The Day We Met

A beautiful warm sunny February day. Nice day for a drive.
It's valentine's weekend....February 1999. I left my South
Carolina home around 10:00am for the 5 1/2 hour drive.

It was a meeting of women on an e-mail list that Annie
owned. She invited these wonderful ladies to her home.
I was included.

Annie and I met on line. I had just come out of the closet.
Searching was what I was doing.....looking, wanting
answers to questions I did not even know what the
questions were.

I found those answers through a kind gentle space and
a kind gentle woman. The space....Womens Space..
the woman....Annie. She offered me assistance.
Provided answers, information was her highway.
I was new not only to computers but to being a
lesbian.....

I originally bought a computer to fill empty space.
My Mom had recently died...I didn't know what to
do with myself. I had withdrawn from friends and
family. I was depressed.

This machine.....the computer opened up a new
world for me. I found people who felt as I felt.
People who believe as I believe. Normal everyday
people with the same hurts, same cares, same
worries, and same desires as me.

I found womens space.....a wondeful group of women.
Owned and operated by Annie. She kept everyone in
line. No offensive words about list members....kindness
please. Well, I was offensive to someone. Don't
remember to whom or about what now. Annie set me
straight....thankfully she didn't boot me from the list.

I e-mailed an apology to her and asked for her phone
number. That began a friendship.

I was invited to a womens space gathering. Hence my
5 1/2 drive from South Carolina to Georgia on a beautiful
sunny warm February day. Friday February 13 no less.

I have always liked the number 13....and today would
be no exception.....

As I arrived on her street....fourth house on the left....
I saw this mountain of a sloped driveway....no fear
here. I turned right into that sloped driveway.
Sunglasses on, sunroof open.

The first thing I saw was Annie sitting on her front
porch rocking. What a wonderful sight....what a
beautiful person. I got out of my car...walked
up that hugh sloped driveway...she stood up...
walked to the porch and said....
" Well Jan Hicks"
I said
" Well Annie Burke"

We still say that to each other over 6 years later.
I walked into her house with the smell of pound cake.
It was still in the oven. We began talking...her
kids arrived home from school...she introduced me.

She asked me if I would watch the cake in the oven....
she had an errand she had to run....Sure I can do that.

That afternoon was wonderful...she was wonderful.
I felt comfortable.

The other guests started to arrive. Some that afternoon
some the next day on Saturday....But, not before
a tour of her lovely immiculate home.

We went out onto the deck off the kitchen...
she leaned over and kissed me....it was returned.

It was truely a wonderful weekend. Getting to know
a little of Annie and other guests. And letting her get
to know a little of me....

I visited often in the next 2 months...with each visit
I brought more of me into her home.

On april 16...we brought all of me into her home...
soon to become OUR HOME and OUR FAMILY.