I, Jonathan, left a very difficult marriage of 21 years that produced two magical and heart centered children, a girl and a boy. She, Ulyssa, left a difficult marriage of 28 years which produced 3 strong minded and loving boys. I had been online dating on and off for 5 years. I met some very cool people. I was about to take a break for perhaps a year when this woman reached out to me online. We had been viewing each other’s profile, but she made the first move. Okay, I’ll do one more date.

We decided to meet over coffee in downtown Portland’s Stumptown Coffee. She asked how she’d recognize me. I told her I’d be the one in the sparkly Speedo. She still showed up. We ordered coffee, then she went to the restroom. As she sat back down, she said I was eyeing her up and down as she returned. I told her I was a chiropractor (true) and I’m trained to observe posture. She kindly bought it. I was her FIRST online date! She fell in love with me that day. It took me 2 days!

Our second date was in my modest apartment where I made her dinner and shared a bottle of Pinot Noir in front of the fireplace. She showed me her authentic self: sweet, honest, compassionate, strong willed, very smart and very sexy. Oh, those cheekbones. Then there was that one ginger curl dangling to the side of her bright blue eyes. Honestly I’m not posting this to win the money. I’m posting this because my heart is moved every time I tell our story. I cherish Ulyssa being my wife.