INTRODUCTION
Preparing this book of John and Marsha's romance has been a whole lot of fun for me. But, my gracious, what a daunting task it turned out to be! John and Marsha are friends, and when they asked me to do their book, they presented me with more than 300 pages of e-mail, chronicling their cyber-courtship. From those pages, I've tried to select the letters which were the most meaningful to them both for inclusion in the book.
I've edited John and Marsha's love story for length, and have disguised their whereabouts out of respect for the privacy a new love needs in order to grow. But every cyber- syllable on these pages is their own.
I hope you will enjoy reading this tender story of a love that was launched through the powers of a higher realm. Cupid's arrow came streaking through cyberspace, and targeted the hearts of good friends.
Kindest Regards,
Kathi Purnell, Editor
THE BEGINNING
DATE: Fri, 24 May 1996 FROM: kitty@DATING/COM/Anon TO: nimrod@DATING.COM/Anon SUBJ: Hello Nimrod!
Hello West Texas -
Where in West Texas are you? What do you do in West Texas? What do you like to do with other people? Would you care to correspond?
Kitty
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DATE: Mon, 27 May 1996 FROM: nimrod@DATING.COM/Anon TO: kitty@DATING.COM/Anon SUBJ: New York
Dear Kitty..
Well, you are about as far from me as you can be and still be in the USA. I guess Maine is father but not much. I am in the farthest western corner of the Great State of Texas, "out in the West Texas Town of El Paso" as the old song goes. But I don't spend any time at Rosa's Cantina - I don't think that there is a Rosa's Cantina any longer. Used to be one out by the race track but it closed.
I was very surprised to get your e-mail. I haven't been on DATING.COM for several months. Computers are still something of a mystery to me but I enjoy all the goings-on with the `Net. I came across DATING.COM and thought I'd register. But, as I say, I haven't used it much. I called up your Personal Information Form and I seem to match your desires except that I am not 7 ft. tall . . . more like 5ft7in. I used to be 5'8" but I've settled some as I've aged. I hope this is normal or else I'm in deep doodoo. The Incredible Shrinking Man!!!! I am in sales out here in El Paso and have been for a good number of years. I am getting tired of the life, however, and may be looking for a new beginning sometimes after the end of the year.
I have become enamored with the computer and all it is capable of. I am fascinated with the Internet and have begun to read a few books and magazines on designing and building web pages and web sites. I don't think you ever get too old to begin a new interest or project or career, for that matter. This computer field is not just for the young and wired. It can also be done quite well by older people with a little more common sense and intuition. I feel that I fall into that category.
If I'm not sitting in front of this stupid machine then I am out in the country on a week-end camping trip. We are kind of close to several national forests in southern New Mexico and eastern Arizona. The Lincoln Nat'l Forest, The Gila Nat'l Forest, the Cibola Nat'l Forest and the Apache-Sitgrave Nat'l forest are all within four to six hours drive from here. That may sound like a lot of driving to a New Yorker but here in Texas, you must drive 850 miles to go to Houston. That's 100 more miles than it is from El Paso to San Diego, CA.
Hey, I've kind of run on and on with this e-mail stuff. Hope I haven't turned you off or anything. I'm glad you broke the e-mail ice and said howdy. I would really enjoy hearing back from you and learning what you're like and what you like. So long for now, Nimrod.
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DATE: Wed, 29 May 1996 FROM: kitty@DATING.COM/Anon TO: nimrod@DATING.COM/Anon SUBJ: West Texas
Nimrod - I used to live in Arizona, so I know where all the places are that you mentioned in your letter. And I miss Arizona! These New Yorkers are weird people.
What do you sell? What are you going to do with yourself if you quit selling it? What does your name "Nimrod" mean?
When you were active on DATING.COM, did you meet many interesting people? I'm having a lot of fun with it, and meeting nice folks. What was your experience with the thing? Your turn to write..
Kitty
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DATE: Thu, 30 May 1996 FROM: nimrod@DATING.COM/Anon TO: kitty@DATING.COM/Anon SUBJ: West Texas
Hey Kitty..
So you used to live in AZ, did you? A pretty state to be sure. I camped in the Chiricahau Mountains a few months ago. It's where the Indian Geronimo ran the US Army around for a few years. There is also a ghost town named Paradise up in those mountains. An interesting area. Arizona has some really nice wilderness and camping areas. Too bad you're 2000 miles away. UpState NY is very pretty, too. I have not been to that part of the US but do read about it. I sell flooring - carpet, vinyl, ceramic tile, wood. In our business, our motto is, "We lay anything" - (just joking). Been doing this for nearly 20 years and am getting tired of the grind. I work with very nice people but it's still getting old. As I told you in the last message, I think I might get into computers in some capacity or other. I am reading some books on web pages and the construction of same. You know, HTML and VRML languages, JAVA Scripting etc. I think I know just enough to be dangerous when it comes to talking about computing but it is interesting.
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