Red Braves the Accused Axe Murderer...and Lives

For those of you who have been watching (and you know who you are), this is the post that you have been waiting for. Red and I finally got to meet in person. This was not over the phone or through email. She and I were actually in the same place.

In the week leading up to this day, some of my friends have asked me if I was nervous. I can honestly say that I was not. We have talked extensively over the phone and through email. We have heard stories about each other's families, childhood, pet peeves and dreams. We far from know everything about each other, but have already learned a lot before we met face to face.

The progression leading up to this day took several steps. Here's a QUICK recap for the new followers:

• Red writes a phenomenal piece on February 13 about Valentine's Day. I was so moved, I proposed to her in the comment section of her blog. This was intended as a joke. My expectation was a little joking back and forth about it and it would be over.
• The next week, we each mention the proposal and her acceptance in our blogs and have a little more fun with it.
• The intensity grows as more people begin to chime in and watch to see this develop further, especially when Red admits to having a dream about meeting me. Once again the real action happens in the comment section. She explains her reluctance since I could be an axe-murderer for all she knew.
• I responded on my blog with Evidence that I Am Harmless. I carefully explained how I could not be an axe murderer and then asked people that new me personally to vouch for me in the comment section. Over 70 people responded.

While this was fun, Red lives in Delaware and none of it is being taken too seriously, although I was feeling a definite attraction to her. Despite the fact that we would never actually meet, the flirtation was fun. She eventually makes a comment that tells me she is feeling the attraction as well.

Soon after, it is determined that she is moving to Indiana which would put her 150 miles away rather than 900. She sends me an email, so we can begin to communicate privately rather than on display for the entire blogging community to read as well. This is the first time I learn her name, despite the fact that she didn't mean to share it yet. A few weeks later we exchanged phone numbers and have spoken almost every day since then.

Red arrived in Indiana last weekend (YAY!!) and that brings us to today.

That is the shortened version. Click some of the links I provided to see the exact way it happened. There is much more to be seen in the comment sections of several posts, but you will have to find those for yourself. I tell this story because I have gained several new followers since this all started who may not be up to speed.

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Yesterday, after close to three months since this all started we were finally face to face. I didn't have many expectations, but had been looking forward to this day for some time. I even had pictured how the initial meeting would take place.

SHHHHH!

After seeing each other, as we began to approach I would hold my fingers to my lips as she started to say something. Then, I would kiss her. Without a word, just a kiss. I figured since we were engaged before even trading names or numbers, why not kiss before we speak face to face? Plus, after all this time, I really wanted to. However, as is often the case, the way things happen in the real world rarely match up with what I saw in my head.

I have come to the realization that I am a much cooler guy on the internet than I am in the real world. I have several theories as to why this is:

1. There is less of a chance of getting slapped online
2. I don't normally have physical contact with the other person
3. The fact that I am in my underwear is not looked down on
4. I can easily step away from any conversation online with the push of a button

All of those factors give me much more confidence to say whatever I want without considering any negative repercussions. I am not socially inept. I live and work in the real world and have many close friends, but I have a boldness online that is not part of my real life personality. Despite my online persona, I was now crossing a parking lot toward the woman that I had been talking to for the last few months. This was no longer online. It's the real world and the first thing I noticed was that her pictures do not do her justice. I know that none of you in the blogging world have seen her, but Red is a beautiful woman. You just have to trust me on this. I immediately lost my nerve to start the day with a kiss. We greeted each other with a long hug.

Since we had met at a state park, we decided to walk one of the trails since many of the attractions were closed. We quickly discovered that the three days of rain preceding this meeting has made a mess of the trails. Red eventually took her sandals off to brave the mud while I did my best to find my way around each messy area.

Somethings I had learned about Red, I was not putting into practice at this time. After talking to her few a few weeks over the phone and internet, I discovered that she wasn't psychoanalyzing me by measuring the amount of time between phone calls. I didn't want to call too often and appear smothering, but also didn't want too much time between contacts to appear disinterested. This and many other factors were laid to the side when I realized that it was okay to just relax and be myself. She didn't have a bunch of crazy unpredictable expectations.

Now that we were face to face, I found myself being uptight. There was no reason for this. We had talked for months and already knew each other. It took a little time to relax. Since the state park was not working out the way we had planned, we decided to relocate. We chose a small town of historical significance to go see the sites there. The drive over (separately) gave me time to refocus.

The conversation flowed easier as we took the historical tour, although I did struggle to behave myself. Every new piece of information the tour guide gave us, brought snarky comments to mind. Also, Red seemed to be interested in the things he was saying, so I didn't blurt out every thought as I normally do.

We followed the tour with a late lunch and ended the day back at our cars. After a goodbye hug, she did what I had chickened out on earlier and kissed me. I immediately told her how much I had wanted to do that all day. She then admitted that she had wanted to when we first saw each other, but decided against it.

Maybe I should follow through on my instincts more often. I could have kissed her at the beginning of the date. In fact, it would have changed the tone for the entire day. It was a wonderful day as it was, but an initial kiss would have changed it. I don't know in what way, and I am happy with how it played out, but I didn't need to second guess myself.

After laughing at how neither of us had followed our first impulse, we shared another kiss and said our goodbyes.

It was a very good day and I expect that the next time we meet, it will be much more relaxed...and next time we meet, I will start with the kiss immediately.

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Red's take on the day can be read HERE.