Our Story

I've been asked MANY times since beginning our trek through the K-1 Visa procedure, "How'd ya meet?", "How do you keep up a long distance relationship for over two years??", and the biggie..."YOU MET ONLINE???" *LOL* So here's our story, it's filled with love, and alot of patience!!! *S*

Mike and I met quite by accident in a WBS chatroom called "The Thirtysomething Lounge". My marriage had been on the rocks for a few months and my husband had recently moved out, Mike was working out a separation from his girlfriend of 14 years so neither of us were looking for romance!! *LOL*
We started as so many couples who meet this way do....chatting with a group of people, having some fun and being silly! At some point, Mike and I started to send private messages to each other, still playing and having fun (ever had a cyber food fight??? *LOL*), and soon began to exchange e-mails too. At the time PowWow was the best program for chatting and I was very pleased when he paged me for a conversation. *S* During this time I injured my back at work (I worked in the tire shop) and was home trying to heal, so I had some time to play on the computer!!! *grin*

It wasn't long before Mike and I were chatting on PowWow everyday, mostly about our lives and the similarities and differences between the U.S and Sweden. As time went on we began to talk about everything, we grew closer and closer but as two very sensible people who really didn't think it possible to fall in love this way, we were a bit taken back by the feelings that were growing. As winter went on and my back injury not healing very well, Mike and I spent as much time as possible chatting with each other, towards the end of March and beginning of April I started to realize that my feelings for him were more than just "an online thing", at the time I didn't know for sure what he was feeling, except that he always sought me out, and was beginning to burn up the phone lines calling me too!! *S*

In April a couple of things happened that led us to confess to each other what we were feeling, first Mike's sons caught the flu and as a result he spent about a week at home with them, the other was that my back was getting worse instead of better and the doctor had decided that I needed surgery. During this time we talked intensly, about relationships and what we hoped for our futures. A few days before I was to have my surgery I knew that although morbid, I didn't want to go into the hospital without telling this wonderful man that I had fallen very much in love with him. I knew that I was risking the friendship that we had at the time, but somehow I knew it was right, and hoped with all my heart that he felt the same!!!

SO, on April 21, 1997 as we were chatting, I told Mike that I wanted to tell hiim something but that I was a little afraid, so I was going to type until I had it all out....then I was going to disconnect from the computer and give him some time to think about it *grin* It was a cowardly way out but I couldn't stand the thought of him not feeling the same!! *LOL* So I typed....and typed....AND typed!!!! *LOL* It must have read like a novel to him!!! But at the very end....I typed the words as fast as I could (which is pretty fast! *LOL*)...I can't even remember the exact words but I remember typing.....I LOVE YOU!!!!!!...and then disconnecting as fast as I could!! *LOL* We had agreed to meet back online in a few hours and as you can imagine those were a LONG few hours!!! *LOL* I wouldn't even allow myself to go NEAR the computer until the time we'd agreed on!! *LOL*

The time finally came and I opened up PowWow...waiting for Mike to return online (little did I know that I would wait alot sometimes!!! *LOL*). FINALLY he came online and the first thing he said was "I LOVE YOU TOO!!!!!!!!!" *SMILE* Needless to say I was VERY happy!!!!!! We talked for a long time that night, trying to make some sense out of something that seemed to make NO sense at all, but something that felt very very right! *S* And of course the next thing was....WE HAVE TO MEET!!!!!!! *GRIN* Sounds like alot of other stories huh??? *LOL* It would take us until September of 1997 to finally meet face to face, and the time in between was spent getting to know each other, and finding some way to keep a long distance relationship working. It was and still is at times frustraiting...but WELL worth the effort when the feelings are so deep! *S*

On September 23, 1997 Mike was to arrive at Detroit airport after almost 22 hours of traveling! I had to work for awhile that day, but because my co-workers could hardly stand to be around me...they sent me home early!! *LOL* But as things tend to happen, I ended up leaving late for the airport!! I wasn't even nervous about meeting Mike, I somehow knew that was going to be fine...I was just worried that I would be late for his plane!!! *LOL* It was an exciting trip for me, the anticipation was so tremendous!!! Finally I got to the airport with about a half hour to spare..found the gate that he would arrive at, and tried to look calm and cool!! *Grin* When the flight arrival was announced I waited for them to open the doors that would allow the passengers to enter the terminal...but they remained CLOSED!!!!! I figured I'd gotten the wrong gate, but the announcment SAID it was right!! Finally a small gate ( a REAL gate!! *LOL*) opened and people started to come up a set of stairs!! I watched from the back of the small group that had gathered...waiting to finally get my first REAL look at Mike!!! As soon as I saw him....I relaxed...he WAS just as I thought he'd be...and when he finally touched me...hugged me so tight....it was as if we'd done this many times before...it was just natural!!!!

We were just like a couple of teenagers...kissing and hugging while trying to walk to the baggage claim area *LOL* It was fun! and SO wonderful to finally be touching and talking TOGETHER!!!! When we got down to the baggage claim area (STILL kissing and hugging all the way! *LOL*) an older lady off to the side said "Hey you two!! NOT in public!!!" *LOL* Mike and I just grinned at her and said "We deserve this!!!!!!!!" *LOL* She laughed and went on her way...which is where Mike's luggage went too!!! *LOL* They hadn't gotten it on his connecting flight so he'd have to wait till the next day to see that again!! *GRIN* We spent a wonderful week together, travelling to California to meet some friends from "our chat room" and just enjoyed the time we had. The week went too fast and the good bye at the airport was the hardest thing I'd had to do...it hurt so much to part, and yet we knew we had to...to acheive the goal we'd set...which was marriage!!! *S*

After Mike returned to Sweden, life for me was a big rollercoaster (and for him because he wanted so much to be with me during this time!). My mom was in the final stages of colon cancer, I'd just returned to work after six months, and my ex husband was my boss at work!!!! It was definatly not a good time for me...and yet....it was also wonderful because Mike and I were growing even closer! He was trying to arrange for another visit as soon as possible, knowing that I would soon face tougher times, he wanted to be with me and give me his strength...even though he didn't get here physically, he'll never know how much just having him in my life meant to me at this time. At the beginning of November my mom lost her battle with the cancer, I was devistated...we'd grown so close in the last eight years....and her loss was almost more than I could bear. But with the support of Mike, my family, friends, and my children...slowly....I came back to life...it's still hard...but easier because of their love.

From September of 97 we continued to grow as a couple...and work through the difficulties of the long distance thing....Mike came home three more times...and this April I visited him in Sweden! We've applied for his K-1 Visa and are at this time working hard to get all the paperwork in order so that he can come home for good in August of 99. It's been a long journey to get where we are, but I can tell you that we will NEVER take our time together for granted...it's so precious to us! I don't think there's a couple around that's met "conventionally" that knows each other better, or has more patience to make a relationship work!

Update! Finally making it through the K-1 Visa process, Mike was able to fly home on August 28, 1999!!!! It was wonderful!!! (Although the trip to the airport was a nightmare and a WHOLE other story!! *LOL*) We married on September 17, 1999 and life now is more than we could have hoped for! People ask me if it was worth it...OF COURSE IT WAS!!!! *LOL* Would I recommend it? NOT A CHANCE!! *LOL* It's a long road to marry someone who isn't a U.S. citizen, but for Mike and I, it was the only option and never once did we doubt it.

You can read more about us, our family, and our experiences through the K-1 visa process throughout the rest of my homepage. I hope you enjoyed our story!!!! *S*
Just DJ's Corner