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Story of Us
I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. In 1999,
I was going through some personal trials and tribulations. It was my
last year of college, I was raising Carissa on my own. I HAD to student
teach in order to graduate. Student teaching meant that I couldn't work
and I had to use student loan money to pay bills. The money that I was
planning to use for my car payments for the next three months got STOLEN.
My car got repo'd and I was scared.
I spent a lot of time online back then, just ask Maggie :) I was in
a chat room not long after the car incident, and there was a guy in
there that started talking to me in the instant messages. His name was
Manny. He seemed like a nice guy, and asked if he could call me. I told
him that I was in a 'relationship' at the time, but we could talk on
the phone. When we talked, he seemed so genuine. He found a way to make
me laugh even though I was so down in the dumps. I told him about my
plans to move to North Carolina to be with my boyfriend at that time.
I had already purchased the one way tickets for Carissa and myself.
Honestly, at that time, I was taking an opportunity to vent my problems
to a complete stranger. It was nice to talk to someone who didn't judge
me. We talked every now and again, but it was always just friendly conversation.
He was so respectful of the fact that I was with someone. After awhile,
the time grew longer between conversations on the computer, and we lost
touch. He was a nice guy but I didn't think twice about it at that time
because I was committed to the relationship with Kenneth.
Some of you may remember Kenneth. He ended up moving up here instead
of us going to North Carolina. Long story short, my mothers fears about
me meeting someone online came true. The first four months were great,
so I thought, but sure enough the relationship turned into a nightmare.
Finally after about 9 months of hell, I found the strength and courage
to kick him out. I found myself questioning everything. Here I was,
a single mom, first year teacher, 25 years old and I just decided to
chill out for awhile in the relationship department. I turned back to
the computer, but not to find a relationship, rather to keep my mind
off of my life so to speak. It was a great escape.
After about 3 months of being on my own, I was online one night and
it was late. I was bored and decided to go through some personal ads.
I went to love@aol and started searching. It was late and so I was just
going to look at a few ads. I was NOT planning on responding to any
ad because after all, I had just had a bad experience with someone from
online. I clicked on the 3rd ad from the top and I saw the most beautiful
smile. I thought, "what the hell? maybe I should just say hi and
see if he writes me back." So I sent a picture of myself along
with a few comments, and went to bed. I didn't really think that anything
would ever come out of it. Matter of fact I remember thinking to myself,
"I will never admit that I met someone online again after what
just happened to me with Kenneth" It's not that I couldn't meet
someone any other way, it was just the easiest way being a single mom
at that time.
A few days later there was an email from the guy I responded to. The
first sentence was: "I remember you!" It was Manny. I didn't
even REALIZE at the time that I wrote to him that it was the same guy
I had become friends with over a year prior. The reason his ad was even
toward the top of the list was because he had just happened to update
it with a new picture the day before I responded. We talked on the phone.
This time we spent HOURS talking and really getting to know one another.
I was so nervous to meet him in person. After about a month of talking
on the phone, everyday for hours at a time, we decided it was time to
meet.
There was such a strong connection there. Face to face he was just as
genuine as he was on the phone. He started shuffling his schedule around
so that he could come visit me often. He was in Detroit and I was in
Toledo. I was so happy when we were together. On July 20th, 2001...we
decided to get married in Vegas. I moved to Detroit, got a job in Westland,
and we started our life together.
He is still the same genuine person that he was when we met. Luckily,
nothing has changed except for the fact that I can't imagine my life
without him. He is my best friend. He is a WONDERFUL father to Carissa.
I couldn't have asked for a better man for my daughter's step father.
On August 17th, 2002, our son Nathaniel Zachary was born. It was the
only part of the puzzle that was missing. We both had our own daughters,
and now having a child together seems to have bonded all five of us
even closer. We have 3 children, not mine, yours, and ours.
So as I said, everything happens for a reason. Coincidence or destiny?
The fact that he just HAPPENED to update his ad the day before I responded
so that it was at the top of the list? I don't know, but I'm not going
to question it, and I'm certainly not ashamed of the way we met... after
all... I'm the happiest I've ever been, and without the power of technology
we would have never even crossed paths. Life is truly amazing :)
Jennifer Marie Shields~ graduated
from The University of Toledo with BA in Education, certified as an
LD teacher in Michigan and Ohio. Currently teaching 8th grade in Westland
Michigan. Married to Manuel Shields on July 20th 2001. Gave birth to
Nathaniel Zachary Shields on August 17th 2002. Daughters Reina,8 and
Carissa,5 keep us very busy as well :)
Manuel "Manny" Shields ~ graduated
from Michigan State...ummm..a long time ago :) Currently working as
an enrollment counselor at The University of Phoenix. Been doing comedy
for the last ten years and continue to work locally on the weekends.
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