everyone got a chance to see my promise ring and they totally adored Mike over Mark. When the party got a little too noisy, Mike and I went upstairs to spend some quality time together. He told me that he wanted to marry me and I was thinking that in time he'll want to propose but when he kept insisting that he wanted to marry me, it occurred to me that he could be proposing. So I said to him that if he was proposing to me right now, that he better do it the proper way. He jumped off the bed and got on one knee and asked me to marry him and of course I said yes. Was a little nervous telling my family that my promise ring was now an engagement ring but they didn't seem to mind as I was wearing it on my neck the whole day. Mike pulled my sister Lorri aside and asked if it was ok that he proposed to me and she told him that it was and welcomed him into our crazy family. I think if my parents were still alive, they would have approved of him as well. I feel totally blessed that I met someone as special as Mike, especially all the hurt that I have been through in less than a year. Its funny when you think that things are never going to get any better and when your not looking or expecting it, they do. Mike started a new job this Monday in the field of work he went to college for. We both look forward to my moving to Mansfield Ohio soon and planning our wedding April 17th, 2010, the same day we met this year. Sorry that this was so long but there was no way to condense such an amazing story.

[Qtpie]

My relationship with James.

James and I met in 2002, when the radio in my car broke. I was a bit of a trouble maker back then, so I took my car to have the radio fixed and nobody at the stereo shop wanted to work on my car, so they made the NEW GUY work on my car. I thought he was really cute and kept smiling at him and flirting with him. He fixed my radio and went on his way. Well I wanted to see him a few days later so I made up an excuse that the radio wasn't working right, I called the shop and made an appointment to have James look at the radio again. I got a dolled up in a mini jean skirt and a cute red tank top that had a slit across the chest of it. When I got to the shop I went directly over to James. He couldn't keep his eyes off of me. So we exchanged phone numbers and decided to go out to dinner that weekend.
So we went to a little Italian restraunt in the harbor by his house. After dinner I asked him if he would mind stopping by Target, it was Christmas time and I needed to get my sisters christmas gift. He said that was fine. Well while we were at Target James and I got into an arguement and ended up leaving, he took me home and we decided we were NEVER going to talk to each other again.

Well about a year later, my car broke down and I needed a ride home from work. I couldn't get ahold of any of my roomates, or family, for some reason I thought of James and tried his phone. He answered and said he would come give me a ride but only because he was a block away from my work. When he picked me up I apologized for our argument we had the year before. We ended up going out to lunch at In'N'Out, and we really ended up hitting it off.
A few weeks later I moved out of my apartment to San Diego. James and I continued talking on the phone every night. I ended up falling HARD for him. In October he came down to visit me for my birthday. That was when I realized that I was IN LOVE. He ended up slipping and telling me that he LOVED me. From that day on we have been inseperable.
Six years later and we are going strong. In february he decided it was time to get married. He was going to ask me to marry him on Valentines day, unfortunatley Feb. 9th his plans suddenly got changed as my grandmother unexpectedly passed away. So he decided to wait awhile. Finally in July, he he proposed.

[gwenshack]

Ok, here's the story of why we're still together.
We met on-line, both of us serial daters, neither of us particularly looking for anything real or everlasting. I, personally, never thought I'd get married - didn't want to for that matter. I did enjoy dating though and did frequently. It was my pasttime. It was something to kill time and the best way to gather hilarious stories to share with friends, who enjoyed my wacky dating adventures.
FH was one of a bunch I had stockpiled in my in-box. Frankly, he wasn't at the top of my list. Terrible to say, but true. I wasn't even so sure I would actually meet him, since there were several other contenders that seemed much more appealing! He was pretty persistent though, so eventually we had a telephone conversation.
An hour of him droning on, a bit of witty first conversation chatter, and then the horribly offensive moment:
Him: "Yeah, I tend to date girls who are pretty high maintenance."
Me: "Ah, so you date those girls who ask if they look fat in their jeans and there's no right answer?"
Him: "No, I don't date fat girls."
Me: Mouth open, gaping. Horrified, offended, disgusted at what a pig I was talking to.
Him: Horrified he said something so obnoxious to someone he was trying to impress.
Me: "Uh..."
Him: "Uh..."
I don't remember how the conversation recovered - I'm not sure it did - but he got me to agree to meet him on that Monday, Labor Day. (I had dates lined up with OTHER people for the actual weekend...)
I didn't really want to meet him - I kinda thought he was an idiot. Pretty, but an idiot. For weeks after my friends still asked me if I was dating the "Pretty Dumb Guy". I don't think anybody knew his name for like a month.
So the first date happens and it's pretty average - drinks, a little kissing because that's what you do when you've had drinks, and then a pretty unclear feeling when I went home. Second and third dates follow, both with me leaving feeling quite iffy about him, and him feeling the same about me, I would learn later.
I decided after the third date that I didn't want to date him anymore. I figured the moment had passed, the fire never got lit, and I would move on.
And then he got hit by a car. He used to ride his bike to work and one morning he got smacked by a Mustang - hard. Taken by ambulance to the ER, concussed and confused, scratched and scraped, he took inventory of the people he could call to pick him up and realized he could call his friend's wife who hated him or me (I work weird hours).
Me it was. So I picked him up, took him home, made sure he was taken care of, and then he felt obligated to call me again and take me out since he'd look like a real jerk if he blew me off after I picked him up from the hospital.
And the rest is history. But both of us have agreed that if it wasn't for that Mustang (and perhaps the bump on his head) we would not have ever seen each other again.
I guess everything does happen for a reason!

[Ninedays9]

I walked out of the bathroom, and there was Eddie. He stood there in his white socks and other clothing that I don't remember, looking tall, even taller than his brother, Tim. As he was being introduced by Tim, he hardly said more than one word, branding the impression into my mind that he was quiet. If anyone had told me what was to come with him, I would have thought they were crazy.

Where were we on this day that has remained etched in my mind, you ask? We were at my friend Sam's wedding shower. The shower was basically done, and the men were allowed back into the house. At the time, I was dating my first boyfriend, but I wasn't completely impressed with him. When the wedding day came, about one month later, I was highly disgusted with him because he didn't care to accompany me to the wedding. All night long, I wondered what it would be like to have a boyfriend who actually wanted to be my boyfriend and who treated me the way a boyfriend should. I even snuck some glances at Eddie, wondering if he was a sweet guy like his brother Tim.

After the wedding, he and I got ahold of each other's internet contact information and began talking online. We developed a good friendship, one that I thought was just that - friendship. There were a few in-person outings, but for the most part, we talked online. I knew I cared about him, but I just couldn't be convinced that it could be more than that. I even started a relationship with a guy I had met online, through instant message and phone calls.

During the summer of 2006, on the day that still houses my worst memory, I called Eddie and asked if he wanted to hang out so that I could get my mind off of things. He made the one hour trip to come and see me, even though he had to work early the next day. It was then that I started to realize I did have a crush on him and cared about him more than I had realized before. This was also during the time when my relationship with the guy from online had pretty much died down because I finally realized that I'd probably never meet the guy in person.

One month later, I had moved into my own little apartment near my college campus, and I had no internet connection. That meant that I couldn't talk to Eddie on there, like I was used to. Plus, he'd just started a very busy job and was rarely online, anyway. One night, while sitting in my apartment, feeling lonely, I decided to send him a text message asking what he was doing. I confessed to him that I was bored and said he should call me. He did, and he ended up coming to visit me that night. I won't go into detail, but I will say that the night he came to visit is the night we now call our dating anniversary.

We both decided that it was perfect timing for us to start dating, and we had no doubts that we had made the right decision. We got to know each other very well as friends, which made it even better for the relationship. And I think two and a half years was finally the amount of time for me to fully realize that being with him was what I had really wanted the entire time. We were both fortunate that circumstances allowed it to work out when it did, and we could not have been happier about that. As a result of our happy relationship, I moved in with him when I graduated from school. Nine months later, we were surrounded by our siblings and friends as we got engaged at my now favorite birthday party. Even though it doesn't quite feel real right now, in less than one year, we will be married.

For me, this story will always lead back to the image of the tall, quiet boy in white socks. Years down the line, when I'm an old lady, sitting in a rocking chair and knitting (because all old ladies, of course know how to knit), I am confident that I will still be able to recall that image. And I imagine that I'll be just as happy then, about choosing to marry him, as I am now.

[EarlyBird]

Okay, "Picture Perfect"


6 Years ago, I graduated from Highschool, My best friend had my Senior picture in her car and while driving with her boyfriend and his friend one day, her friend said "who is that girl in that picture" after my friend answered him, he would start referring to me as his "wife" whenever he would drive in her car. It became a little joke between everybody, but still we had never met.
A year and a half later, I was with my same friend and we were at her boyfriends' friend's house hanging out with a group of people. I ran downstairs to grab a cigerate and while going to the car is started to pour, Out of nowhere, the friend whose house is was came out and brought me his sweater to wear. It was sweet but I wasnt interested in getting to know him all that much. We spoke for a while and as the night went on he would contiously ask me for my number and to go play mini golf, i repeativly told him NO.
After I got home that night i got a call in my phone, it said "Mike <3" HE HAD PUT HIS NUMBER IN MY PHONE WHEN I WAS NOT LOOKING. tricky!
I gave in and a couple days later we had our first date. A couple weeks later he came to my mom's to meet the family and while there he walked into the hallway and turned white as a ghost, my senior picture was hanging on the wall, he pulled me aside and goes "YOU WERE THE GIRL IN HER CAR" im like WHAT !?!? b/c i forgot all about story my friend had told me about the picture and the "weird friend who call you his wife" Finally, he re-explained the story - Who would have known he would have jokingly called me his wife 6 years ago to a bunch of friends, and in 8 months, it will actually be true.

[mitch]

Moo And Shmoo

Seven years ago I went online to do some research into a book I was writing about my favourite band AC/DC. I put the bands name in a search engine and then clicked onto the first link. It turned out to be Elektra, the bands record label at that time. This seemed like a good place to start talking to the fans. I registered and then entered the chat room. Posts were left on a forum for others to read and reply to. And this became a great medium to make contact around the globe. People from America, Australia and in some cases the UK. Because Elektra was based in America most of the people who went there were from the States. Before long we found ourselves hardly talking about the band. Instead discussing things we had done in the day, what pets we had, what car we drove etc. Then three months after I joined the forum a guy called Shmoo entered my world.
I wasn’t there looking for a partner. I was already in a marriage of ten years and was only online to talk to fans. But somehow Shmoo was different. We exchanged e-mail addresses and spoke a lot on Yahoo. We found ourselves telling each other stuff no one else knew about. Our hopes, our dreams, our plans for the future. He lived 300 mile away in the North East. Had a fourteen year marriage and four children. But for some reason we just “clicked”. I found myself online most of the evening and before going to work the next day talking to Shmoo. Even if it was just a few lines on Yahoo of “Have a great day at work” I felt I needed that contact and found myself lost whenever he was offline.
A few months into our online friendship. Shmoo said he wanted to tell me something deep and meaningful. I typed back OK and then it arrived on my PC screen. “I think I’ve fallen in love with you” it read. I sat back on my chair and stared at the words. Completely taken aback by the enormity of what he had admitted. This was a guy I’d know about six months. Had one photograph of and had never met in real life. This was a guy who to all intents and purposes was in a stable marriage with kids. Someone who knew more about me than my own husband or family knew. Someone who made me feel at ease with my past, my present and my future. Someone who helped me eradicate my demons and learn to live my life again. It was then I snapped out of staring and realised I hadn’t typed any reply back to. He was sitting at his PC wondering if he had scared me off by admitting his feelings. I then replied that I felt the same way about him too.
From then on it was complete madness. To go from friends online to lovers was a huge step for both of us. Before hand I never hid any conversations from my husband. He would be too busy watching Sci-Fi on the TV to even notice if I was in the room with him or upstairs online. He never once asked who I was talking to or what about. But after admitting loving someone else it somehow became a mission to hide it from others. It was time to arrange a meeting face to face for the first time.
We decided it would be easier for Shmoo to drive down to me. It was to be a public place with cameras and security in abundance. We agreed it was to be Stansted Airport. He told me what he would be wearing and what make and model his car was, including the number-plate. That way I could leave details of where I was going and who with to a close friend who lived down the street. In a sealed envelope I put a picture of Shmoo and all the details I had already about him. His date of birth, home address, kids names, make and model of car he was arriving in etc. I then gave it to my friend and said if I don’t come back by midnight she was to open it. After all, this was the internet and for all I knew he could have been a weirdo.
I drafted a letter on my PC so Shmoo had the perfect excuse to travel South. A fictitious company was asking Shmoo to attend a job interview in London on October 11th. When I next went into the city I posted it to him so it had a London postmark. Devious I know but it worked a dream. The day neared and I made an excuse to my husband that I was going for a drink with colleagues after work.
I drove to Stansted wondering if he would turn up. Would I be made to look a complete idiot and be stood up by some stranger online? And then I saw him standing in the car park. I drove around and found the car he said he was arriving in. I then texted the number-plate to my friend. I parked up and walked across the car park towards him. We had originally arranged to meet inside the terminal. But Shmoo was a bit nervous and was outside having a cigarette. I walked towards him and without a word we just hugged. That hug was the best thing in the world. That feeling of wanting and someone wanting you back. We hugged for what seemed like an eternity. That first hug was just how we had hoped it would be. We had discussed this numerous times online. Both realising it was the closeness in our real lives that we both lacked.
This was to be the beginning of a four month “affair” before we got together for real. We talked about everything. Got to know each other a bit more. It was so wrong because we were already married to others. Yet it felt so right to be together. We spent all day just walking and talking. But when the time come to say goodbye it was heart rending. We parted on the Motorway, him going North, me travelling South. I pulled up outside my house and just sat there in the car. Would he be online tomorrow night? Was this just a one off fling? Would he ever speak to me again? I finally got out the car and went to my friends to let her know I was safe. She could tell by the grin on my face that it had gone well. But the real test of time would be online the next day.
I logged into Elektra and up popped Shmoo on Yahoo. First of all I was relieved he had arrived home safe. Then it hit me like a thunderbolt. This guy was for real and this was something special. We discussed the meet and where we would go from there. To save on one of us driving four hours to meet the other we decided to both drive two hours and meet in the middle of the country. Nottingham was to be our next destination and we planned a weekend away as “Mr & Mrs Young” after AC/DC. Well, Smith and Jones were the usual names for a dirty weekend. And it was through the love of AC/DC that we had even crossed paths. So it seemed quiet appropriate.
We decided that we would make a serious go of this relationship. We would get Christmas out of the way and then take it from there. By the January I had had enough at home. I told my husband I had been having an affair and all hell broke loose around me. I got out of the house and phoned Shmoo to tell him what was happening. He calmed me down and we arranged to meet again in Nottingham to discuss the future face to face. I explained what had gone on at home and admitted that I was scared for the future. He then said he would tell his wife he was leaving. At first I doubted it but when I looked into his eyes I realised he was being deadly serious. I drove home and arranged for somewhere for us to live.
I bumped into an old friend in town and told her I’d been a naughty girl. I arranged to go round to see her that night and explain what was going on. And that Shmoo was travelling down in a few days. She said we could both stay with her until we got our own place. (She is the Lady who will be walking me down the aisle) A week after the Nottingham meet. Shmoo had packed what he owned, loaded the car and driven South. We met just outside town. I got out of my car and sat in his. We sat there without saying a word for what seemed like an eternity. The enormity of what we had done and what to do now had finally hit us. To me, the internet is not meant to be a place to find a new beginning. The internet is meant to be a place of knowledge. A search engine to find out how things work, play games etc. I never once looked on the internet as a place to find new friends and a new man. Now six years on we are still together. Still hopelessly in love. And I get on great with his children.
Most of my friends took my husbands side during the divorce. But it was then I realised I had a fist full of true friends yet a handful of acquaintances. It takes a life changing experience to realise just who your real friends are. And exactly how to enjoy life with the one you love.

[dylansmom011908]

From Friends to Soul Mates.....

Me and Allen attended High School together and met Freshman year while in shop class. We clicked immediately and started teaming up for projects and shop work. At the end of the year, we both had to choose a shop class to take for the rest of high school...we both chose Printing.

Sophmore year we ended up in the same printing class and started to hang outside of school, as he only lived a few blocks from me. We spent our time going shopping, watching movies and hanging out with some mutual friends.

Junior year came and we both applied for a job at KFC. We were both hired. Now not only did we get to spend time at school together, but we'd both be heading to work afterwards together as well. I really enjoyed hanging out with him.. i knew i could tell Allen anything and he'd just "get me".

Towards the end of Junior year, my BF had came up to me and told me that there was a guy in my printing class that was head over heels for me. I guessed every guy in the class before i gave up.. my BF said "you still haven't mentioned one guy".. i was lost! .. then it hit me.. i said "allen?" and started to laugh..i said.. you gotta be kidding me.. we're too good of friends to date!.. i later found out Allen over heard me and was hurt.

Senior year came and we made plans to attend the prom together...after all, He had became like my best guy friend.. so, being that we did everything else together, it was only natural that we would go to prom together. We had a blast and went onto graduate.

During the summer after graduation, Allen came up to me and gave me a tape.. he said "i wanted you to know that this was written for you... listen to it when you get home".. so when i got home, i drew a bubble bath and grabbed my walkman... i was in tears...it was NYSNC's "selfish". Nothing could have expressed in words how Allen felt about me like that song. But still... i ended up with a friend of his a few months later.

I tried to explain that me and Allen would only be friends but he kept saying "we're meant to be together" and would leave it at that.

November 4, 2005, Allen asked me to a Movie... I didn't know why that excited me..we've always hung out..but it did... needless to say... i'll never forget the song on the radio the day i realized I was meant to be with Allen. It was Through the Years by Kenny Rogers. By the night's end, Allen had asked me out only this time... i had said Yes.

June of 2007 I found out I was pregnant...Me and Allen were thrilled!! (we had already lived together).. a few days after i found out i was pregnant though, i ended up in the ER with internal bleeding. I was transferred to ICU and was told I would probably loose the baby. They had even told my mother that it didn't look good for me either. Allen stayed by my bedside holding my hand, praying that we'd make it through..me and the baby. I'd never seen Allen cry, but here he was...tears and all. After a few blood transfusions, the miracle of medical science and many, many prayers... I made it through the surgery and a few days later, the heart beat of our baby was found..perfect and healthy...

This past january we welcomed our son into the world. In spite of the traumatic surgery in June, he was born a healthy baby boy! The following month, after giving birth, I was sitting with our son on the Sofa and Allen came into the room and said.. i have your valentine's gift and i'd like to give it to you early (it was the 13th).. i said, ok.. and he sat down next to me and our son and pulled out the ring and said "will you marry me".. looking at the ring, i noticed it was the birthstone of our son and through tears i said yes...

I thank God that Allen didn't give up on me... that he kept believing that no matter what i said or where life took the 2 of us.."we were meant to be together". I love him with all my heart and even though he feels like he's the one who got the prize in the end.. i secretly know it was me. :grinhappy:

[MrsDM]

Dan and I met through some mutual friends back in 2003. He was a junior, I a sophomore. We became really good friends, were talked on the phone until midnight every night, and got up and saw each other at school all day. We made each other laugh and just genuinely understood each other and listened. I knew Dan felt stronger about me than just a friend, but I tried being more than friends with friends in the past, and never worked out and the friendships became awkward after and eventually just deteriorated.

One night on the phone, Dan brought the subject up about him liking me more than just his friend. I told him my past experiences and I just wasn’t sure if I would be able to take that next step. Disappointed, he said, “That’s okay. I understand, but Jeanne, I will wait for you, for however long, until you decide.”

A couple of days later, we spent some time together after school, and he put his arms around me and I just felt this amazing connection with him. It wasn’t one of those weird moments where you are thinking, “uh, bud, back off, this is uncomfortable!” I felt safe.
We spend every single minute together from then on out. We were always together at school, at home, with friends, whenever, wherever.

In November of 2006, I was 18, Dan was one month shy of 20, we moved into our condo. It was the best of times, the worst of time, but in the end, all the fights, tears, laughs and joys, I would never trade them for anything. It made us stronger and brought us closer. We are not only soon to be husband and wife, we are a team.

Finally, after four and a half years of being together, on February 24, 2008, Dan proposed. We were on vacation, changing and getting ready to go down to the hotel’s indoor waterpark and there on the bed, next to him, was a magazine and a little black box. When I noticed it, my mouth dropped, my eyes started filling up with tears. This, right now, was the moment I was waiting for since I was a little girl. The moment that I dreamt about and fantasized about the day I would marry my price charming. It hit me, next to that box, was my prince charming, I looked at Dan, and said, “Are you serious?” He replied, “No, Jeanne, I’m kidding around!” I approached the box and the magazine with the title of “Brides” across the top, picked up the box and in the box, was the most ugly, cheap Wal-Mart vending machine ring you could ever imagine. I looked at him puzzled and asked, “Um, what is this?” He proceeded to pull another box out of his pocket, got down on one knee and said, “I figured you wanted something else, so Jeanne, I love you, will you be my wife?” I was in shock. I was in love. So many emotions filled my head in that moment. I jumped on him and said, “YES! I love you so much!”

Now, instead of him placing the ring on my finger, I was so excited, I couldn’t believe he had the ring, I took the box, and placed the ring on my finger and starred at it in awe. This was the ring I dreamt about, and was one of a kind. I looked at him and asked, “This is mine? I can keep it?” “Yes”, he assured me.

I never thought that I could possibly feel a love for the way I feel for Dan. He is my best friend, he is my soul mate, love and soon to be my husband. I can’t imagine life without him. We never did have an official date of when we became a couple, but for us, we never needed it, we just knew we were meant to be.

[FFC]

Oh this is so hard! I can't keep it short no matter how hard I try!!


Matt and I met in 2005.

I have been into off roading and working on my own vehicles since early high school. I spent a lot of time in the auto part's store. In 2005 I started building my rock crawler and spent even more time in the auto parts store. Well, I noticed this one guy, almost every time I went in. He had black hair and sky blue eyes and the sweetest smile I'd ever seen. He always seemed a little nervous, I thought he was sooooo sexy :grinhappy:

I went in the auto parts store regularly (probably 2x a week or more) for about 6 months before I finally asked him to go to lunch with me. By that time I had my 4x4 almost done, and I wanted to show him my progress so far. We went to pizza at Mountain Mike's and he ordered a medium pepperoni pizza. We only had 30 minutes, so we pretty much got the pizza and had to get him back to work, but we did get in a few bites together.

I continued to go into the store even after my rig was done. I would mosey in on my day off and buy a bottle of brake fluid or brake cleaner (both of which you can never have too much of when you work on your own vehicles). I think I went in regularly about 4 times a week just to see him, but purchased something to make it not so obvious (PSH!! LOL). So, either brake clean or brake fluid it was... every time.

We finally started going to lunch almost every day, and really got to know each other. I found out he was in the process of ending his marriage :irked: and he had a 5 year old daughter. Over time, our relationship grew stronger and we were each other's confidants, whether it was about trouble at home or just stress.

We haven't missed many lunches since that first pizza together. We've both worked for the same company for the past year and a half and have lunch together every day. He never told me on our first lunch together, but he's allergic to pepperoni, he only ate it because I like it.

We had a 4x4 themed wedding on 7/6/8 and I fall in love with him more and more each day!

[Heywie]

I graduated from high school in 2002. For the years leading up to my senior year, my mom and I planned on going to Europe when I graduated as a bonding, "happy graduation" trip. Well we all know what happened in September of my senior year: 9/11. Everyone was afraid to fly, and my mom and I decided it may not be the best time to book international travel.

I figured I would probably just get an I.O.U. for the trip as my gift, but when I graduated and had a little party to celebrate, my mom and dad presented me with a trip to Hawaii! My brother was going to school there so they decided to send me out to visit him for 2 weeks.

I was so excited. The day after graduation, I left for Hawaii. When I got there, my brother picked me up and brought me to his dorm room. Well, that's what I thought it was - it turns out his room was actually at the other end of the suite, and he put me in his OLD room, where his roommate was still occupying it! I thought it was weird, but not overly strange because my brother can be a bit selfish at times and probably just didn't want his little sister cramping his style. I wasn't about to complain though because I was in Hawaii!

Well, as I spent time in my room, I spent time with the guy who occupied the room, too. It turns out, we really connected and became great friends right away. We went to the beach together and watched movies at night. Meanwhile, my brother was off doing who-knows-what, and we were falling in love!

We kept it a secret for awhile though because we didn't know what my brother would think. We would hold hands walking through campus until we would be in sight of the dorm, and then we'd have to nonchalantly let go.

I ended up extending my trip one week... and then one more week... I just couldn't go home and leave this great guy in Hawaii! I was also set to move to New York City in the fall for school, and I was so torn because I was excited to move and so sad to have to leave him.

We continued talking every day, for hours and hours, and kept a long distance relationship until we both moved back to California.

6 years later, we are still together and getting married in one month! We could not be happier!

[Tadswife]

We both till this day, 5 years later don't know who typed the first "Hello" that afternoon May 12, 2003, but it was that "Hello" that has led two people to love, happiness and a lifetime to togetherness. At the time I was the classic girl, didn't want a relationship or anything to do with men. I just recently went through finding out that the guy I was see was a married man, I was just recovering from dealing with a lot of emotional issues associated with the death of my mother in 2000, having to take care of my father who was just diagnosed with an auto immune disorder, I was deffiantly ready to just call it quits just live life single and take care of my father. There a friend of mine was just typing away in a chat room on AOL. I wanted nothing to do with it so I just sat around and talked with her as she typed away in this chat room. She got up... I figured "why not just keep her convertion going with who ever she is talking to" Then there it was the instant message from Tad.
Us: Hello
Tad: Wanna run off to vegas and get married?
Me: Sure why not
Tad: ok when

And that little conversation, is what led to a month of emails and nights of endless talking on the phone. I finally called him while I was visiting a friend that lived in his area and asked him if he finally wanted to meet. And we did, in a parking lot a little bit away from where I was. I was so nervous, but the minute I saw him I knew that this was what I had been waiting for my whole life. My nerves completely went away, I was in a complete state of happiness. I got out of my car and ran to hug him. He never let me go after that first hug. He held on to me and we didn't seperate till I told him I had to go home and that we can discuss meeting down by me in the next couple of days. Before I left he handed me a silk sunflower. I just started to tear up. He remembered my favorite flower. That moment ment so much to me. Something so simple said so many words.We got together a couple of days later. I made him dinner, anyone that knows me I can't cook, but managed to make dinne and not burn it..:) But once I pulled the dinner from the oven, I put the hot pan on a glass table:bbeek: and of course the table broke in to pieces and right on to my toe the glass from the table went. He then steped in and took care of me and my hurt limb. He didn't leave me that night till he knew I was ok. I met his parents a week later and exchanged our first " I love you" 7 days after we met. It was love at first sight! A couple of months later we went to the spot that we met I looked at him like he was nuts. I asked him why we were there, he then told me how much he loved me and he wanted to know how happy I make him and told me he was ready to cry to open the glove box and get a tissue. There it was a box! I grabbed the box, it was a beautiful ring with three beautiful blue stones and some diamonds. He then said, this is my promise to you, I will love you forever and always and will soon ask you to be my wife. I cried like a baby. So then we began to talk about getting married. Three months in to our relationship were talking about getting married! I was ready, I knew from hello he was the one. So then I began to ask him " so when ya gonna ask me?" He told me that if I kept asking he was gonna make me wait longer, and he did. Finlly in November of 2003 after thanksgiving we went to a bed and breakfast. That is where he decorated the room in lovely purple rose petels ( purple was my favorite color) and read to me cinderella! That is when he got on one knee and said he would give me the cinderella life if I would be his wife. I said "yes" and ran all over in tears and ran down the stairs of our bed and breakfast and told everyone my boyfriend just asked me to marry him. I was so excited I really wanted the world to know. We told him parents on Christmas of that year. We got them a little puppy and stuck a note in his collar that invited them to join us in the beginning of our new life together. His mom cried she was so happy! We got married 3 years later in May of 2006. I couldn't of asked God for a better man for me to spend my life with. he is my best friend, my soul mate my "forever and always" He has given me the cinderella life in so many ways! He has given me everything and more! I am always on top of a peddastool with him by my side. My happiness is what comes first to him. How very lucky I am, I have been so blessed in so many ways with him and his family. Just when I was about to give up, there Tad was.

[WebLady]

OK no more entries; look for the poll here to vote :D

[LovingLife]

dylans mom....your story brought me to tears.

i loved it.

[WebLady]

Reminder: The contest entry deadline was yesterday, so we are not taking anymore new entries ;)

Vote for your favs here and in the poll in the contest details thread :)

[rainbowtreat]

Was the poll split because all coudl not fit in one poll? Are we suposed to vote for 2 or just 1? If it was 2 the 2 I wanted were on one poll? Just aksing!

[WebLady]

Was the poll split because all coudl not fit in one poll? Are we suposed to vote for 2 or just 1? If it was 2 the 2 I wanted were on one poll? Just aksing!
Yeah, you can only have 10 poll options and we have 14 or 15 entries.

So just vote on whichever poll has the person whose story you like the best; we will pick the top 2 as the winners :)

[WebLady]

OK it looks like 'rainbowtreat' has the most at 3, so Congrats to Gwen, she will be one of our winners!

We have quite a tie for the other winner with several others, so I guess we need to make another poll ;)

EDIT: Here is the tie breaker poll -
http://forums.onewed.com/showthread.php?t=21049