JOINING HAS ITS PRIVILEGES
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Digital Dating: Most of us wouldn't guess that beautiful Hollywood actresses turn to dating Web sites to find a man. But alas, Essence Atkins of "Half & Half" fame did just that. The Brooklyn-bred, Los Angeles-based starlet was over meeting men in the entertainment industry and began searching for a change of pace. She found just that in Jaime Mendez, a retired NFL player turned financial exec from the Midwest, through Match.com. On February 14, 2008, Essence and Jaime corresponded on the site for the first time. "I wrote him a quick little note that I had read his profile, and then I signed off, Happy SAD Day - that's Single Awareness Day," says Essence. A week later they had their first date and soon after the duo was an official couple.
Family First: In June of 2008, Essence and Jaime traveled to Las Vegas to celebrate Father's Day with Jaime's family. "We had a great weekend and it was the first time I had been around his family for an extended period," explains the actress. But on the drive home, Jaime received the unfortunate news that his grandfather fell ill. When Jaime decided to return to Vegas to be with his loved ones, Essence immediately dropped everything to be with her beau. When Jaime found out his grandfather didn't make it, Essence was right by his side. "We wrote his grandfather's obituary together. I saw his selflessness and strength during that time," recalls Essence. "I realized then he was all I wanted.
Better Late Than Never: On the night of Essence and Jaime's first date, the former athlete was late due to a traffic jam caused by a rare downpour in southern California. So on the night that Jaime proposed to his sweetie, he arrived exactly forty-two minutes late, just as he did for their first meeting. Deciding that Essence was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with was an easy call. "Essence is the woman I have been waiting for my whole life. She completes the circle. I am a better man because of her and I'm excited to see where God will take us as a couple. It's going to be a great ride," shares Jaime about his wife.
Tags: online, relationship
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