www.robert-pace.com

Love found halfway around world for Australian woman
By JENNIFER McDANIELS – Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 14, 2007 3:23 AM EST

Lifelong Harlan resident Robert Pace wasn’t looking for love – it just sort of happened.

That’s true about most love stories, but what makes Pace’s more unique – and perhaps more modern – is that love found him over the Internet.

Meeting prospective husbands and wives on popular Web sites such as eHarmony and Matchmaker seems to be the new dating trend these days, and although there are some naysayers who roll their eyes at the thoughts of turning to the computer for love, there are an increasing number of happy couples who have met the woman or man of their dreams over the World Wide Web.

Pace, 37, didn’t set out to find a partner. His on-line quest didn’t involve personal profiles or compatibility tests. The computer whiz simply logged on to a few chat rooms to discuss similar interests and current issues with a wide range of people from across the globe.

There was one, in particular, that he seemed to have a whole lot in common with.

Elli Scott, a free-thinking, art-loving girl from Brisbane, Australia, had no intentions of living in America, but all that changed when she got to know Pace over the Internet and finally got to meet him face to face in Los Angeles. In 1998, the two met electronically on a site called Internet Relay Chat” In 2003, they were married.

At first, their online conversations took place about once a month, but as the two realized they had much in common and shared similar interests, the conversations increased to once a week to even several hours a day.

“I remember our first conversation in a chat room,” said Elli, 24. “It was about ice cream. What they call in America ‘sherbet’, we call in Australia ‘sorbet.'”

It didn’t take long for the two to get caught up in night-after-night gripping discussions ranging from medical science to art. And in the process, an undeniable attachment formed.

“We weren’t looking for relationships,” Elli said. “But I knew when I came to the states during my college summer break to meet him in Los Angeles in November of 2002 that there was more between us than just friends. I didn’t want to admit to that, though.”

Pace said seeing each other on the East Coast for the first time “sealed the deal” for him. Their friendship deepened even after they met, and spending time with each other also added sparks to their budding relationship.

Elli traveled to Harlan with Pace, where she spent three months with him. When she flew back to Australia, Pace stayed with her in Elli’s native home for six months. Because the immigration process was easier for Elli than it was for Pace becoming an Australian citizen, they decided to come back to the states together. They married on Sept. 23, 2003.

“When we were together, I realized I didn’t want to let her go,” Pace said.

Elli agreed that during their time together, they didn’t want to be separated. But she’s quick to point out that he did the pursuing.

“I wasn’t prepared to give in to a relationship,” she said. “But when you realize how much someone cares for you, and how much they feel for you, it just sort of makes sense to give the relationship a chance.”

And that’s what she did.

Even though Elli’s thousands of miles away from home and she’s continually adjusting to small-town living in Harlan County, she’s happy sharing the new, exciting chapter in her life with Pace. The two are currently trying to promote Pace’s Web business (www.uptopace.com), which deals with computer repairs, selling domains and building Web sites. Elli is a student at Southeast Kentucky and Community Technical College, where she’s also a student worker at Cumberland’s Appalachian Center. And if that isn’t enough to keep them busy, Elli is currently serving as president of The Artists’ Attic.

What is Pace’s favorite thing about his wife?

“Her independent thinking and creative approach at formulating new ideas,” he said.

And for Elli?

“Robert’s a good cook,” she laughs. “But he’s also a very creative person. And what’s a nice way to say he’s stubborn? Oh, yeah, he’s very dedicated. That sounds good, doesn’t it?”

Pace has already got Valentine’s Day planned with his wife. He’s found a chocolate souffl/ that he wants to make for her.

Elli is a firm believer that happy endings do exist online.

“You have to be completely honest, though, for it to be able to work,” she said. “If you are honest about yourself, and the other person is honest about themselves, then you’ve already developed a friendship and a connection before there is any kind of physical attraction, and that is the basis of a good relationship – being great friends.”