Good day Ladies and Gentlemen, My name is Richard and as an introduction I thought I would tell you a true story about my Long Distance Relationship.
My LDR is one of two the I personally know of that crosses times zones, continents and even cultures. The other story belongs to an Ex and i do not know all the details. However this is my tale.
I am an Englishman, I was born in England, Raised in England (mostly) , Think like an Englishman and talk like an Englishman yet here I am living in Texas. And this after two previous failed LDR's.
My wife is a Texan, Born, bred and Raised. Say's Ya'll, Yee-ha, etc etc etc. Yet our loved crossed such small boundaries such as the Atlantic ocean (it's just a pond!!)
We first met sometime in 2003 on a Christian Chat room (we are both born again Christians). And our very first 'Serious' Conversation was about colours. Specifically how a person's choice of colour when logging into a chat room can clue in everyone else as to their emotional state. On this particular day I logged in as my normal 'steel blue' while she logged in as a dark gray. A far cry from her normal red. This led to me asking a simple question "whats up?"
"nothing" was the reply. "So why the wrong colour?" I asked
"How did you know something was wrong when I logged in based on my colour????"
And so the conversation went.
Fast forward a year, by this point we had become good friends, in fact we had become close friends, so close in fact that mutual friends started asking when we were going to make it "official"?
And so I said to her "Everyone thinks we are dating, want to make it official?" Her reply was "sure, why not?" And so we became an official 'Item'.
Again Fast forward a few months, and we had grown closer still, by this point we had started to phone each other at least once a week (when her mother did not hang up on me) and I had started to pray (a lot) to find out if this was what God wanted. To 'test the waters' so to speak, I decided to fly over to see her. And so we started to make arrangements. At the time she was studying at LeTourneau University in Texas, and was about to head out on Spring break which her Choir, and I asked if I could join and help out. Turned out I could and so I flew to the USA.
At this point, I have to add the relationship almost ended, not because of a lack of trust or anything, but because when I landed at the airport I almost turned and ran home. This is because when I reached the terminal I saw her, her mother, father, brother and younger brother. All waiting for ME.................
But I persevered and had an enjoyable time with her and her choir, before flying back to England. Once home we spent more time talking on the phone, sending emails, letters, gifts and chatting online. I also spent a lot more time in prayer, as I felt this was starting to get serious.
The next time we saw each other she flew over to see me for the summer holidays, and I could get my revenge (ha ha ha), once I picked her up from the airport I drove to my parents house and introduced her to my Mum, Dad, Sister and sisters boyfriend (revenge.........or so I thought). Well we once again had a good time, before she flew home. Once we said goodbye's at the airport I learned an important lesson. Driving while Crying is not a good idea, I almost wrecked my car 4 times before I decided to pull over and cry a little.
So for the next 4 years we flew back and forth, rang each other almost every night, sent emails almost every day and sent gifts back and forth regularly.
Romantic tip: If you send gifts over a long distance, use the same box to send gifts back and forth, and make rules as to the gifts (i.e must fit in the box, must not cost more than.... etc) it tend to promote closeness and brings enjoyment.
Then came THE visit. By this point I was certain God wanted us to be together, and I knew I wanted to spend my life with her, and I was sure she felt the same way. So the next step was engagement. Well we had picked out a ring, but the time was drawing close for me to go back to England. and I had not yet asked her. First I had to ask her parents permission (I am old fashioned that way). Thankfully I got a yes (well actually what I got was a "as long as you don't return her")
So now it is my final day and still she wears no engagement ring. She knows it is coming but by now uncertainty must be setting in. I was waiting for the perfect opportunity, but it never came so I manufactured one.
The time is 10 minutes before I have to enter security and go back to England, we are alone in a part of the airport sitting in some seats when I pull the ring out and say "I must go soon, but before I do answer me this: Will you marry me?"
She answers "Yes" (boy was I glad of that) and starts to cry. And I exit left and home.
That was in January 2007, and on February 29th 2008 we were married in Texas. In June 2008 I emigrated to the USA and got my Green Card, and now at the end of 2010 we are still happily married living in a house of our own.
As to my Ex who was involved in a LDR, she married a guy in Arizona and is now residing there as well with her Green card.
And that is my happy, and true, Story.
My LDR is one of two the I personally know of that crosses times zones, continents and even cultures. The other story belongs to an Ex and i do not know all the details. However this is my tale.
I am an Englishman, I was born in England, Raised in England (mostly) , Think like an Englishman and talk like an Englishman yet here I am living in Texas. And this after two previous failed LDR's.
My wife is a Texan, Born, bred and Raised. Say's Ya'll, Yee-ha, etc etc etc. Yet our loved crossed such small boundaries such as the Atlantic ocean (it's just a pond!!)
We first met sometime in 2003 on a Christian Chat room (we are both born again Christians). And our very first 'Serious' Conversation was about colours. Specifically how a person's choice of colour when logging into a chat room can clue in everyone else as to their emotional state. On this particular day I logged in as my normal 'steel blue' while she logged in as a dark gray. A far cry from her normal red. This led to me asking a simple question "whats up?"
"nothing" was the reply. "So why the wrong colour?" I asked
"How did you know something was wrong when I logged in based on my colour????"
And so the conversation went.
Fast forward a year, by this point we had become good friends, in fact we had become close friends, so close in fact that mutual friends started asking when we were going to make it "official"?
And so I said to her "Everyone thinks we are dating, want to make it official?" Her reply was "sure, why not?" And so we became an official 'Item'.
Again Fast forward a few months, and we had grown closer still, by this point we had started to phone each other at least once a week (when her mother did not hang up on me) and I had started to pray (a lot) to find out if this was what God wanted. To 'test the waters' so to speak, I decided to fly over to see her. And so we started to make arrangements. At the time she was studying at LeTourneau University in Texas, and was about to head out on Spring break which her Choir, and I asked if I could join and help out. Turned out I could and so I flew to the USA.
At this point, I have to add the relationship almost ended, not because of a lack of trust or anything, but because when I landed at the airport I almost turned and ran home. This is because when I reached the terminal I saw her, her mother, father, brother and younger brother. All waiting for ME.................
But I persevered and had an enjoyable time with her and her choir, before flying back to England. Once home we spent more time talking on the phone, sending emails, letters, gifts and chatting online. I also spent a lot more time in prayer, as I felt this was starting to get serious.
The next time we saw each other she flew over to see me for the summer holidays, and I could get my revenge (ha ha ha), once I picked her up from the airport I drove to my parents house and introduced her to my Mum, Dad, Sister and sisters boyfriend (revenge.........or so I thought). Well we once again had a good time, before she flew home. Once we said goodbye's at the airport I learned an important lesson. Driving while Crying is not a good idea, I almost wrecked my car 4 times before I decided to pull over and cry a little.
So for the next 4 years we flew back and forth, rang each other almost every night, sent emails almost every day and sent gifts back and forth regularly.
Romantic tip: If you send gifts over a long distance, use the same box to send gifts back and forth, and make rules as to the gifts (i.e must fit in the box, must not cost more than.... etc) it tend to promote closeness and brings enjoyment.
Then came THE visit. By this point I was certain God wanted us to be together, and I knew I wanted to spend my life with her, and I was sure she felt the same way. So the next step was engagement. Well we had picked out a ring, but the time was drawing close for me to go back to England. and I had not yet asked her. First I had to ask her parents permission (I am old fashioned that way). Thankfully I got a yes (well actually what I got was a "as long as you don't return her")
So now it is my final day and still she wears no engagement ring. She knows it is coming but by now uncertainty must be setting in. I was waiting for the perfect opportunity, but it never came so I manufactured one.
The time is 10 minutes before I have to enter security and go back to England, we are alone in a part of the airport sitting in some seats when I pull the ring out and say "I must go soon, but before I do answer me this: Will you marry me?"
She answers "Yes" (boy was I glad of that) and starts to cry. And I exit left and home.
That was in January 2007, and on February 29th 2008 we were married in Texas. In June 2008 I emigrated to the USA and got my Green Card, and now at the end of 2010 we are still happily married living in a house of our own.
As to my Ex who was involved in a LDR, she married a guy in Arizona and is now residing there as well with her Green card.
And that is my happy, and true, Story.
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