Of necessity, not much can be said about SWINTBN. This much, I think, can be:

• We met in a chat room around 1997. At the time, I thought she was one of the two most desirable women therein.
   
• Among other things, she was brilliant, she was witty, and though there are seldom any opportunities to demonstrate it in the context of chat, I sensed a layer of sweetness and tenderness that few would ever be fortunate enough to see.
   
• Shortly thereafter, it occurred to me that I should make up my mind once and for all; it was not useful to vacillate between the two.
   
• And that would probably have been the end of that, except that at some point I was actually foolish enough to tell her.
   
• I think, though I am not sure, that she subsequently forgave this lapse in judgment.
   
• An opportunity arose where we could meet in person in a relatively safe environment.
   
• We both reasoned that a jolt of reality might be exactly what was needed to knock the romantic delusions out of me.
   
• So I went into the meeting halfway expecting to be disappointed.
   
• Imagine my surprise when she turned out to be more beautiful than I had imagined, and that she had God's own windchime for a voice, and that finding that layer of sweetness and tenderness was infinitely easier than I had suspected.

The woman of my dreams, I am convinced, does not actually exist, and if she did, I can think of no reason why she'd want anything to do with me. But someone who comes as close as this simply can't be overlooked. And if there's anyone else in this league — well, I'll deal with that when it happens.