The Story of Dietrich & Elizabeth
As it is impossible to recall the precise story of our meeting and events leading up to our dating after all these years, we have decided to give both of our versions of the story here. While both stories are pretty much truth, we are positive the real story is somewhere in the middle. So while just remember, when you are reading the following stories just remember, the story of Dietrich & Elizabeth is a really meandering path through life with lots of ups and downs along the way.
Elizabeth’s Story
I began working on my biology degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in the summer of 1997 and by January of 1998 I had decided that the drive back and forth from Pine Bluff (still living with my parents) was getting to be too hard and costly for me. It was at this time I had decided to move to Little Rock. Also during this time, the only friend I knew that lived in Little Rock was my long-time friend Eric Ashcraft. A friend of mine had introduced me to a computer program by the name of mIRC, which is a program with lots of different chat rooms. I got brave one night and logged onto the #ArkIRC channel and began talking to people in hopes that I would meet some new people in town.
I began talking with a girl by the name of Harvest and after chatting for a while we decided that we would meet one day in town for lunch. Harvest worked for an internet provider here in Little Rock by the name of World Lynx. One day during her lunch break she met me at a local nearby restaurant and we talked for a while. I had told her that I was in hopes of meeting some new people and she told me that she and bunch of her co-workers usually meet a time or two a week at the I-HOP, which is on the corner of Markham and University and asked me if I would like to join them one night…and I did.
I talked to Dietrich for the first time on the IRC channel that same night that I had met Harvest for lunch. I suppose that she had told him about me, though I am uncertain still as to what she said. He just started messaging me and asked me if I planned to meet them during the next get together and we continue to chat for a while longer.
It was a few days later that I met up with this group for the first time at I-HOP. Being that I really did not know anyone but Harvest at the time I suppose I was rather quiet. We stayed here for a while and then I was invited to Harvest and Brian’s for a little get together which consisted of several people who would soon be in my closer circle of friends. It was also here that I met Dietrich (dEvious1) in person. I can remember thinking he was adorable. I have always been a sucker for a baby face, and he had one! It was from this night on that Dietrich and I kept in touch and a time or two he had asked me to join him and a few of the others at his apartment to watch movies…the rest is history…we have been together ever since.
14 years and two beautiful children later, and a roller coaster ride up and down…and up and down again (will spare the details)…things have finally settled into place and we are both happier than we have ever been.
I recently attended my first residency in Jacksonville, Florida. I was away from home for 8 days, which is the longest I have ever been away from my family. It seems that this had affected all of us in a way that I never had expected. It made me realize that I hated being away from my family for so long and that I really never wanted to have to do that again. It was at this time that Dietrich sent me a message while I was in class saying “pick a date” (for the wedding). My classmates were staring at me as I smiled and cried at the same time.
Dietrich’s Story
I was working at World Lynx as a system administrator, and was getting bored sitting around the house night after night, so I started trying to make new friends. After having minimal success on my own, I started doing the whole networking thing — hanging out with friends in the hope of meeting new people — and that really didn’t work out well. Around the same time, I had taken interest in a girl at work named Harvest and after numerous failed attempts, I asked her if she wanted to go out one night. (un)Fortunately for me, she said she had a boyfriend, but knew someone who was really cool who was looking to meet new people in town.
I said sure, why not and she told me to login to the #arkIRC channel on IRC later that evening and she would introduce me. Later that evening, as instructed, I logged into the chat room and met KutieKat for the first time — the woman who I would eventually learn was named Liz. After some idle chit chat and random musings, Harvest (evolchild) invited us to IHOP that evening to hang out with some friends from the chat room. We both agreed to meet later at the IHOP and signed off to get changed.
A few hours and a short drive later, I had finally met Liz for the first time when I arrived at the IHOP. I knew there was immediate chemistry, but was, at the time, unsure of myself. But we talked and had a great time. After coffee and pancakes, we went to Bryan’s apartment where he was having a small party. Spending more time with Liz, I knew that there was something there, so I decided to pursue a relationship at that point. We agreed to meet again soon, and departed company.
A few days later we met again, and ever since we have been, in one way or another, together — a testament to Internet Dating’s effectiveness.
PDF