In 2005 Sarah met Howard online on Cupid.com, she called herself Annapurna, and he called himself Simple Man. She later explained the name Annapurna.

Annapurna is the goddess of food and nourishment in Hinduism. Worship and offering of food is highly praised in Hinduism and therefore, the goddess Annapurna is regarded as a popular deity.

Howard took the name Simple Man because of the song Simple Man as performed by Shinedown:

Mama told me, when I was young, "Said sit beside me, my only son

And listen closely, to what I say, And if you do this, it will help you some sunny day" Oh yeah

"Oh take your time, don't live too fast, Troubles will come, and they will pass

You'll find a woman, and you'll find love, And don't forget that, there is someone up above"

Well, Sarah and Howard flirted online for several months, off and on. Eventually they decided to meet in person at the North Carolina Museum of Art, at the outdoor movie "Ray", the Ray Charles story. Sarah drove her white Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan with the Dream Dinners license plate, and Howard rode his new blue Harley-Davidson Road King.

Sarah said later that she was seeing three men at that time, "short guy", "tall guy", and "Harley guy". Sarah also told me that she had a rule, "no kissing on the first date". Well rules were made to be broken. It took some time but the rest, as you know, is history. Howard took off his motorcycle jacket and folded it up for a pillow, and the two snuggled under the blanked that was fastened to the back of his motorcycle with a bungee cord.

While I was staying overnight with Sarah on one of her final days, she drifted in and out of awareness.  At one point, even though her eyes were closed, she knew me and spoke with me, and then she said her final words to me -- a song.  In perfect tune, she sang me the Carol Burnett sign-off song, and I sang it along with her.  

"I'm so glad we had this time together,

Just to have a laugh or sing a song,

Seems we just get started and before you know it

Comes the time we have to say so long."

Good night, my little Sweet Pea.  

Love you always,  "Auntie M."  (Martha Kuper Brinson)