Happy Birthday Myspace Husband

It's this guy's birthday today.

Happy Birthday Mr James.

Did I ever tell you that we met on the Internet? No?

WELL.

In 2006, I was on my own. I decided I wanted to be a functioning artist and needed to market myself somehow. I had heard this thing called Myspace and thought it could be a good way to show off my art and have a kind of website thingy to send people to to look at my work. Or something. I didn't really understand the whole thing.

So one night, I took my first awkward selfie, opened an account and created my Myspace page. My first attempt at a 'Blog Post' was a silly little poem, referencing a Smashing Pumpkin's lyric.....

The next night, I looked at my page. I had a message from this guy. His name was Gavin. I thought this was hilarious, as 'Gavin' was the name I gave to things that needed names- Mix CD's, our work phone system, stray animals- anything. It was my go-to name. He said he had just started up a Myspace page the night before too, while he was working late. He was on his own too. He got my Smashing Pumpkins reference. We became each others first Myspace friends.

Over the next year and a bit, me and this guy chatted on and off. He always said nice things about my art. He went to an exhibition I was involved in, albeit, when I wasn't there.  He was a great photographer and I always enjoyed seeing his pics. He talked about missing his family and always responded when I mentioned mine in posts. He liked cool music and we talked about movies.

We never flirted or had any kind of romantic overtone to our communication. I kinda thought he was too worldly and hip for me... My friend Megan said he looked like he should be in a cool band.

One day in July 2007, I thought, I am just gonna ask this guy to have a coffee with me. He is cool and I think we could be friends in real life. We ended up meeting for a coffee, then going to see a film. I remember the moment I walked up behind him as he waited for me at the cafe. I remember hugging him hello- this lovely English man who I had never met in real life before. Cliche! Cliche! It seemed like we had known eahc other forever. We chatted for an hour, talked and talked, then went to see the film. He laughed at all the same inappropriate jokes that I did.

When he dropped me back to my car, he asked me if I would like to go to a concert with him in two weeks time. Liam Finn. I said I would love to. He hugged me and said goodbye.

When I got home, there was a lovely sweet message waiting for me on Myspace. I thought... Who is this amazing Gentleman!! And why is he being so nice to me???

TO BE CONTINUED.....

Happy Birthday Sweetie!!!!