July 13, 2001. Keith and I had decided to meet in person after two months of emailing, calling, and falling in love on every level other than physical.
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I flew into Salt Lake City from LA and waited for his flight from Michigan to arrive.
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Filled with all the emotions that swirl when we know we’re about to have our lives forever changed, I looked out one of the giant windows at the majestic mountains and asked my mother, “Can you believe I’ve flown here to meet some guy from the Internet?”
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And I felt her respond, Of course. I sent him to you. 💫
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Mom had died one month before Keith’s whole life got thrown into chaos: His wife left, his job ended, he sat alone in a big empty house suddenly wondering what his life was supposed to be now.
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When we met online in April 2001 through a humor column I was writing (about being plus-sized, 30, and dating every loser in LA), we had no intention of doing more than flirting.
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Flirting was a part of my job as a columnist. He was out of practice from a decade in the same relationship. (First thing I taught him: Never stop flirting!) We lived 2200 miles away from each other. Neither of us wanted a relationship. Nothing would ever come of this.
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Yet here I was, alone in the SLC airport, finding out my mom had other plans.
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As he deplaned, my heart leapt and I said, “Oh, fuck. He’s the one.” And with very little exception, we’ve been together 20 hours a day ever since. 💗
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Here we are, today, together, nearly 18 years later and I still can feel my heart leap. My mom’s voice enveloping me as I take in this view.
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And as the hubs and I head into our new adventures from here, I remain inspired, in love, and so grateful for having relaxed my resistance enough to receive the guidance that led me to all the beauty we’ve created thus far. 🕊
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Here’s to the next 18, baby. So excited for what’s next! 💕

Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!