The Intro: Lyndon and Mark met each other around June of 1980. Lyndon was dating a roommate of a very good friend of mine at the time. One day, when I stopped by my friend's house, his roommate was there with Lyndon. Lyndon was sitting, relaxed on the couch, studying. I was introduced but that was it, nothing more. I had come over to visit my friend and seeing my lifelong love at that time was totally incidental. After that introduction we occasionally would bump into each other at the same event, party or other gathering but really didn't become good friends, not because we didn't like each other, but more because we just never really had the opportunity to talk much. Lyndon was going to college and I was working at a state agency at the time.  We didn't really get to know each other better until... 
Co-workers: I was working at a state agency in 1981 and our division was in need of another computer operator in the same section I worked in. The position was posted and I immediately thought of Lyndon because I remembered him talking about how he was running out of money and may have to delay finishing college until he could replenish his funds.  I told him about the job, he got an interview and he was hired. We worked the same hours and in the same office side by side, day in and day out. He was still in a relationship and so was I but we both were not happy with each of our respective relationships. Eventually he broke it off with his partner and I had already done the same with mine. With new found "freedom" we both regularly spent a lot of time with each other and ended up being great "bar-buddies". Wednesday nights was "the" night to go out because one of our favorite bars always ran 10 cent well drink night until midnight. This ritual continued for quite some time and, now that we were best buds, we got to know all the "dirt" on each other. We often talked about who we were seeing and we became close enough friends so that we talked about our dates and personal exploits in detail.  This went on for several months or so until...
The "connection":  There were several people at work who knew that we were gay (and single) and on one occasion a co-worker suggested to both of us that we should "date" each other! She thought we'd make a really nice couple and knew us well enough to believe that we should date..  We both really laughed it off and said "ewvwww!!!, no way!", but you know, I think that actually started us thinking about it because at some point after that we did actually date.  For several months we were regularly seen with each other, did many things together, and shared many close moments together but still lived apart from each other and really didn't consider ourselves a couple. We lead somewhat separate lives although we were sort of "seeing each other" but not really "seeing each other".  I personally believe that we were both a bit scared that going further could mean not getting back to where we were, if things didn't work out, until...

(con't on next page)