One of the "characters" in my book e-mailed me this evening.    We still keep in touch.  Actually, in the book, I refer to her as "Chris".  Well, "Chris" informed me that DESERTGUY has multiple sclerosis and is just barely getting around.  He is actually relying on a wheelchair and a walker.   It has been 13 years since I had first signed online and got connected to AOL.  It is 13 years since I first started chatting to DESERTGUY.  He seemed like he had it all together!  Purdue graduate, four children, lived in the West, had his own software business, etc., etc.  Funny how life turns around . . .  well not so much funny as it is sad.  In my book, DESERTGUY preferred Chris.  She actually moved out to the deserts of Arizona to be with DESERTGUY. 

Read this excerpt from my book, Caught in the Net, a story of Internet addiction and romance by Sunshine44:

                                          Roses from Arizona
   
      We exchanged instant messages. The time flew. He had a sense of humor that I just loved. I downloaded his picture that he had scanned and had sent over the screen. He was cute with beautiful blue eyes and a wonderful smile. He was bald but it fit him. The chemistry was definitely there for me. We would smile and laugh at all of the witty comments we both would write. He kept asking for a picture. Besides not having a scanner for fast delivery, I also told him that I had none to offer at this time. I did tell him that I would forward one eventually. In the last month, I had lost about ten pounds but this was hardly a dent into what I had to lose. I felt so insecure about the weight, so I kept assuring him that he would receive a picture of me soon.