"Hi there, Tennessee Man!" That was my initial greeting to Billy in the chat room early one morning in June of '99. After being on the internet for about 2 months chatting with some cool guys and gals, I came across this guy from Tennessee. Being a die-hard lover of Country music and always having a fantasy of visiting Tennessee one day, I started to talk to him.
We got to exchanging names, ages, marital status other important stuff, and he was so excited that I was from a small island in the Caribbean. We quickly discovered that we both have some of the same interests, and all the songs that I love, he does too, with one exception. I have this habit of typing the words of songs while I listen to CDs and he loves it when I did that. He would sing along with me. I discovered he played the guitar and promised to play it for me soon. He took me on a virtual tour of his favourite place one week after we met and played the "Tennessee Waltz" on his guitar for me. It was so romantic. I think it was then and there that I realised I loved him.
The first few months I was on vacation and we chatted for about four to five hours every night . We even went to seven hours one time. He seemed so interested in me and my family and also in my island. I loved describing our customs and culture to him because he always made it appear more glamorous than it is. I must admit, he intrigued me from day one.
Billy added something special to my otherwise ordinary life. I have been married for the past 21 years, and quite happily, I must add. But having no kids of my own leaves me with a void, much spare time and some lonely hours to fill. Billy has since filled that void in my life. He is divorced and his daughter and grandsons live with him. 
I started chatting with his sister two weeks after, and that too, made me feel special to him. He is the most caring, loving, sensitive person I have (never) met and I have grown to love him dearly and care for him so much. He has become a part of my life now, even though we are thousands of miles and an ocean apart. Whenever I don't see him for one night, I feel like the whole day was wasted. If anyone were to tell me that I would feel this way about someone I have never seen, I would have doubted them to the last. 
Billy and I share something very special. He's always there when I need a friend to listen to my problems and he's always so proud of my accomplishments, encouraging me to reach greater heights. He is always offering advice and suggestions and teaching me things on the computer. And most important of all, he respects my marriage, my husband and me and has been the perfect gentleman throughout our ten months of friendship, asking for and expecting nothing in return for all the happiness he has brought into my life.
I hope and pray that one day in the not too distant future, Billy and I will meet and that our friendship will continue for as long as it makes us both happy. We have talked about meeting next year and I am positive, that God willing, I will meet this great new friend of mine, and that neither one of us will be disappointed. But whether or not we meet in person, I know that I would continue loving Billy and being his friend for as long as he wants me to, and I will be forever thankful to him for the love and joy he has given me. 


*Dedicated to you, Tenn.*

Copyright .... Jill.