Pen Pal No More                                                          Philippines, an 11 month journey

Two days after he left Tom told me over the phone that he was going to go ahead and start processing the fiancee visa. Not a peep of protest from me there. The 48 hours of separation was enough to break down our defenses, put our stubborness, practical and cautious nature aside to take this monumental leap of faith. For what other proof do we need? We were obviously attracted to and cared for each other, we got along great, we had so much things in common in terms of interests, backgrounds, principles and beliefs, we had the same expectations in marriage and relationship, we pretty much knew the other's past (which was easy since we both lead pretty uncomplicated lives you see). A year and half of correspondence and the visit pretty much covered those so there wasn't anywhere else to go but forward.

So while waiting for the papers we continued to write twice a week, talk over the phone on Sundays (when we'd always get interrupted with the nearby church's bell for a minute) and send messages through Chikka everyday. Although there was no formal proposal, occasional talks of marriage cropped up and even a wedding here and there, after all it was understood that this was the end purpose of my visit.

We might have been hesitant about the idea of a fiancee visa at first but, funny enough, we were very impatient for the 90 days that we initially believed the visa processing was going to take. We were sorely disappointed that 90 days came and went still there was no word from the embassy. In frustration I tearfully asked Tom that by February and I still don't get the visa if he might visit me again. I was surprised and delighted he said yes without a second's hesitation.

So we spent our first Valentine's Day together. By this time there was no doubting each other's and more importantly our own feelings.

I got my interview schedule for the US Embassy last week of April, I was informed that it was going to be on midJune. When that day came I wasn't even nervous. I was confident that anything the officer was going to ask me about Tom I will be able to answer without difficulty e.g where he was born, his address, his work, his work description, his salary, his day-to-day schedule, his family, the names of the members of his BIG family, the names of his past serious girlfriends, the duration, his favorite food, his dislikes etc. Loving the man it was but natural to want to know him inside and out and to discover what makes him tick. Of course the officer's questions barely touched the surface of Tom's Tom-ness. But the depth of my knowledge of this man, who would potentially be my husband, illustrates the advantage of an internet relationship, where for the most part both of us had nothing but WORDS to connect each other. Something that I doubt a real-time relationship of the same amount of time would begin to cover.

5 minutes after my interview, I was handed the "Approved" slip. I got my passport back with my visa the following week. I left for the US 2 weeks after. When I stepped on that plane our pen pal correspondence officially ended. I became a real-time fiancee. Less than 3 months later, his wife.

Married life's a lot better than I expected. Beats singlehood anytime. So our story continues... Outside the internet.

From Philadelphia With Love

From my mailbox I got a CD from my brother full of videos and photos of my nephew Rohan. Will post others later when time permits but above photo is a snow pix for of his first winter. Gboy tells me that they are already looking for another apartment, which will now be easier and possible for them since they have purchased a car recently.

Published Again...And Again

Tom got good news last week. Another of his short story was accepted. I was thrilled because it was one of my favorites; it's very original, imaginative and funny. I would have wanted to feature it here but Tom has to sign a contract and it prohibits simultaneous publishing. Tom tells me that of all the short stories he has written only 2 are left unpublished but he tells me that he's optimistic it won't remain that way for very long. I asked him the titles and when he told me I couldn't agree more. Still as of today that is certainly not a bad batting average.

Currently listening to: Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca
Currently reading: Jo Frost's Supernanny
Currently watching: American Idol