Did you ever fall in love with someone you never met in person? (43)

I fell in lust, not in love and I developed a strong friendship with a man I hadn't met. We met up online playing in a game zone that isn't on the net anymore. We joined up each night to play cribbage, joked, carried on and generally had fun. We lived in 2 different countries, no plans on meeting. Then one day something happened and he asked me to call - which I did. That changed things from casual gaming online to a deep friendship. As time moved on the lust grew and when there was opportunity, we met in Vegas. We met as friends with no expectations and ties, as neither one of us believed that you could fall in love without spending time together. I still hold that belief. Over a period of 2yrs and 3 trips together - including to his home - our lust and friendship changed to deep love and then life stepped in the way. That's how life is. The bottom line, we learned from those who walked the path before us, including my friends who married the ones they met online. In those days there were few opportunities for sharing photos, so many struck up friendships and lust affairs through the phone and/or messengers. (gosh that makes me sound old LOL) Heck, my late b/f and I, we booked the first trip without even knowing what the other one looked like! (and yes photos were exchanged later, to provide id when meeting at the airport) The thing is, all my friends said "friendship, lust, its NOT LOVE." Love comes through the muck and the tears, the fights and the making up, the bad breath and off days. Love isn't simple and it doesn't come without time brewing it, deepening it and creating it. There can be soul connections, doesn't mean though its love. At least that's my experience.