I once heard somebody say that life's greatest gifts come in packages that we don't even order. That statement has proven to be true in my life. What follows is the amazing story of two people, oceans apart, who weren't really looking for love. It found us anyway, and has become a rare and priceless treasure.
It was late August 1998. I had just recently installed ICQ on my computer after having heard from some friends what a great program it was. I had a few contacts, but I was getting bored and wanted someone new to talk to. I have always been fascinated by words and language, and having never been out of the USA I was also eager to learn about people in other parts of the world. I decided to try the program's random chat partner search, and clicked throuh several results before I found one that seemed interesting to me. A guy, about my age, in the Netherlands, that spoke lots of different langauges! I sent him a message introducing myself, and asked him where he was. His answer was something like "Well actually right now I am in my bedroom, in my house, in the northern most part of the Netherlands." He was witty, and smart, and I knew right away he would be a fun and interesting person to talk to.
We continued talking a few times a week, whenever we bumped into each other online. Our friendship grew and we both always enjoyed our conversations. Neither one of us can really put our finger on when we actually started to feel something more, but it became evident in early November when I was telling him all about this date I had just had, and it was obvious that he was jealous! Within the next few days we both admitted that, although it was a bit confusing to us, we definately had feelings that could not be denied. We began to talk more often, on the net and also on the phone. The feelings continued to grow, and they were great feelings! Butterflies began to fly wildly through our stomachs at the mere thought of each other. We began to plan our days around the time we could be together online. And when we weren't online together, or on the phone, we spent all our time thinking of each other. No matter where we went or what we did throughout our day, there were always little reminders ( we called them "omens") of the feelings that we shared. Things started to happen that were way too powerful to be just coincidences. We were falling in love.
Both of us knew it, yet it didn't seem possible! Could two people, who have never met face to face fall in love from across the world on the internet of all places? It seemed crazy! There were moments I even questioned whether I was losing touch with reality! This couldn't be real, could it? But there really was no denying it. It was very, very real. It was the kind of love that happens only once in a lifetime. The kind of love a lot of people search a whole lifetime for, and never find. It was the stuff dreams are made of, and it had walked into our lives unannounced and planted itself deep within our hearts and souls. Because of all the obstacles in the way, and the fact that it didnt seem "logical" that we would ever have the opportunity to be together, we tried to push our love aside. Three times we tried to "break up". And three times we both felt like we had lost an arm or a leg. It was the most painful, unbearable feeling I have ever known. There really was no denying it, our souls had already united. We truly were soulmates destined to be together.
We started to make plans to do just that... to meet each other and finally get to hold each other in our arms, something we had ached to do for so long. Our first plan was for me to go to the Netherlands in February, in time for Valentines day. But there was a snag in getting my passport in time, so that meeting did not happen. Then he was going to come here in March, and again it did not work out as planned. So, when he told me in April that he was coming in less than two weeks, I was afraid to believe it! Could it really be happening this time? Would I really get to hold the sweet love of my life in my arms? The anticipation was unbearable! The closer to the "big day" it got, the less I slept. Would we be the same together in person as we were on the net and on the phone? I really didnt have any doubt in my mind that I would love him just as much, if not more. But you hear so many horror stories of people who met on the net and found out they were not who they seemed. It was all so exciting, yet so scary at the same time. And until he called me from the airport when he was getting ready to get on the plane, I don't think the reality that we would soon really be together had actually sunk in!
We had our first kiss at the airport, and it was the most glorious kiss! It felt so right, so natural, not like an awkward first kiss at all. It felt like we had been together for our entire lives already. We spent the next two weeks in heaven, just holding each other and finally being together. And we knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that our love was real. As it got closer to the day that he had to return to the Netherlands, we both shed a lot of bittersweet tears. Watching him board the plane, then watching the plane fly away... Well, there are no words to describe how that felt. He said he would be back, but I had waited so long to hold him in my arms I just couldn't bear the thought of letting him go again.
We have spoken on the phone daily since then, and the plans are being made for his return. Again we have the aching, and missing and longing for each other, but this time we know that soon we will be together again. Our love has withstood the test of time, and overcome many obstacles. There is no stopping it. It is our destiny.
7-13-99 - Well the events of the last few weeks have been very troublesome and emotional, but they have only served to prove that our love is strong and can withstand the nastiest of storms! After two failed attempts to get to the US, Harry could not make the trip. In fact we tried, once more to end our relationship. Not because we wanted to, but because the situation just seemed hopeless, as Harry has kids in the Netherlands and I have kids here in Kansas. But it failed miserably, and miserably is the word. Neither of us could go through with it, being without each other was just too painful! So, as the saying goes...
If Mohammed won't go to the mountain, the mountain will go to Mohammed! You know what they say about love, it can move mountains! I'm happy to say that the mountain (Me :0) will be on her way to Mohammed (Harry :0) very soon! I didn't think it was an option, but with the help of caring friends from the other side of the world, I was able to get a ticket to the Netherlands and I'll be there on July 28th! I will stay a few months while we decide how to arrange things, and who will move where. Our deepest thanks to Hans, Toos, Brenda and Ofir for your support and friendship, and all you have done for Harry and I! Without you this would not have been possible, and for that we are eternally grateful! The plans for the future are uncertain, but what we are certain of is wherever we wind up living, we will be together for all time.
7-24-99 - I'm soooooooooooo excited!!! I have in my hands a plane ticket to the Netherlands, and now, as of this morning (FINALLY!!) a passport!! Now all i have to do is not have a heart attack on the plane and I'll be in heaven in 3 days :0) I'm a big chicken, I'm not too fond of the idea of being 30,000 feet in the air and over the ocean for 8 hours :0( But I'll be on the plane, there's no stopping me now! I'll do anything it takes to get back into the arms of my Lieverd!!
2-11-00 - To those of you loyal friends and visitors who have been following our story, this is your long awaited and much requested update =0) Thank you so much for all the support, thoughts and kind wishes from all of you. I did go to the Netherlands, and was there until December 18th. 5 months of bliss!! Although there were "technical difficulties", such as me not being able to work, the time Harry and I had together was so special it felt like heaven. But for now, I am back in the United States and we are once again 5000 miles apart, while Harry finishes his last year of school and makes arrangements to move here (hopefully in June). There are a lot of things to consider, and much to be done. The one thing that's certain, is our love is still strong!! This is an unhappy time for both of us, as it is even harder to be apart now than it was before I went to Holland. But in the words of someone much wiser than I... "Good things come to those who wait". We have waited, and waited, and waited, and WAITED! There must be some REALLY good things in store for us =0)
2-01-04 - Yes, that does say 2004! we are still here :-) It has taken me shamefully long to update this site, but married life has made me a busy woman...
Oh, wait a minute. Did I forget to fill in some stuff? Let me back up a bit...
Harry did move here in June of 2000, and On September 30, 2001 we were married! The ceremony was small but beautiful, and we were so excited to be able to finally make our love "official". We celebrated our 2nd anniversary as husband and wife last September. Our life together has brought us many adventures so far, and we are looking forward to all the adventures yet to come.
Be sure and check back often, I'll update this page as new chapters in our story are written. In the meantime, if you want to try out ICQ yourself, follow the link below to download it.
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