L is for Love (Long-distance style)

Last year's "L" post was about Love, and while I didn't want to repeat topics, I figured this one was big enough to handle it. :)

I have always enjoyed hearing people's love stories. I think it's mostly my natural curiosity about people, but also I never had one of my own to tell. Ever. Then last year that changed in a way I couldn't ever have imagined. Oh, I had thought about meeting someone and falling in love, but the way mine happened wasn't exactly how I thought it would.

I met my beloved on a website that wasn't technically a dating site. The members had profiles and the ability to message each other and I had talked to other members from time to time. It got to the point where I thought this might be a better alternative to traditional dating sites, and I figured "what the hell?" Then one day my sweetie's first message to me popped up. I always looked at the person who messaged me's profile for curiosity's sake and to be sure that we had enough in common or that our interests meshed enough. I noticed J's (I will identify him by his initial) profile said he was from Ireland. And I thought to myself, "Well, that's cool and he'll be interesting to chat to for a bit, but like THIS will go anywhere." So we started chatting and he was funny and charming and interesting and we talked for quite a while. Then we talked again the next day and the next and the next and soon we were both going on the website to "look" for each other. I had no expectations of anything as I was still in the mindset of "We're just chatting and being friendly." After a few weeks of the website chat we started emailing back and forth throughout the day and then texting via phone. and then he called me for the first time a few weeks after that. And with the exception of a few days here and there we have spoken on the phone every single day since.

I still get overwhelmed thinking how this wonderful, beautiful (inside and out) man loves me. We have gotten to meet once in person when I went to Ireland for 10 days to see him. They were some of the most wonderful days I've ever had. Things were comfortable between us. Relaxed. And paradoxically exciting at the same time. Just looking at him gave me butterflies (still does).

This distance isn't easy, but every time I despair about not being with him I tell myself that this is worth it. This connection we have made and the love we share is worth waiting for however long it takes to be together again.