My name is Kathie. I am from California. Almost 5 years ago I discovered the wonderful world of the Internet. I was married at the time. I was very lonely in my marriage. The Internet provided me not only with  information, but ways in which to communicate with other people.

I innocently placed an ad in a penpal section, under a "Friends" category. After all, I was married, and only looking for friends. Amongst many responses that I received, one in particular caught my interest. The gentleman lived in Pennsylvania. We corresponded nearly every day. All throughout the day. And throughout most evenings. He had his eye on a gal from Nevada.

He too was married, but separated at the time. The kindness in the words he typed, the care and concern, were enough to get me hooked on him! In a matter of hours it seemed, I was falling in love. And you know, so was he! Although my story has a very happy ending, it was not such in the beginning. After four weeks time, I flew to visit him in Pennsylvania. My trip was short lived. I was there and back to California in a matter of twelve hours. I was an emotional basket case. Having left my husband. Meeting someone face to face that I had these strong feelings for, yet never seen him outside of a picture.  I went back home, divorced my husband. Moved into my own apartment, and started picking up the pieces to my shattered life.

Not shattered because of the Internet. The Internet opened my eyes to the fact that my marriage was not worth staying in. But shattered, because all of the childhood dreams had been shattered. Rich is his name. We traveled back and forth a few times, visiting one another. And then I met someone else. I met him the "normal way". Through a friend. I married him. It was a short lived marriage. I once again looked to the Internet, trying to get back in touch with Rich. Once I found him, I followed my heart. I had done alot of healing. And alot of suffering all over again. He was always great at picking up my broken pieces. I didn't know how the relationship would go. I had hoped that we would be more then friends. But, if we weren't going to be, at least I would have a great friend. Myself and my two children drove clear across the US and set up home with Rich and his daughter. We were married four weeks after my arriving in Pennsylvania.

And you know, it was the best thing that I ever did outside of giving birth to my two beautiful children. Timing was not right when I first met him. Timing was definitely right the second time. We have now been married for over a year. He is not only the love of my life, he is my best and dearest friend.

Thanks for reading my story!
Sincerely,
Kathie Hand