Submitted by: Brian
OUR STORY, Jan and Brian, Texas. July 1998.....an e mail from me (Dex) a 36 year old male from the north east of England, U.K. to a lady in Texas, whom I saw on the BBW Texas website. This was my first e mail to anyone! I had a free trial disc from AOL with the computer that I bought for business use. My marriage was in tatters and I longed for a true friend of the female gender with whom I could communicate and share my thoughts and feelings with. I saw this beautiful lady with eyes that had a lot to tell.....they were searching for something. The e mail was sent......and......she almost deleted it! Another geek, she thought. But, she admits, something physically prevented her from doing so! So we started to communicate.
August 1998.....it was amazing how we connected with each other. We discussed anything and everything, always respecting one another. In many ways our lives were strikingly similar where our relationships with our partners were concerned. We both thought that this is what a true relationship should be......a partnership that is equal on both sides, where each others feelings can be aired and respected without fear.. I knew more about Jan in 6 weeks than I knew about my present partner in 15 years!
September1998.....after many e mails and trans Atlantic phone conversations, it was agreed that we should meet. I asked Jan over to England for a visit. After a week we both knew we had something special and had indeed found our soulmate in one another. It was difficult parting and for me to watch her get on the plane after that visit. She tells me that she will return as soon as possible. I sat in the airport car park for 20 minutes before I could drive home due to blurred vision from the tears.
November1998......Jan returns to England and we move into a small property in the town of Hartlepool. I carry on being self employed and Jan and I grow accustomed to one another, the day to day stuff etc. We are a great team. Jan even accompanies me on some of my jobs and meets many of my customers.....a real treat for them as its not too often that an American visits that "neck of the woods".....the real England! We then have decisions to make.....do we stay in England, the only place I have ever known, or move back to the U.S.? We both have children from previous marriages, mine a few miles away and Jans over 5000miles away back in the states.
March 1999......We visit Jans parents in America.....my first time out of England and also on an aeroplane!! The visit goes really well.....they like me! We visit Witchita Falls where Jan has a sister.....she liked me too.....phew! I got to meet Jans two boys.....the older one was difficult, but we did make progress. Big place is Texas! We return to England after a two week visit. I have to admit, it was a good feeling to be back in green surroundings and the cool air.....and sidewalks too!!!
June 1999.....after much thought, prayer and meditation on the subject of moving, we finally decide to come to the states. Believe me, not any easy choice leaving and not seeing my children so much. Jan herself had gone through this too when she came to England last November.....it hurts! We sell most of our household goods, pack what we cant take with us and store it, the rest we bring with us. We stayed with Jans parents until we found a place of our own.....along with Jans sister and all of her kids who were visiting at the time.....it was crowded.
July 4th, 1999......we were married!!!! Fireworks on every anniversary.
Present day......Jan is working for the company she worked for before leaving for England. They obviously think highly of her. She has a home office so can have a lie in every morning. I am undergoing the naturalization process.....expensive and slow! I still can't work as I am awaiting my green card. Not being able to drive is a bummer too.....especially in a place thats really geared up for automobile dependancy. One day soon, hopefully. I still have a problem with some people understanding my English accent and my love of hot tea.....yes, it really is like those scenes from the movie, "The Avengers".....tea before anything and after everything!
The Future.....we are looking forward to my daughter coming to visit us in November, along with her Mam.....my ex wife. Fortunately, Jan and my ex get along really well. I am having problems with the heat and humidity so not too sure what work I will end up doing. We may even return to England at some point in the future.....who knows yet?
I hope this story is of interest and of some inspiration to those of you who are looking for that someone special. Jan and I have bridged continents and cultures and its working fantastically for us. You can e mail us if you wish, Dexter1961@juno.com
Bye Bye for now.