Bita: John and I met in April of 2014. We both had been on Match.com, and I saw his profile first. All of the things he mentioned in his profile really resonated with me. For example, he mentioned that he was a full-time dad part of the time. He also mentioned that he was a creative type and that his mate would be alright with the artistic type. Well, hello! As an Art History professor, he was speaking my language! What really touched me is he posted pictures of himself with his daughters, Sophia and Rachel. I could immediately tell what a tender, sweet soul he was just by the way he and his daughters related with one another in their photos. I winked at him, and he immediately responded.

John: I never believed I could meet someone online. The entire concept seemed foreign to me. Bita sent me a little message and we began to correspond with each other.  Of course I only knew her as the mysterious “Lotus0274.”  Her description of her life sounded like lyrics of a song. I could tell she was creative, funny and very intelligent. She said she was looking for an “urban man with a country boy heart.” I felt like she was describing me. She talked about following her dreams to begin a new career. I had done the same thing.  It was fun writing “letters” back and forth to each other. She told me about her Art History classes, her interest in jazz, her love of camping and she used funny phrases like “bees knees.” I couldn’t wait to meet this flower.

Bita: Within a week or so, we had our first date at P.F. Changs! I am embarrassed to admit this part of our love story. A few days before our scheduled first date, I woke up one morning to an achy body, fever, chills….you guessed it! I had the flu!!! I went to the doctor and tested positive for influenza type B. She told me I was very contagious and needed to hole up in my house for 2-3 days. I explained to her I had a first date with a sweet guy and needed to keep our date. I explained to her that John was going to his sister’s wedding the weekend after our potential first date. And, we all know how single women behave at a wedding!!! If there were any single women whatsoever, it is hunting season at a wedding, and I didn’t want John to be their prey! The doctor and I laughed about that. She gave me a tip to drink ice-cold Gatorade to bring down my body temperature. As long as I did not have fever I was not contagious, I would be okay to go on our date. That tip totally works, by the way!

As it turns out, I was able to make it to our first date. Like death warmed over, but I made it! I am pretty sure I even hallucinated on the way driving to our date because I was still so sick. But, I went, and John was so sweet to overlook the fact I was blowing my nose, coughing up God-only-knows-what, and throwing back pot after pot of hot tea the entire time. Something worked in my favor, though, because at the end of our date, he walked me to my car and asked if we could get together again for a second date. And you know what? He later told me that he didn’t even notice if there were any single women at his sister’s wedding because he was thinking about me the entire time.

John: I didn’t know she was that sick. I arrived at the restaurant first on our first date and I watched with anticipation as each guest entered. She looked beautiful when she walked up, just like her pictures I had seen. This is the moment when online dating becomes real. I felt that spark. I couldn’t stop smiling. I think we were both nervous. We had a great dinner and wonderful conversation. We talked about our families and our aspirations.  I told her stories about my children and our lives together.  I knew right away that she would be meeting them one day soon. I could only hope at the time, but little did I know I was begining to get to know my new best friend.