With all of the cyber-horror-stories of people meeting psychopaths online, it's time to share a story of real-life good people meeting other real-life good people!
How we Met:
Once upon a time, a Texas girl logged on to a chat room called PaddyNet under the name Katharine (in honor of Katharine Hepburn!).
There, she met many nice folks, including a very nice gentleman from Indianapolis called Musicman. After a few months of very enjoyable chat with the Paddy Folks, Katharine met a couple of them IRL (In Real Life!). After meeting Islander and her husband,
she became involved with the crew of the sailing vessel The ELISSA. That's when she changed her name to ShipsKat. In the Spring Break of 1997, she decided to take a road trip to Galveston, Texas and Indianapolis, Indiana to meet some more of the Paddy Folk. That's when she met Musicman IRL!
Click here to read her travel journal of that trip!
How We Courted:
After meeting Musicman IRL, she returned home and soon began racking up massive long distance phone bills! After seven months of meeting every few weeks in Dallas, Indy, and points in between, Musicman accepted a job offer in Dallas. (*And there was much rejoicing!*)
Although our engagement started out being discussed as marriage "in theory"....and only later began being discussed as an assumption....Jim's official proposal to Fran was made on March 13, 1999 - their second anniversary of being "officially a couple". Jim came in with flowers and a proposal poem (which he won't let Fran publish!). Even though it was all planned and expected, Fran cried anyway! :-)
Fran Becomes a Mother
In mid-August, 1999, Fran received a phone call from Garland Animal Adoption Center, where she volunteers. A 1-week-old kitten had been abandoned on the front step, and could she raise him as a foster mother, until he could be adopted out to a good home. Of course, she said yes!
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While Fran spent her time mixing formula, losing sleep with 2:00 a.m. feedings, and generally doing the "MAMA" stuff, Jim was bonding with the baby!
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When Piglet (so named for his voracious appetite!) was ready to be adopted, Fran took him back to the shelter with many a tear. As usual, her need for emotional recovery took her to Galveston for the weekend. While she agonized about whether she should go back to the shelter and ask to keep her foster-baby, Jim secretly arranged to adopt Piglet....he was waiting for his "mommy" at the door when she returned home!
Due to his bottle-fed upbringing, this little kitten thinks he's supposed to do everything his Mommy and Daddy do. So when we caught him drinking straight Jameson's Irish Whisky, Jim officially renamed the kitten JUNIOR! (He takes after his old man, you see!)
Our New House
In November, we moved into a house. (And there was much rejoicing!)
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