How one couple overcame over a thousand miles, and are still
going strong today!
It was no easy task, but I finally found love in Second
Life!! No, not for me, silly! I have love of my own in SL and RL (same person,
of course.) No, what I was looking for, was a couple who’d gotten their start
in SL, then moved successfully into an RL relationship! Let me introduce you to
Laney* and Bob*.
Laney is a 34 year old young woman from California, who
found the man of her dreams in Bob, 42, an RL mechanic in Florida. The two met
one night at a mutual friend’s rez day party, and immediately had a connection.
They spent the next six hours straight online together chatting, exploring, and
generally trying to get to know one another before Bob had to head off to work.
Laney found herself wondering when he’d be back online. Laney is disabled due
to MS (multiple sclerosis,) and uses SL as a way to explore without taxing her
RL body. She never expected to make a romantic connection in SL.
Nor did Bob, who was
recently divorced, quite nastily, from his ex wife Diane*. Diane got the kids
most of the time, and he got to keep the house for his half of their visits
since Diane’s family was well off and could help her get into a new living
situation, whereas Bob would be left without a home, having no living relatives
he could call on for help. But after that party, they were inseparable,
spending as much time in SL together as possible, and lots of time on the phone
together.
Finally, after about 4 months, Bob saved up enough to meet
with Laney in person. “When I first saw him, I just knew everything was going
to be great. He had this smile to him that was warm, and somehow familiar. I
knew then that I was head over heels in love with him.” They spent two
wonderful weeks together, before Bob had to return to his home state of Florida
to go back to work. It was torture for them, being apart so much, so Bob would
fly Laney out to visit whenever he could afford to. “She was so great with the
kids, so natural. I was relieved to see them get along so well, and my little
ones take to her so quickly. When she’d come, she’d often visit for up to three
weeks. After about five or six rounds of doing that, they decided it was time
to think seriously. Did they want to take their relationship to the next level?
About 5 months ago,
Laney moved in with Bob full time, and now spends her time with her best
friend, his children, and their combined dogs, hers a German Shepherd, his a
bulldog. “It’s funny to watch them play together,” Says Laney, “Nat (the
shepherd) is so careful with Sully, it’s like she’s adopted her.” And while
Laney says her illness always makes life a rollercoaster ride, this time at
least she can enjoy the ride.
I want to thank the
real “Laney” and “Bob” for sharing their story with me, as I mentioned before,
it was hard to find a story with a happy ending, but so far, at least, Laney
and Bob are doing well with their happy ending. I wish you both the best of
luck, and a bright future!
*Not their real names, I find anonymity allows the story
teller to be more open, and was granted this story on the condition of it.
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