It all happened in June 1998. I had found the Sime~Gen web ring in January of that year, and Zoe had found it in November the year before. We were both happy as pigs in mud knowing that we weren't the only ones in the world who knew what Sime~Gen was, or that identified with either larity.

I found myself spending large amounts of time with the Role Players at that time (to see the logs of the Role Playing go to Sime~Gen Roleplaying). Zoe was less fortunate as she didn't have a modem at home, and could only log on for short periods of time while at work. We met via IM, and soon discovered we lived less then 2 hours away from each other. Of course, I soon found out about her "problem" and as my son had a small business going at that time selling computer hardware, I convinced him to sell a modem to Zoe at cost.

Then came the day of the big meeting. I drove to Brisbane, modem in hand, and with the help of a road map found Zoe's street. Then I drove slowly down the street until I found the address. There, sitting on the steps reading a S~G book was - it could only be - Zoe. Why hadn't she warned me that she was mostly bald, and the little hair she had was bright red (as in fire truck red)? She had never seen fit to mention the 13 earings in one ear either. I found myself looking for tattoos! (there are none).

She looked up and smiled at me, and what a smile she has. I was the shy and awkward Gen, she the Channel trying to put me at ease. Of course, we didn't know at that time we were matchmates, that was to come later. Certain things did happen though, to tip us off!

In installing the modem we needed a copy of Windows. I had bought down my CD, but Zoe didn't have a CD Rom, so we needed the files that the installation asked for on a disk. Fortunately Zoe's work had several copies of Windows on disk, and it was only a block away, so away we went to get a copy of the disks and for me to see where Zoe worked and IM'ed me.

Disks in hand we returned to Zoe's place to continue the installation…. Except that the file it wanted was corruption that set of Windows disks. But wait! Work had more then one set, so back we went to return with a second copy - same result (these disks were all getting a bit old). By this time the Gen was feeling a little tired of running back and forth. "Looks like we need the other set" I said. "Off you go, pet". Before she knew it, Zoe had left me alone in her house and was trotting back to work to get the third set.

Zoe says that is when she decided to do a closer zlin. She still didn't know we were matchmates (we needed another Channel to point that out) but she knew we were close enough matched. Personally, I think she just realized who was boss.

That was the start of what has become a beautiful friendship.

Eliza ambrov Halwyn Companion to Zoe Farris Feel free to comment on this Chronical Return to the Halwyn Chronicals Return to Halwyn Householding