On July 6, 200 I left my home in Alaska (yes, I said Alaska) to travel half way across the United States to meet the guy I met 3 years prior in a talk city chat room. I had only ever seen one picture of him and had only talked on the phone with him for a week straight the week prior to meeting him.

My mom would come home from work and would instantly know if I had talked to him that day or not. I would talk to him for at LEAST 4 hours and she would come home and tell me that I was glowing.

Glowing couldnt begin to describe it.

I had mentioned about how I was going to save some money out of my checks from work to come and visit him! Then one day I got online and he told me to get off the computer because I was going to be getting a phone call. I told him he shouldnt call me anymore for awhile because that was going to be one heck of a phone bill. He insisted it wasnt him. I was confused but logged off the internet (I had dial up) and just as I hit disconnect, the phone rang.

And on the other end was a lady from a local travel agency telling me I had a plane ticket to Wisconsin to pick up! I freaked and called my mom. I told her that in 4 days, I was leaving state. She asked me where I was going, and then I told her. She was excited. I think she then started getting upset that I was leaving because she got excited when I couldnt find my ID, because they wont let you on a plane without identification. She then got upset with my brother when he found my ID.

On the night of the 5th, my parents took me to the airport. My mom was crying and my step-dad tried giving me the guilt trip of a lifetime and blame everything on me. I didnt care, I was running away! I walked on that plane, and I left the life I had known. Expecting to be back before the summer was over.

When I got here, I was scared to get off the plane….I was almost the last person to get off. But I figured I went this far, I might as well suck it up and go. What if this guy was not what he proclaimed to be. You know people do that!! My mom made sure she had his phone number, address, work number & address, description of his car & plate number, and his closest relative’s address & phone number! That relative happened to live downstairs from him. Thankfully he was willing to devulge all the info.

As soon as I walked off the plane, I fell in love!! It was seriously love at first sight! As soon as I walked up to him, he grabbed me, gave me the biggest hug, and never let me go!

Needless to say, I never went home! And here we are 10 years later! Those 10 years all havent been the best and we have definatly had our fair share of hell, but what relationship doesnt have it. The amazing thing is that we are still together despite all the drama, and we are happier than I think we have ever been.

Larry, if you ever read this, I want you to know that I adore you and love you like no other. We are not married and people give us crap about that, especially after being together for so long, but I am ok with that. Being with you is all that matters! Thanks for always being there!

As the Sara Evans song goes:

I could not ask for more than this time together
I could not ask for more than this time with you
And every prayer has been answered
Every dream I’ve had’s come true
Yeah, right here in this moment
Is right where I’m meant to be
Here with you here with me