Lady and Duster, Together Forever!

Here Lady tells us of Duster, the wonderful man who has come into her life. She is so happy with him she wants to share her joy with the world!
'Our' song is playing now, but if you want to turn it off you can do so here

Greetings to all who visit, and a special smile for my Duster, for whom I am creating this page.
I know that we must be wary of relationships that begin on the net, but this one really is working, my friends. Rick (Duster) and I (Michele) met on December 14, 1997, in the Astrology Tea Room at TalkCity, a great chat community.

I was a regular there, one of the original 'zombies', and Rick had visited fairly regularly but we had never met. He has told me that he was getting bored with the chat room, because people weren't talking to him much, just a few words and then on to other conversations--and he was truly considering packing it in and not returning to that chat room again. And then he met me. Rick says (my memory is foggy but he recalls it all) that when we first spoke I did not just say 'Hello' and then go back to talking to my other friends, but that we started a full-fledged conversation right away. He tells me that my responses to his posts were not short and stilted, but were detailed and friendly--and that got his attention. No flirting or teasing, I do remember that, but just good friendly chat, talking about ourselves and our lives.

So he came back, and of course so did I. And our friendship developed, growing stronger over the months...though I think (and I think Rick agrees) there was a spark right away. After 3 or 4 months I realized this man had taken over an important, empty place in my life, though we were still just 'friends'. And then he said he wanted to come visit me. Now this may not sound like too big of a deal to some, but Rick lives on the east coast of Canada and I live on the west coast of the U.S. So it was a journey of about 3,000 miles. When he said he wanted to come visit, I had no fear at all, like you might expect when meeting a 'stranger' that you've only talked to on the net. All I felt was excitement, and expectation, and worry that he would not like me once he got here, especially since he had never seen a pic of me, though I had offered to send one to him. He wanted to wait to see the real me, and said he cared about me for the person I am, not how I looked.

He came by plane, and I drove up to the airport to pick him up. I was so nervous! I look back now and laugh at myself. He was nervous too....but when he arrived and I saw him in the pick-up area, staqnding there in his jeans and jean jacket, my heart about stopped. I stopped the car by him and just sat there, looking at him, and he said to climb on out and come give him a hug. So I did. Just a friendly hug, but it was so nice and I will never forget it.

He stayed for 2 weeks. Slept on the sofa for those of you who are wondering. But we grew closer, and I was so sad to see him go, when I drove him back to the airport I couldn't stop the tears. He promised to be back. And he told me later that he cried on the plane on the way home, missing me already. So very sweet, darling. :'-)

Our relationship continued to strengthen, becoming more romantic than it had been before his visit, but still not flirty or suggestive. And we stayed together.

He returned May 4th, 1999, for a longer stay. This time, he only slept on the sofa for a few days before I....

Anyway. He spent the entire summer with me, and everyday was sparkling new with him here to share it with me.

Our love has grown past the point I thought it could reach, and still continues to grow. There are obstacles, such as family, but we are getting past them and plan to spend the rest of our lives together.

Now he has gone back to Canada, for personal reasons. He had to go, or he wouldn't have. We are both so lonely apart, though we can chat on ICQ and voice chat on another program we have, and we do, every day. But its not the same as being able to have our arms around each other, or to spending our days together, sharing things like we did all summer long. He'll be back in January and we both hope it can be a permanent stay this time.

This is a rose Rick photographed and sent me
on October 30th, 1999, while we are apart.
It is from his brother's garden.

Rick is wonderful to me. He treats me better than anyone else. The only man I can even try to compare him with is my father, who I have always thought of as the most wonderful guy in the world, until now. Now they are both in that spot. Here I am getting teary eyed as I type this. Silly me.

Rick, I love you. I know I say it every day, many times a day, just as you do to me, but I don't feel as if I can ever say it enough. I miss you so very much, miss your arms around me, miss you whispering in my ear, miss watching tv with you, miss swimming in the lake with you, miss helping you with your projects (though I was never really much help)....just miss everything darling (teary-eyed again).
I know you'll be back. I look forward to it with all my heart. And we talk every day, which eases the ache so very much my love. I just want to hold you again.

December 21st, 1999:
I'm feeling rather lonely today, as Rick is away on business and cannot meet me on-line, so I've created a special page for him using the chorus of a song that I heard on the radio and felt was fitting for the two of us. Come and see:

Here are the music (midis) and lyrics to
'Our' song and some songs we enjoy sharing: