Freshman year of college, I discovered the well-known and acclaimed mastery of Frank Herbert. Coupled with my new found exploration of the Internet, I stumbled across Dune MUSH, an online role-playing environment based on Frank Herbert's masterpiece.
Being online was an escape for me. It allowed me to forget about the real world, with all its social hierarchies and clichés and let's pretend. I didn't have to put on a facade to always be happy or smart. And if ever I wanted to disappear, I could just flip a switch and be gone.
... or so I thought.
My hours online crept slowly upwards. The casual conversations began to delve into the personal. The personas became more than just people, they became friends. And then, the "Dear Caroline" letter arrived in my box.
In less than a thousand words, a complete stranger poured out his life to me. There was nothing threatening or forceful or even expected in return. Only the honest truth. And in that truth I fell in love with a man I had never meet before.
Of course, I didn't realize it at that time. I accepted that letter and replied in kind, expecting nothing more than another new friendship in this wonderful world I was exploring.
Our relationship might have stayed at that state eternally had there not be, what I call, a "leap from the Net". After a long night and a trying day, I suddenly had the urge to call someone. The phone call that night led to more phone calls and eventually plans to meet.
I'll never forget the trip down to Florida. Somehow, thank you Blythe!, I had convinced one of my roommates to join me in this crazy adventure.
Two girls. Alone. On a plane. To spend a weekend with a guy I talked to on the Internet and his roommate.
To this day, I can hear the scenario screaming out, "horror movie murder" or "candidate for missing persons". Of course, none of this came into our minds until the plane landed in the Florida airport and we were getting off.
They rest of my story, as they say, was "text book". Mother Bell loved us as our phone bills skyrocketed. Every break, one or the other would save up enough money to travel. Him more times than I. And eventually, he made the big switch to move up to my area so we could be together.
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