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Simon's side of the story: Shane and I first met through AOL Friend Finder (I know it sounds cheesy!)...anyway...I answered an ad he had posted looking for people to hang out with as well possible dates in the Charleston, SC area. I was living in Columbus, OH at the time having just graduated from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and had moved back home to help my Mom pack up the house and move to Charleston, SC where I had decided to move as well. So long story only a little less longer...I was looking to meet people down in Charleston for friendship and otherwise!! I saw this long ad that stood out from the rest in that it was very passionate, interesting and driven. This was someone I could relate to. I immediately responded and poured out my innards over the course of a long e-mail. For the next 24 hours or so I nervously awaited a reply. About a day later I got an e-mail in reply and he was as surprised and filled with anticipation as me...we both were very interested in talking more. So for a year we traded e-mail letters filling in each other on our lives, goals, dreams, and what we were up too. Once I got moved down to Charleston we exchanged phone numbers and the first night we talked on the phone for 3 hours straight! (It was the first time we had talked to each other than the e-mail letters we had been sending each other!) The next night we had our first date and it was a great date with many even better dates to follow. We started seeing allot of each other and we were definitely a pair! Over the next 4 years we have lived in Charleston, SC, Boston, MA and now New York City! We've had many an adventure. Like the time we borrowed a friends convertible for a road trip. All our friend asked in exchange was that we take a picture when the cars mileage flipped. So while passing through the small southern town of Southport, NC we bought some headscarves at a thrift store, tied them around our hair, put on some funky sunglasses and rode through this small southern town with the top down. We were two regular Thelma and Louis’s...we of course got a photo for the mileage flipping! We've been lucky in that our families accepted the both of us regardless of initial reservations! Shane is my best friend and as cheesy as that might sound it's the truth. We still crack each other up and have a good time while together! Career wise my background is mainly in the music business. I've worked as the director for two radio stations, a road manager, publicist, music writer, booking agent, marketing manager for 4 indie labels and now am a Website Content Coordinator for Showtime working on shows such as Queer As Folk, Further Tales of the City and Resurrection Blvd.
Simon and I met many, many, years ago, or at least it feels like it. The thing about spending time with someone who is as much a friend as a lover is that time becomes less relevant. My Simon makes me smile, laugh and love a little more. I knew from the moment I met him at Kiva Han in Charleston, South Carolina that he was a gentle soul. The first thing that stood out about him was his intensity for what he loved. Music peppered our discussions, and now I see that he was trying to find a common interest. His attempts were not met with any sort of knowledge on my side. Music is not my forte, but we found common interests like Europe, travel, quirky people, exotic foods, and many others. Soon after we met, we went hiking. Simon had not really done intense hiking before, but he was up for the challenge. We planned to camp out but had no idea that the sites would be right next to the trail and beside a brook. The water lulled us off to sleep after a day of hills ending in aching feet. We had planned to stay another night out at the campsites but got so exhausted by the trails that we headed home early. The first time I really remember being with someone at a national monument, the mountain overlook with tourist shops galore. We held hands proudly and I started to feel emotions from people not used to seeing gay couples. Something about the stares made me want to hold his hand tighter. As I would smile at people going by, which is the southern way even when meeting strangers, they would look away. I grew up in North Carolina and had been taught to be courteous to strangers and friendly to everyone. Simon's family is great. His mom, Marina, is one of the funniest people I know. She speaks with an amazing Hillbilly Italian accent. Just kidding Marina. I admire her talents and patience having raised a high strung son like Simon. Her art reminds me of my youth growing up with drawing and painting everywhere. I work with Environmental Defense right now. As their director of web technology, I manage a team who creates technology for this nonprofit. One of our sites is http://www.formyworld.com. Previously, I lived and worked in Europe as a technology consultant and scholar. I think of myself as a social entrepreneur. Changing things through innovation. Get involved and help us out!
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