They met on the Internet, “the singles bar of the new millennium.” She was from Russia; he was from Detroit Michigan, USA. Exact opposites in every respect. His name is Joe and hers Natasha. Joe liked the sound of her name—Natasha. If that was her real name. After all, the Internet is a place where deceitful people get caught in lies. And it was so easy to catch people in lies. Joe had become like a surgeon, carefully removing the lies from the truths.
They chatted back and forth awhile until Joe mustard up the courage to ask Natasha to meet, face to face. Joe realized this was a leap of faith on his part. Natasha, reluctantly agreed, so much like a woman regardless of culture.
They met in a public place, a coffee shop. Natasha picked the location, she was in her comfort zone and Joe felt like he was in the twilight zone. “You will recognize me Joseph; I’ll be the girl wearing the white parka.” Joe showed up right on time and took a long, slow look around the coffee shop. No white parka. That meant no Natasha, which also meant he was stood up. He decided to wait around for a few more minutes and chalk this one to experience.
As he was walking out the door, she walked in. “Where are you going Joseph? You didn’t want to wait for me?” Joe felt a little silly getting caught trying to sneak away. Natasha immediately scolded Joe for trying to get away and told him his coat looked old and worn out. Joe told Natasha “the white parka” she was wearing, looked beautiful. They had exchanged pictures on the Internet but Joe knew the rule: add 50 pounds and ten years, that way there will never be any surprises.
