"In the twilight of our lives, we will be judged on how we have loved" It was the fall of 2007. He was 43. She was 39. Neither had ever been married; both had always wanted to marry. Having spent their adult lives exploring careers and living in various cities, they both began to realized that they'd accumulated more zip codes than long-term relationships. And it was time for a change. Trouble was, they'd tried before. Introductions by family members, joining the gym, blind dates... and nothing ever seemed to "stick." Trying hard not to be the cynical New Yorkers they feared becoming, they each managed to find their way to an online dating site where they launched another effort at the game called love. His profile read, "Here's the deal... I am a good person who is ready to find someone... who will be my best friend, who is ready to laugh, ready to be serious and ready to love." Hers read, "Intelligent men intrigue me. Men of principle get my respect. Gentlemen charm me. A man who combines all of these melts my heart. Might you be him?" And they were "matched" by the website. And they clicked. And it happened. IT? Full-on, head-over-heels love! Better than anything they could have thought or imagined. They still pinch each other occasionally to see if it's a dream. John is a teacher of the deaf for an early intervention program. Claudia is a hospital chaplain. They both love movies (John was a film studies major and worked in L.A. for seven years) and traveling (Claudia worked for the airlines for 8 years and has visited dozens of interesting places), and share addictions to books, chocolate, and coffee. They're always sharing their eclectic interest in music with each other (from vaudevillian ragtime blues to 70's pop tunes to jazz piano to commercial jingles). Claudia is animated and gregarious; John is thoughtful and steady. In their time apart, Claudia might be redecorating the apartment on a shoestring budget, while John is reading a magazine in a local coffee shop. What makes their relationship unique and wonderful is "what a surprise it is" to both of them! Just when they thought they'd reached the age where they were "figuring things out," along came love and turned them into a couple of starry-eyed kids! When you interact with John and Claudia, you get a sense of two "grounded people" who have just boarded a ride at the amusement park, ready for the fun but not quite sure what they've gotten themselves into! And now... 18 months later, they're planning their wedding... a day they - and their families - feared might never happen! It's a dream come true... an answer to many, many prayers... written 2/26/2009
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