I spent the next four years learning who I was and what I really wanted out of life. I learnt I didn't need anyone to make me whole or complete me because I realised I already was complete. I became content with myself. I learnt to love myself (warts and all) and for the first time in my life found true contentment! And then I met Missy!.....
I am a youth worker and between the kids and work I kept so busy even if I did want to date I wouldn't have had time!
I had been connected to the internet for about 2 years but only ever used it to look up information for the youth I work with. However, as I hadn't been on-line for several months I decided to disconnect my service. As I was searching the pages to see how to disconnect, a page popped up www.MatesAndDates.com with a message saying you could find pen pals etc. I knew quite a few people at work who "chatted" on the internet and thought it might be fun to see what all the hype was about.
I logged on and it asked me for my profile..to tell a little about myself..so I did. At the end it did a search for my "perfect match". Quite a few names came up but only one as my perfect match. I sent a message to say hi and got an immediate response. Missy, from Alabama, sent me a message back asking me what Australia was like etc. I decided to keep the internet on a little longer. It was nice talking to someone from another country.
Over the next few weeks Missy and I started
talking on the telephone and Internet with every spare
moment we had. Within the first month we had spent
hundreds of hours getting to know each other.
I realised that I had some major decisions to make
because my feelings for her had become more intense
than they had ever for anyone. I was falling in love with
a woman!
I talked to Missy about my feelings and she said she had
been feeling exactly the same way! On one hand I was relieved but the other afraid. I had to weigh up the consequences for my kids, my job, my friends, how we could come together from one side of the world to the other and the reality that my life would never be the same again. But, I had no doubt, this was the love I had looked for all my life. Let's face it, some people seach a life time for this kind of love and happiness and take that search to the grave with them. It was my turn to start really living...and it was Missy's.
So, on September 27, 2000 I boarded a plane for the USA. I needed to find out if I was living a fairytale or this was the real thing. At the Perth Airport I was so excited that I walked smack bang into a glass wall...I broke my nose! But that's another story!
I landed in New Orleans about 38 hours later...and there she was. Yes, I knew immediately this was the woman I would spend the rest of my life with.
Due to work committments I was only allocated 1 weeks holiday leave. But, as fate would be, I failed to catch that 1st plane. In fact, I went on to miss another 10 planes after that!
We made 3 trips from Alabama to New Orleans, crying all the way. We just couldn't separate!
So, on the last plane I missed, Missy threw her arms in the air and said "I guess this means I have to go with you"! Within 36 hours we had bought an emergency passport for Missy, and extra airline ticket, she quit her 2 jobs and said goodbye to friends and family!
On the 18th of October, we were headed for Australia, together!
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