...together wing to wing, and oar to oar

Exactly how it happened...

"hmmm, who is that cutie?" I asked my cousin, looking at the handsome athletic figure on her computer screen.

"That's Marvin Hazell." she said with a giggle. "He is my Tennis Coach."

"Is that so?" My eyes widened.

"Yes, and I know him very well". She smiled, as she got down to the nitty gritty details, which was enough to make me seek the friend in him...

"Sooo... what's his e-mail address? Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" I shouted :)

She then jotted it down on my left palm and gave me the 'now go away look'. I did went away that day, far away to that place where dreams became reality and where reality meant that I was dreaming...lol

The next evening I logged on with hopes of seeing one particular name online (haha). To my disappointment he wasn't, so I kept on trying everyday and everynight since. Finally, one night, as I sat in a dark room, I found myself drifting. The dialogue was a normal 'hello who is this?'one but it seemed to be one sided. Then suddenly, there was a loud nudge and thats when I realised, that while i was falling asleep at the pc, Marvin was on the other side nudging me...Funny ehh

We exchanged hellos and names and...and...lol...what can I say, the chat was pretty short. And we ended on a 'friendly nice knowing you note'. That was a great start.

For the days and weeks that followed, we continued chatting online and, well, we became 'chat buddies'. And then, in the months that followed, Marvin wanted to put a face to the name he now knew very well. On several occasions, he suggested that we meet, but i kept on turning him down. Even more than I can recall, I turned him down, but it was for the best. I did catch a glance of him some times when I'd go out, but he'd never see me :)

Anyway, after some time of sorting out my life, for the very first time, late one night, I picked up the phone and called him. This is part of what transpired.

"Yes, Hello" The sweetest voice came on, and for a moment there I wish it was a record player, so I would keep my finger on the replay button forever...lol

"umm, is this Marvin?" I asked softly ;p

"Yes it is." He then answered.

"k, this is Tina...you know, shante_6..." I explained, making sure he remembered me. "How are you?"I asked

"I'm great, and you?" He responded with excitement in his voice and as if surprised.

"I'm kool." And I continued..."Hey, I'm really sorry that I kept turning you down everytime you suggested that we meet. I just want you to know that it was nothing personl. And...now I've made up my mind. Lets say we meet at Tasty's sometime tomorrow?"

"Awww, I'm so sorry Tina, but I will be leaving for the UK first thing in the morning, so I'm afraid, unfortunately, that won't be possible. I am reeeeeeeally sorry."

My shoulders immediately collapsed and my heart screamed...no doubt disappointed with what I had just heard.

"O my God, are you serious?" I emitted in disbelief.

The last I remembered about that phone call, was Marvin promising to stay in touch, even if he never got to put a face to the name. And he really did stick to his word. He went away and stayed in touch. :)

Yessssssssssss, we kept in touch and became even closer friends than ever. We would chat for hours upon hours, time after time, about any and 'everything' and then there came the webcam invitations and the pic exchange. So by then he had an idea what I looked like.

As time went on, with the help of over 500 e-mail and greeting cards, healthy communication and our devotion to a unique friendship, a proposal was made, that we sought after whatever life was offering the two of us, and without hesitation, we agreed. Marvin also surrendered to his thoughts of needing to meet me :)

This is an excerpt from one of our love letters.

When a man like me loves a woman like you
It all becomes clear that the love is so true
So if you are smiling at the end of it all
My job has been done, I have been on the ball

Sweet sweet baby i love you so much
I'm sending u kisses even tho we cant touch
Just kno that im thinking about u always

Love Marv

 

He visited the following Christmas and we both had a ball. What happened from there, is a beautiful story to tell but its a long one.

...after he returned to the UK and months of having a one of a kind distant relationship, confirming what we wanted in life and with who we'd want to share it, we both decided to 'braid the strands of God's Knot". Now, two such as us with such a master speed cannot be parted nor be swept away from one another, since we agreed that our love is forevermore together wing to wing and oar to oar."

If there is one thing we've learned about having a distant relationship, its that.......... if you really love someone, distance cannot keep you apart. Yes it has its challenges, but true love conquers all. Distance really only makes the heart grow fonder. And lastly, a relationship with a solid foundation is key. All through our relationship we kept God as our foundation, and even now he still is and forever will be. So therefore, what God has joined together, let no man put asunder "Mark 10:9"