JAMES B. COOPER

A Certain Amount Of Personal Biography
© 2000 James B. Cooper

 

To begin with, I am not familiar with computers and internet, and I have a simple life of my own. I tried the internet in 1998 and not enthusiastic about it, for the amount of time to learn the technical know-how. I come from a close-knit family and I have but one brother, that year he moved to England with his family. Our parents have been resting in peace since 1985. My job did not require computer skill. When I took to the internet it was partly an experiment to maintain communication with my brother. My nephews, age 7 and 9, were computer literate. Perhaps I was also embarassed at the situation that I wasn't. I began to make friends shortly. I found that it is so easily done there than in real life, you can meet with many people, from other countries. My only experience abroad was in 1982 as we travelled to Singapore, the other country I know is New Zealand. I plan to visit England soon.

As it was an experiment, I did not own a computer, and I use a friend's. It was there I met my girlfriend. She was visiting Australia for a month, she is more educated than me but she is a kind, gentle person and we became friends instantly. A month passed by and she was back to England. That was the time I realized that I fell in love with her, and I was a fool for I let her go without telling her how I felt. Of course, I loathe the whole thing of being a fool, but she did not give me a number or address, the only way to reach her was the internet. I bought a computer of my own and started to mail her from home. Frankly I am not a rich man; this took a lot of thinking for my part, it went sickening that she might refuse to get involved with me, but I took my chance. It was harder than if I ask a woman to go out in real life. She couldn't see me, I had to rely on words and choose them carefully. As you can see I'm not good with words either unless we talk of sports. But she responded and we mail each other daily after January.

This is a true story, and I haven't seen her in person again since she left in December. But I love her more than any woman in the world; I know this might sound phony, but I'm willing to wait to go to England and see her again; in the meantime I don't date other woman nor have a love affair. Perhaps it is my environment; but I can't talk with the women I know in real life. With my girlfriend it is very easy. Of course, we had a fight as well, but rapidly solved. Being on my own feels fine now even though I miss her badly, since I know she loves me, no matter the distance; besides, we will be together one day.