Where did Dennis come from?



10 years ago today, (and 2 years after my first husband passed away), I received in my inbox from LDS Singles Online a paragraph of introduction. Just a paragraph, but I could tell he was different, and I was intrigued.

This man could write in complete sentences and he had perfect grammar, spelling and punctuation. Not that I judge people on how they write...I certainly make tons of mistakes in this department, and for the most part I don't even care.

But quite frankly, while I "met" many men online (although not in person) this was the only one who seemed immediately intelligent. Most men are intelligent, I don't mean to imply they aren't...but most online just do not take the time with their emails.

So I was interested. I wrote back. He wrote back. Good, this was fun.

Then less than 2 weeks into this daily exchange, he asked me for my phone number.
Hey, wait a minute...I only "knew" him for 2 weeks. I wanted a lengthy relationship online before I was to actually talk to him. So I wrote and told him this was too soon, I was not ready to talk to him yet.

He wrote a very polite, sweet email back basically telling me that if I didn't give my phone number to him, it was goodbye.

My best friend Peggy, in West Valley, Utah was with me through all this.
She knew I was interested in this man.
She knew I didn't want to let this one go.
She was also the one who after reading some of his emails had said to me, "You need to reel this one in very slowly and gently." Plus since Dennis was a cop for LAPD, Peggy would say, "You know the egos cops have. They're worse than Marines."

So when I called her so confused after the ultimatum he gave me....she listened to my long list of emotions and then just flatly said, "Oh, just give the BIG BABY your phone number."

So I did.

The first time he called I was home but I couldn't bring myself to pick up the phone. I wasn't ready. Besides, I wanted to hear his voice first and think about it for awhile.

Oh my goodness....when I HEARD his VOICE....I called Peggy and played it over the phone for her to hear. Can you believe how he sounds??! She didn't seem too impressed. I guess he just sounded like a generic man to her. She was also not too happy that I didn't just pick up the phone and TALK to him.

Okay, so I made a list of possible questions to ask him, possible things to talk about so there wouldn't be any pauses in the conversation. He had left me a few phone messages by now asking me to call him back on his toll free number, but I didn't. I wanted him to be the one to call me. Which he did, I realize that, but I wanted him to keep calling me until I was ready to pick up the phone.

Finally, I was ready. I grabbed my list and answered the phone. I found out several months later that he also had a list prepared and ready.

He was easy to talk to. I was impressed with his soft spoken voice, and his confidence. We had a few conversations and then he asked if he could take me out. A date? You mean we would actually see each other? This was 10 years ago when dating someone you met on the internet was considered freaky.

I had been discussing all of this with my home teacher, Tim. He said he would call Dennis' bishop and see what he thought of him. So my home teacher reported back to me and said his bishop spoke very highly of Dennis, in fact he was one of his counselors.

Dennis was in the bishopric as a single man? That's a rarity. He must be good, I thought.
2 months later he drove the 4 hours to my home. I'll continue this story on Dec. 11th, which will be the 10th anniversary of our first date.

Okay, here comes my favorite part.
Den would tell me later that he would often think of me (before he even knew I existed) when he heard this song, during his 5 year search for me.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Jill, I love this post. It was neat to hear your story. I knew you met on the internet but didn't know all the details. I am glad he made you give him his phone number. He is an awesome guy. I really respect and admire him a lot. He is a good and kind man and I think he is perfect for you. I can see the love he has for you in his eyes. One of the reasons I really like him is because he knows my name. There is really no big reason why he should. I was just always impressed with that fact. I am so glad you found each other and that you are so happy. Jill, you have always been one of my favorite people. Thanks for sharing this story. I can't wait to hear more.

grandmapeg said...

Okay...in my defense, meeting and dating someone "online" back then was freaky! The freaky stories got the news headlines, so, I was only looking out for my best friend's welfare and safety. And I'm happy to say that yours' and Dennis' story is the best 'internet' romance I've ever heard of. In fact, now, whenever I come upon friends talking about "online" romances...I always speak highly of Dennis and your story as a great success! Dennis is such a very nice and thoughtful man and is so good to you. He was still, very persistent but "the end justifies the means" in this case! By the way...Dennis doesn't hold it against me that I called him a Big Baby, does he? :)))
Peggy

Grandma Honey said...

PEGGY...No, he laughs every time we talk about this story. He will often say to me, even now, "Thank you for giving me your phone number."

Anonymous said...

Hey, I can't wait till Dec. 9 to hear the rest of the story! Don't torture us like that!

Anonymous said...

What more can we say? The above comments express our thoughts exactly. So, ditto. Love, Dad and Susan

Dennis said...

Okay, okay...it's time for me to clarify something. Yes, I did indicate to her that without being able to talk to her, we might as well go our separate ways. But I tried to be tactful about it. Everytime I would ask her a question about herself in an email, she would turn it around and answer with a question. Although I'd been in law enforcement my entire adult life, I never witnessed an interrogator like her. I wanted to know more about her...but I wasn't looking for just an on-line pen pal.
Well, she caved in and the rest is history. Truthfully, I had a feeling I would get her number.

-Den

(Thanks again, Sweetheart)

Kris said...

Oh, I love this! We're so happy that you found one another! We love you!

Rebecca said...

This is so fun, hearing your story! I can't wait to hear the "rest of the story".

Lisa said...

What a love story! This could be a "sellout" movie, you know what I mean? Especially as the song plays.
Love it, love it, love it!

Jill-the last paragraph in my post today was my own, not Pres. Hinckleys. That was just me summarizing what was in my head. The talk is in the Temple's section in LDS.org "Why Temples"

threelittlebackseatdrivers.blogspot.com said...

Ok, the suspense is too much...please tell more...that is so sweet...i didn't know that you guys met on the inet...i thought you had met somehow thru the investigation of your late husband's death? am i wrong??? so sweet...it makes me want to go kiss my husband... :)

Grandma Honey said...

NATALIE...Well Dennis attended Bill's murder trial with me....so maybe that is why you thought we met through the investigation of his death. That would be a cool story, but no, that's not how it happened. :)

Mary said...

I know personally how blessed you two were to meet this way. I gave the online thing a try for a year and finally removed my profile from all the sites. The only men I attracted were MUCH younger than me and "knew" I was their soulmate, their great love, by the second email. Can you spell d-e-s-p-e-r-a-t-e? Or maybe they were looking for a sugar-mommy. Anyway, I'm so happy it worked out for the two of you! You both deserved to be blessed this way.

Anonymous said...

Jill, forgive me, but whenever I read your blog title I think you are
Grand Mahoney! Thanks for your note on my blog. Yours is adorable and I would subscribe to it if I could find the little orange thing to do it. Already I'm looking forward to December 9 and I hardly know you! God bless you, Dennis, Amy and the twins.

Miranda said...

I LOVE this story. It is so fun hearing about how you met. I LOVE it!

Tianne said...

Hi Jill! Thank you for your sweet comment on my blog. It's nice to know people visit and read our site. I love the warmth and family care you express on your blog. It brightens my day, every time I visit. I met my Jeff on LDS Singles too. It was a neat story and I'd love to email it. It was really a miracle to me and I think it gave Robin some peace too, because finaaally, her single mom friend could find her place and then she didn't need to worry. Thank you for sharing your story, even if back then, it was 'freaky'- I think it's WONDERFUL! Love, Tianne

The Gage Cage said...

OK Jill,
Paul and I are reading this together and LAUGHING!!!! All I have to say is you are both impossible and endearing. I'm so glad Dennis was persistent and didn't stop calling or give up. Paul and I have decided that Dennis came from Heaven to you. You both deserved the VERY happy relationship you share together. As far as Dennis being in the bishopric....I'm not surprised at all. Paul and I both had him pegged to be in the new bishopric in our ward. We love the men that are called and have NO problem with them but we really thought Dennis would be in it. Anyway, sorry for this loooong comment and thank you for a great laugh. We love you guys!!!!! Now I better go back and edit my comment before I post it so you'll think I'm intelligent....HA!

Grandma Honey said...

KRISTA...I totally agree with you and Paul, that Dennis was sent from heaven to me. Even McKay and Tyler felt that way from the very beginning. They were both young teenagers at the time of our wedding and they completely welcomed him in as their new second Dad.
Thank you for reading my blog! I can't even tell you how much it means to us.

Logan and Amy said...

I am so glad you finally gave Dad a chance. I couldn't imagine him not here. He is so wonderful!!! I love your story about how you two met. I love that song Somewhere Out There. I am so glad you found each other.
Amy

Look what happened last night

  Just a little pre-graduating gathering for our DIL Amy.... Not everyday a Mom of 7 and a Grandma of 7, graduates from college. It was not ...