I Found Him On The Internet

I don't mean I Googled a single good-looking atheist to marry, rather I stumbled upon his chat profile on a popular social network. I had just moved back in with my parents after being divorced for nearly a year. I was an out of work emotionally wrecked single mom of four.  After spending hours trying to figure out the new world of online job applications I decided to take a break and sign into my Yahoo chat account under my screen name. As I browsed the profiles of people who were currently online in my area, my eyes fell on his pic. , There was a safe warmth about him that captured me. After discovering he was an Information Technology/Software Engineer I knew that was my ticket! I had no real computer skills and I needed to learn fast if I wanted to land a job.  I opened a chat window, but I was lost for a sincere conversation starter. I didn't want to sound like a desperate sleazy girl "looking for love" ugh.  I settled on something simple like, "Hello, I noticed your profile says you are knowledgeable with computers and I was hoping I could ask  you some questions."  I waited for quite sometime, but I eventually realized I was being ignored. I signed out for the day.

The following day, I was back to online job searching.  While on the hunt,  I kept my Yahoo Chat client open and available hoping someone would find me interesting enough to converse with. Alas, someone sent me a chat request. I thought, "who is this?" Oh yeah! the computer guy.  I quickly responded. After brief introductions, he apologized for ignoring my chat request the previous day. He explained how he thought I was a 'Chatbot'.  I asked, "What is Chatbot?" Computer Guy responded, "A computer designed artificial person used to promote porn sites or sex chats."  My screen name containing a female name sounded like a sex type "Bot" name?..lol! So much for not wanting to sound desperate. 

Our chat that day was filled with laughs, intelligent conversation, and he showed the utmost respect towards me. The most amazing part about it was, he didn't know what I looked like. I didn't have a profile pic posted. He was simply intrigued by me, the woman behind the computer monitor.  It wasn't until about three weeks later that I decided to post my picture. (My mom had to help me because I didn't even know how to do it!) Computer guy was very very pleased with what and who he saw. As he would tell you today, his exact thoughts at the moment he saw my picture were, "She is the most amazingly beautiful women I have ever seen.....MINE."  I know that last part probably sounds like a madman stalker, but I assure you it isn't. I'll explain later :)

We set a date to have coffee on April 1, 2002. A couple of days before our meeting I got really really scared. I had been with my ex-husband since I was 16 years old and I was now a divorced 32 years old with four kids, living in my parents' garage, and still grieving the loss of my marriage.  What was I thinking?!  I had no business meeting another man at this point in my life. How should I act, what should I say, what if he falls for me?...I don't want to lead him on! So with that in mind, I tried to break off the coffee date. In an attempt to change my mind, he asked if he could call me by phone.  I was hesitant, but I agreed.  After our hellos, the conversation went something like this....

Me: I'm not ready for this. I don't think I can go through with our coffee date.
Computer Guy: (In a mysterious tone) Are you sure because I think you are going to be pleasantly surprised when you see me?

With that word, 'surprise' my heart began to rise and I felt the blood drain from the top of my head to the souls of my feet. My head raced trying to understand what he meant!

Me: What do you mean?

Computer Guy: I know you and you know me, but you'll have to wait until our coffee date to find out. 

Suddenly, the ground underneath me began to spin....oh God did my crazy jealous ex-husband set me up!? Who is this guy?! 

Me: (Hiding my panic) We know each other? How?

Computer Guy: You'll see.....

Me: I hate surprises please just tell me!

He began asking me questions which were more like hints. Just as I was about to hang up on him and never speak to him again.....he finally revealed he was Armando Ortiz an old friend of my brother and parents! I was shocked at how different he looked in his Yahoo profile pic, which would explain why I didn't recognize him, to begin with. 

About 7 or 8 years earlier, I had briefly met him through my family. I was married to my ex-husband at that time. When Armando saw me that first day he was enamored (his words).  He told my mom, "She is going to be mine someday." lol...my mom was like, Ok Romeo, she is married you better watch it!  Now you know what he meant by, "MINE" when he saw my Yahoo profile pic ;)

There was even a time shortly after that first meeting my mom and I bumped into Armando at our local Wendy's restaurant. We invited him to sit with us and the whole time he just stared at me with hearts in his eyes. It was like I was the only person in the room for him. I thought he was a cute nerdy lovesick puppy. :) 

Needless to say, I went to coffee with Computer Guy and we haven't been apart ever since. 

To be continued...... :)