A good place to start with your online research is ClassMates.com or Reunion.com. This site offers two membership options, one is free and the other is paid. The free membership allows you to list your name on the site so others can contact you by email. The paid membership allows you full access to the site such as sending emails to any members, viewing and searching member profiles, posting notes to message boards, posting and viewing images, and more. The three month paid membership starts at only $15, a small investment to potentially find and contact someone important from your past. Other good online sources to check out might be the 24 million member strong friendster.com or the ever-expanding myspace.com.

Before you bravely venture out into the world in search of your long lost love, it’s probably smart to keep a few basic tips in mind. First, be honest with what you’re looking for. If you are trying to reconnect with someone in hopes of rekindling an old friendship, that’s great. If you’re only pretending to do that under the guise of possibly reigniting an old flame, you could be asking for trouble. If you approach the reunion with honest intentions, you’ll have a better chance of a positive outcome. Plus, you can both avoid an awkward situation if one of you flatly rejects the other’s romantic attempts.

Second, set your expectations at a realistic level. Remember that time can be a tricky thing and it certainly does change people. While sometimes the changes can be beneficial, that isn’t always the case. The same person who you remember as wild, crazy and willing to try anything may have grown up a bit since you last saw each other. They could be settled into a serious job and maybe even a new family. Before you go booking two roundtrip tickets to go cliff diving with your old pal, you should probably discuss and explore their new interests.

Third, don’t be discouraged if your first few attempts at reuniting with an old flame are unsuccessful. The whole process from beginning to end can be time consuming and often frustrating. While an old flame may show interest in linking up with you again, they may be reluctant for whatever reason. Be patient with them and definitely avoid being overly aggressive.

So if you really feel the desire to look up an old flame, then enlist the help of a friend, launch your internet browser, and get ready to give it your best shot! The love of your life, or at least a long lost friend, may be right around the corner.

Jeff Cohen is the author of the e-book, 30 Minute Guide to Online Dating. It's a must-read for anyone looking to master the art of online dating without wasting hours of valuable time. To learn more about the e-book and purchase a copy, please visit 30 Minute Guide to Online Dating.