Wakefield couple's love story a contest winner

WAKEFIELD - All it took was the click of a mouse for Ryan Johnson to meet the love of his life.

He and wife Trisha's story of falling in love was selected as the winner of the Daily Globe's 2014 "How I Met My Valentine" contest.

In July 2006, Ryan came home from work with intentions of deleting his online dating profile. He said for months he saw the same people, nobody new, and he was tired of meeting people in bars.

However, just before he was going to delete his profile, he had a message from Trisha Gechas.

"I had seen her on the site for awhile, but I didn't have the courage to message her," Ryan said. "When I saw the message was from her, I was like, 'Holy crap!'"

Trisha decided to send Ryan a message because she was "sick of meeting barflies."

"I didn't want to meet someone hanging out in the bar," Trisha said. "Ryan seemed to have a good sense of humor, so I decided to send him a 'hello.'"

After a few weeks of talking on the phone, the two decided to finally meet in person.

"I was really nervous because I had no idea what he looked like," Trisha said. "He had no photos on his profile, and the one photo he did send me was hard to see."

Their first date took place July 27, 2006, at the Wolff's Log Cabin in Rhinelander, Wis. Ryan picked up his date at her house. Earlier in the evening, he decided to take a ride to see if he could find the house.

"She had a very long, narrow driveway," Ryan said. "It seemed to go through the woods. I got up to her house, but I didn't see an area to turn around, and I didn't want her to see me, so I put my car in reverse and drove all the way backwards. She didn't see me, but apparently her dog saw me or heard the car and started barking a lot. She went to see what was going on, but I was already gone."

Trisha said Ryan was very funny during the date and thought she "was a ditz."

"She kept laughing at everything I said and touching my hand," Ryan said. "I was hoping and praying she wasn't a ditz. I dated a few of those in my past, and I didn't want to fall for another. It turns out that over a year later, before we went on our date, she was reading a book about how to flirt, and that's what the book told her to do."

Despite all the flirting, the couple "hit it off," and had "good chemistry," according to Trisha.

They planned a second date, a third date and four years later decided to get married.

Ryan and Trisha were married Sept. 18, 2010, in the bride's hometown of Rhinelander. Soon after, they moved to Ryan's hometown of Wakefield, where they reside.

They plan on having children. For right now, they reside with their "fur-babies," two cats, Romeow and Benny, and their bunny, Pepper.

As for Valentine's Day, Ryan said when he was single, he "hated it."

Now things have changed.

"It's good to know I have my valentine for the rest of my life," Ryan said.

The couple won a package, donated from local businesses. Ryan and Trisha are planning to go out to dinner and exchange their presents, something they are very excited about.

"I had no idea he was doing this," Trisha said. "It was a wonderful surprise."

After eight years, and one almost fateful mouse click later, Ryan is grateful he has Trisha.

"I am thankful every day that she chose me," he said.

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I first met my wife on July 10, 2006. I just got home from work and was going to delete my profile off the Yahoo Personals website. For months it as all the same people, nobody new. I was also tired of meeting people in bars. But when I was going to delete my profile, I saw that I had a message. It was from my future wife, Trisha. ...

—Ryan Johnson