Gray Matter

My good friend John in New Jersey/York has been seeing some success on one of "those" matchmaking sites that most people denounce quickly with very little knowledge of what it does, and who it is for.

When I was living in Lumberton, NC- It was for me.

I was 23, going to college, and could not meet anyone close to my age/interests... and honestly- intelligence. Most people there were locals, and most people in that town dropped out in the 8th grade to go work construction or on the family farm.

So, on a whim, I checked out Matchmaker. com. I filled out the little profile, and uploaded a dated pic of me dressed up as "Sting" for halloween. I have a poor self image, and hate any pics of me. This was a safe one, because it was dressed-up, all black, and afforded me an excuse to be silly. Any woman who wanted to meet me would have to understand that I AM a little silly.


Within a few weeks, I met a girl in Myrtle Beach. She was attending a college there, and since I was lonely, I would take just about any date I could. I met her, and she was very sexually agressive on the 1st date. Things progressed- and in the 4th month or so, she went to New Jersey. At my mothers insitance, I flew up there to suprise her. The suprise was on me, as she introduced me to her "highschool sweetheart" as "her friend Gray."
Despite my new title, she insisted on messing around on the couch that I had to sleep on- her parents didn't want me sleeping in her room/her bed. I felt quite used, and made up my mind before I left that that was it for her.

After we broke up, I went through a period of 1 time dates and whatnot via MMer.

I got upset, and more lonley.

I decided to basically spam every woman on there that was tall, and had a neat profile. I think there were 4 of them.

There was one that caught my eye in particular, and when she replied I was quite happy. We traded emails for about a month, waiting 2 weeks to talk on the phone, until we finally arranged a meeting.

She drove (in a snowstorm) to meet me at the Ruby Tuesday's for lunch in Lumberton. We ate, paid dutch, and rented Office Space from Blockbuster. We returned to my parent's house, where my mom made us some dinner. Mom also suggested that we go upstairs and look at ourselves in her mirror. We DO make a cute couple ;) . It was after we looked at each other that I quit being a chicken and kissed her. For the first time in my life I was dizzy... Loopy.... I had kissed women before, but this was different. She was it. The "one."

Jennifer and I celebrate our 4 year anniversary this Thursday. Were it not for the hard points in my life, I would never be able to enjoy the good parts with her. She is the reason I get up in the morning, and my true love. She makes all the pain in the past worth it.


I wish you John, and Miah, and everyone else looking for love, the best of successes. I hope you find your "Jennifer."