I was from a military LDR, and we face challenges unique to other LDRs. For one, we do not always have the choice of time. Our men/women are obligated to their job first and us second, and somtimes that can add stresses. But remember, they are fighting for our country and that they love us. They just dont always have the ability to communicate with us as much as they would like..stay strong!
I met my fiance, Dan, in April of 1999. From the moment I met him, I felt something inside of me. He has such a wonderful smile, beautiful blue eyes, and such a great sense of humor. And not to mention the fact that he is gorgeous! It took me time to admit to myself that I had feelings for him. One night, while we were in the city with friends hanging out in a bar, he asked me to try a sip of his Guinness beer. Well, I quickly realized Guinness was not my thing, but as I handed the mug back to him I looked at his face and all I could think was "I want to kiss him". The urge was so strong that I had to leave the bar. Finally, thanks to help from outsiders, we found our way to each other. Of course it took us until the night before he had to leave for Japan, but the main thing is that we finally made it. We could not ignore what we felt for each other so we just went with it and decided to take the chance. So he left for Japan, but his dedication to making this work was apparent. He made sure we chatted almost everday through AIM, the phone, and of course email. During this time I new I was falling for him. I never felt this way before. I felt like I could tell him anything, he made me laugh, he bought so much happiness in my life even though he was so far away. So I fell in love with him. It would have been impossible not too.
A wonderful suprise came 6 months later...he was coming home for a month. Finally we could be together and bring the relatinship we have built from a distance together. We had a chance to realize that what we were feeling was true and based in reality. During this time he told me he loved me, and when he said those words to me I was so happy I cried. Then, a week before he had to go back, he asked me to marry him. And of course I said yes! After all, I could not imagine spending my life with anyone else. No matter how difficult having a LDR relationship can get, what I have with him is worth it. It is worth every lonely night, every tear I cry from missing him, and the pain I feel from not having him close. It is worth it because he is my one and only. When I picture myself years from now, I see only him. No matter how painful distance can be, not having him in my life would be worse.
Like every other couple, we have our arguments. Like every other couple we sometimes get fed up with the situation. But the main thing is is that we work it out and we are still together. The strength of our relationship keeps growing. Through the distance we are building a foundation that will guide us through the rest of our lives. He is my heart.
We visited, and my friend and I played my piano. Her brother, John, remained content sitting on the couch listening. Most men would have been bored! They came for dinner the next night, and I packaged leftovers in sandwich form for his return bus trip to Florida.
I thought of my friend's military brother often. During the following year, I moved to the Poconos, and had a few more long distance realtionships that didn't work out.
Finally, after breaking off a realtionship with someone who was preparing to propose, I approached my friend, and asked for her bother's number. After a month or so, I called and left a message. A few weeks went by and I didn't hear from him. I figured he wan't interested, and let it go at that.
Then my friend called and he had called asking about me. I went to Philadelphia for a wedding, adn then my friend called her bother. We ended up talking for quite a while.
I went home, thoroughly infatuated. We continued to call back and forth, and ran up huge phone bills! Finally, he came to visit. We arragned for him to travel from Florida to the Poconos for Labor Day weekend. My friend came and brought her son.
Everyone arrived, and we were enjoying a nice visit. That night, however, my small cat, Elliot, became very ill, and I sat up with him all night. In the early morning, I woke John and asked him to move his car so I could go to the vet. Instead, he took me. Later that day, the vet called to tell me that Elliot had died. John went and picked the cat up, borrowed a shovel from the neighbor, and took him to bury him. In spite of the fact that the police stopped to inquire what suspicious thing was being buried, John perservered.
It was at the point that I saw him borrowing the shovel that I knew I was in love.
We continued our long distance romance for the next 3 years, visiting when we could, and incurring the long distance like nobody's business. We had a few break-ups, when we didn't communicate well, but we sorted it out. Finally, we came to the point where we needed a change. I gave up my job, my apartment, and my family, and moved to Florida, where I knew nobody , except John. We were married that December, and have been married for 4 1/2 years now. If there is one thing that I learned thoughout my long distance relationship, it's this:
If they don't work out, you're glad for the distance between you. You're not so likely to see him with someone else, or have him hanging around watching you. If they do work out, you have a solid foundation to build on.
I can't imagine my life without my husband. I believe that the long distance really gave us a head start. We are enjoying life as best friends, and look back at our long distance days as fond memories (although they were often frustrating and difficult).
-Debbie
-Neels
-Chrissy & Steve
-Nicole
-Michelle
-Jjacobs527
Finally, in April I decided that I could not stand the torture of not meeting him, so we agreed that we would meet. I made a trip out to Virginia and we spent the most glorious four days having fun in Washington DC and Baltimore. We both felt very attracted to each other, and our feelings solidified after being together those days. I have never known the happiness that I felt when I was with this man. It did nto matter what we did or where we went, just to be together made us extremely happy. We both realized that we took a big risk by finally meeting each other, but we know that we love each other very much, and it has been worht every penny that we have spent on long distance telephone calls. I frankly did not think that i would find a man this special on line. Never in a million years. It was sad to ahve to go back to the airport and leave him. I cried inside, but I knew that I had a life to live out here in California, and he had his in Virginia. I know in my heart that it sometiems does not matter if we are together physically or not because what counts is that he has become a part of my heart...a part of my life and my love for him goes iwth me everywhere. A week after I returned from my trip, furing one of our conversations, he asked me if I would consider moving to Virginia. I was suprised because he is generally a very cautious person, and I asked him several times if he was sure. I knew how I felt about him, and i was willing ot make whatever adjustments both large and small to have a chance to form an even closer relationship with him. Well, as in typical army fashion..lol...he had some military exercises during the month of June, so our communication was pretty limited all of last month. I have had a difficult time trying to understand the dynamics of military life, and have repeatedly asked him to help me understand and to be patient. This is the first time I have ever had any experiences with someone in the military. I have cried so many times trying to deal with his being away and not able to communicate like we use to. He however, did call when he could during the month of June sometimes really late or early in the morning, and that really meant a lot to me. He has been i the military for over 18 years, and his first marriage was destroyed because of his always being away. He is eligable for retirement in less than two years, and i am willing to "hang in there". SOmething happened when he got back from his maneuvers at the end of June. He called me on the Sunday when he got back to his regular fort. I knew right away in his voice that there was something terribly wrong. I could sesnse that he was different. I asked him to tell me what was wrong, and i could tell he really did not want to tell me. He finally shared with me that he received orders to take a deployment to Saudi Arabia for 10 months. I was shocked, and angry, and I felt hurts. I couldn't at that moment understand because I was not thinking clearly. How could this have happened? We were going to start making plans for me to move to Virginia the next few months, and here he was telling me that he had to go to Saudi Arabia. I did not know how to react to any of what he was telling me. All I knew is that I had an uphill of emotional battle. After talking again with him a couple more times and giving myself a little bit of breathing room, I started to think rationally and try to figure out htat I can only control my half of things. I knew that I did not want to lose him in my life, and I was willing to go through this deployment with him. After all, I already had over four months alrady not being able to be with him. I knew i was strong and I could do it. I know there will be days when I cry and when I will really miss him, but like I said earlier in this story, he lives in my heart, and I can't change that or minimize that. I made the decision to take one day at a time and not to let go. I know that communication is going to be very very important for the two of us. I am going ot seek some support of my own, so I can make it through this deployment. We have discussed a mutual commitment to each other, and as long as we are working together toward the same goal of one day being able to be together, we will be okay. Some things in life or worth every ounce of pain...every drop of blood, sweat, and tears...and the love that I carry in my heart for this man is worth it all.
-Alicia
-sweetness
After about a month later he wrote me letters, and we've been writing to each other for three whole months. Then he came back last April on 2000 from bootcamp and we spent three days together and he told me those three special words: I Love You. Then about a week later, he left for California where he is stationed for the summer. In May I did not hear form him and I thought maybe it was not meant to be. Then in June on a afternoon I got a phone call from a pay phone in N. Carolina. And it was Jake! I was so happy to hear from him! We talked for an hour. Then in Sept. of 2000 he wrote me and I wrote back. And we are still together, it's been almost a year since we've been together! We plan to see each other in April of 2001. True love can happen! I know because it's owrth it! I love Jake, he's my marine! True love can happen if you make it happen! Our one year anniversary is on Dec. 24th!
-Aimee =)
When I arrived home and caught up with my friend, things definitely took a turn for the better. We became extremely close and took a step past being just friends. As time went on while I was home, we spent almost everyday together...there was not a day that went by that I didn't hear her beautiful voice. We went snowboarding, to the movies, out to dinner, caroling...all kinds of things. On New Years, we went to Disneyland with my family and friends. And as I kissed her under the stary, firework lit sky...I was in another world. There has never been a Christmas/New Years I have celebrated, that can compare.
Unfortunately my time at home was running short. Everybody I know from my parents, to some of my closest friends said that long distance relationships never work. But, there was no way I could let this incredible woman pass me by. And, on January 2nd, we officiallly became more than just friends. That night I boarded a plane, and flew back to Rhode Island. We have no idea what the future holds for us or what we shall encounter along this journey, but whan I do know is this...There isn't a minute that goes by that I don't see myself gazing into her eyes and telling her she is the only one for me.
Kelsey....this is for you!!!
Love Always, your boyfriend...
Joshua
Wel;. New Years night my friend picked me up, along with Kevin and I found out that we would be spending the entire night together, (X-Girlfriendless) and I could truly see what this guy was all about. I acted nothing more than myself and I can to see that he acted the same.
We were goofy and always laughing together and it made me feel like we were the best of friends. Unfortunately, the day after New Years he had to go back into the Army. We went through a lot that day. I found out that he had dealt with a good friends death right before he went into the Army and he had never really gotten the grieving out of him. I did nothing more than listen and comfort him. It was very little to offer, but I knew he needed it. We never had any time alone, due to his best friend always at our sides, but I knew that I was completely smitten by Kevin. Before he left I gave him my number and told him to call me. He didn't call.
When I got home the next day from work, I checked my caller ID and saw an area code that I had never seen before. I called it back and it was busy. I tried one more time before I went to bed and found out that it was the place Kevin had gone to. He had called me from Maryland, from a pay-phone and his battle budy just happened to pick up the phone. I was elated with joy. Since that night, I found out that he had been checking me out since his party, but thought I was with another guy. He had been just as interested in me as I was in him. The phone calls never stopped...night after night we talked about anything and everything and I knew that I had fallen for him. I wasn't going to tell him, because I thought I was silly, but it turned out that he felt the same way about me. On the 15th day he was gone, I got a dozen red roses with a card that read simply "February" and I cried. Now, I have i day left till he comes home for a month (February, of course) so we can start our 4 year LDR. He hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend yet, because of the phone...but he will and no doubt I will say yes. Counting down the days....looking forward to a great relationship with my best friend Kevin. Even though I hate math, I will continue to do it faithfully.
-Rachel
at cedar point called big bash, well my story begins: I had just gotten out out of the worst relationship of my life just in the past week what business did i have at party, is what i kept thinking as i was dancing the nite away with 3 good friends of mine when he came outa nowhere. My friend swiftly introduced us and i kinda didn't know what to think except i bet he has a girl friend!! my friend kept telling me he had also just got out of a bad relationship. As my luck would have it that nite we never said but two words. But what i didn't know was that wouldn't be the last time i would see him. I wouldn't see him till the next monday aug 13,2000. It was a warm pleasant day, I worked untill 3 and then went to soakcity with my friend for a few hours after work. We had so much fun waching the life guards and playing on the water slides and stuff. Well we decided to go back into cedar point for dinner at about 6 or so. Well the guy I had met at the party a week before showed up!! I couldn't believe my eyes. Well my friends boyfriend showed up so I went with him for a while so as to give me and this guy some space !! Well his name was brian, a name ill never forget. We talked for hours and before I knew it I had to go meet another friend at his store to find out where to meet him after the park closed B/C he was giving me and my friend a lift home. Well he said he would give brian a lift to his aptment too since it was on the way and all. Well i realy liked brian. He made me laugh and he made me feel good inside. Well as the nite ended and i was home safely, I quickly fell asleep with dreams of brian. The next day went by so quickly that i never knew it happened. Well wednesday, what a day for me, I was almost late for work and was already wanting to go home. Well I was still floating on cloud nine but i had no clue if i would see brian again. Well about 1 and 1/2 hours into my shift guess who showes up? Yes, u guessed it... brian. And i gave him the warmest biggest hugs ever!! i wasn't sure about my break that day so he missed it but oh well, he stayed by my side all nite. I really liked him but i wasn't sure on how he felt about me. After work my dad took him back to his apartment and i gave him my phone # so he could call me. Well no sooner did i get home and crawl into bed did he call. We talked for an hour or so about stuff but i still didn't completly know. Well the next day came with ease. Iiwent to work and I was there no longer than 30 mins when lo and behold brian shows up. This time he wants to know when my break is. I tell him 6 and he goes ok ill be back then sure enough he was back then!! And with that we went on my break together. We both boarded the train b/c i was so close to it, why not, and it is the fastest way to get to the front of the park!! Well he held my hand for the first time and just before we got off he kissed me. Well as the nite ended i promised to call him the next day to see how his operation went! ( his hand was broke and he had to have a pin put in to it) again when i got home he called me and i told him i was going to see if my friend wanted to go shopping with me and she did, and that we might come over the next day for his 19th birthday!!!! This is the specialist day to me!!! ok, AUG18,2000 i got up and got ready to go shopping and my friend came and picked me up and we were on our way. Well we shopped for a few hours, then i tried to call him, he wasn't home yet. I was worreed by the fourth call and he wasn't back from the hospital so decided that i needed to go see if he was ok. So we left the mall and went to the hospital. Well he was in a room and we went up to see him he was ok but his doctor just wanted to make sure that he took to the pin ok. Well he did and he was able to leave that day, we left and he held me all the way to his apartment. Well we got out and went in and watched the movie Space Balls untill we decided to go get some food. Well we had to pick up a few other friends along the way, andl we decided to go to TGI FRIDAYS for dinner. Well shortly after dinner we all were ridding around trying to think of bars to go to and he asked me out! I could have died, of course i said yes and we had a great nite. But the worst is yet to come. Sunday he was fired and thats the day he told me he was going in the USMC. We lived day to day untill he left and i did go to his graduation feb2,2001. I attended the ceramony with his parents and two sisters. It went very well and now feb27,2001 we are still going strong and he calls me at least once a day and im so pround of what he has done!!! we plan to get married in 2004. My name is sarah and im 19 !! written by sarah
~Nicole
My Love Story
... in Progress!
God has blessed me so much by bringing one person into my life. That person is my best friend and boyfriend, Joey Spencer. Nowadays he goes by PFC Spencer since he joined the Marine Corp last August, but I still know
him as that sweet shy boy that I fell in love with two years ago. Me and Joey actually started talking to one another my freshman year of highschool when my (now ex) boyfriend was trying to set Joe up with my best friend, Heather Things didn't work out between Heather and Joe, but for some reason me and
Joe got along and we enjoyed talking to one another. After a while, we stopped talking because my boyfriend started wondering why I was talking with this guy, so we drifted apart. Fall of my Junior year, my
boyfriend broke up with me. I was distraught, so upset, lost and didn't know what to do. I slowly started enjoying the time I had without a guy to worry about.. the Freedom - understandable because I had been dating my boyfriend for 2 years now! Just about a month or two after my boyfriend broke up with me, my friend (Heather- the one that didn't like Joe 2 years back) told me she got an instant message from Joe Spencer! WOW, I was like, I remember him! I got his aim and started talking with him online. That soon led to talking onthe phone again. I was so surprised when he told me that he was moving tomy town! I told him that he might want to visit the school first, so thefirst time we met was in my schools office the day he came to visit. It was very ackward to walk around with someone you just met and tell people that he is my friend and moving to our town, but I was so comfortable with Joe.We were both pretty shy and enjoyed each others company. We quickly became
friends and by the time Joe moved to Bolton, Heather, Joe and myself were inseperable. Like the three musketeers! I didn't like Joe "more than friends" for a while. It wasn't until I realized how sweet and charming he
was that I knew I was falling in love with him. When we were together, it felt so right. But I didn't want to say anything to him, naturally because I didn't know if he felt the same way. Soon he finally confessed to me
that he liked me as well. I wanted to date him, but was so afraid that if we were to break up, our friendship would be ruined and never be the same. Wevowed right then and there that if ever we did break up that we would remain friends. I can't say enough how perfect it felt to be held by him and beloved by your best friend. Like any relationship, we have had our ups and downs and twists and turns, but every healthy relationship has to... it
is a sign of growth and commitment to each other. But never has our relationship incountered so much tention as when Joe left after our senior year to head off to become a Marine. He left Aug. 2000 to join the Marines and I
stayed at home to work full-time at a publishing company. We both had graduated,not really thinking about our future together, but hoping that God would keep us together. I knew it was going to be hard, but didn't realize
how hard it would actually be. During his boot camp I wrote him every day and sent him photos and gifts all the time, only getting in return 5 letters that he scribbled to write under the light of the moon through his barracks
window. My heart leapt with receiving each letter and new it wouldn't belong before I saw him again. About 2 months into his boot camp he shot Expert for riflery (which is the best you can shoot) and was awarded with a
five minute call home. I answered the phone when he called, and I barely recognized his voice, he had been yelling for the past few months, and hesounds so happy and sad at the same time. I didn't talk to him to long, and
after I got off the phone with him I started crying. I couldn't handle it, I needed my friend home! That month dragged on and then finally me and Joe's parents and brothers were on a plane to go see his graduation. We
first sayJoe in formation with his platoon before there were suppose to line up for family day. I knew the moment I laid eyes on him again that we were going to get married someday. He "mouthed" I love you to me and wore the biggest smile (even though he wasn't suppose to!). When we were all reunited tears of joy ran down our faces and we were so happy to see each other again. He looked so handsome in his uniform, a nice tan, and was more built than he was before he went in. The next day was graduation and then they were free to leave Parris Island for their 10 day leave. I was so at peace when I was with him and kept my little promise secret from him, besides he would think I was crazy thinking about marriage, we were only 18! Well turns out I wasn't the only one. He felt it as well. Although we knew that we shouldn't act on it yet, we knew in our hearts that we were going to get
married some day. The only thing we had to wait for was 4 years of college I was staring in the face. So instead of an expensive engagement ring, (which he couldn't afford anyway!) we exchanged promise rings and told
each other our promise of faithfulness, commitment and love for one another. So this story now leads into the present, where I am typing away our love story with my promise ring on my finger and thanking God for all he has done for us. I know that without a doubt, God is the one to give all the credit to our relationship. He has picked me up when I am down and he has strengthened Joe when he was weak and tired. We give him all the glory and honor due his Name and pray that he would continue to write our beautiful love story. Currently, Joe is stationed at Camp Lejeune, NC at is working in Intellegence. I am still working full-time in Connecticut and will
continue to until the end of July 2001. In August, I am driving out to Colorado to go to school at Colorado Christian University. Long distance relationships are stressful and do require a lot of work and dedication to keep the relationship strong, but it is worth every tear and lonely times you are apart when you are finally reunited. I don't know how we could of done this without our faith in Jesus Christ. This is our story, I hope that someone is
inspired by it and finds there is hope if you believe! God Bless!
- Jacqueline
from my home town. It was outside at her parents house, and I was so
excited to see her finally happy. I had glanced over at this tall,
blonde man with sunglasses on and automatically assumed he was probably
with someone because he was so handsome. I glanced at him off and on
through the beautiful ceremony, then it was time to head to the
reception site. I arrived to the reception a bit earlier than the
other guests, I wanted to sign my best friends guest book first. Then I saw
him walk in. I admit it was wonderful to feel butterflies in my
stomach, and feel as giddy as I did when I was a teenager. I have been
divorced for two years, and a single mother of a six year old, but for
a moment, I felt like I was 13. I watched him for a while, then I saw my
best friend and her new husband come in, I was the first to
congratulate them. After the long embracing hug I gave my best friend, I asked her
and her husband who that guy was, they pointed to him and said "that
one?" I said yes, they both smiled, laughed and the groom said, "that's
my brother." I was shocked and I quickly asked, well is he single?
They said yes. I was on the prowl. I saw him filling up his cup with
beer and I asked him if he could fill mine too, then I piped up asking
him point blank "who are you?" he said I am the groom's brother, I said
oh, I am the bride's best friends. We actually did exchange names, but
I like the anonymity of the whole story. We talked a little bit here
and there, but nothing to in depth. Then it was time to throw the bouquet, and I was in line. I have never caught one in my life, and sure enough, my good ol best friend threw it right to me. Then it was time for the garter throwing, and guess who caught that, you guessed it, the groom's
brother. It was at this point that the groom finally officially
introduced us. From that point on we hung out together the whole
night, at one point he asked me to dance, I said I would love to. He held me
so close, but acted like such a gentleman. I made my way over to him a
bit later, pointing to the garter in his pocket, and said you do know
the tradition don't you, he said "what's that?" I said "well you have
to put that on me later" our bodies were touching and he had such a
seductive look in his eye I couldn't resist adding "yeah you have to
put it on with your teeth" He smiled and said " with my teeth huh? well
ok!" He asked me to dance again, but this time, he kissed me, right
there on the dance floor in front of everyone. We made our way to a
table, and kissed for such a long time, until his grandmother came over
and tapped him on the shoulder, smiling, and asking to be introduced to
me. I met his parents, grandparents, after all these are my best
friends new in-laws, not to mention, the family of the man I have been
hanging on and falling in love with. He finally did put that garter on,
with his teeth, and we danced some more. My cousin had gone to the
wedding with me, and offered to drive my car back to her place, and I
asked if he could come with us. We all stayed up talking and laughing,
then my cousin went to bed, the two of us stayed up all night starring
into each other's eyes, and kissing, and talking, and laughing. It was
finally around six in the morning that we decided to go to sleep. He
was such a gentleman, the whole time he was with me, he never even
touched me other than to kiss me and stair into my eyes. We slept
until nine in the morning, then we went out to the porch where we continued
talked and starring into each other's eyes with smiles on our faces,
kissing each other every couple of seconds. We sat on that porch until
3 in the afternoon, I hurried to get ready, as he rubbed my back while
I put on my makeup, looking back at him with a smile every couple of
seconds. I then took him back to his parents house, because he had to
be at the airport @ 4 pm, where he was to fly back to camp pendelton,
as
he is in the marine corp. We sat in my car kissing for 15 minutes, a
tear ran down my face as I told him, "finally in my life, when I meet
someone perfect, he has to leave." we kissed and kissed, and then he
whispered to me "if I don't get out of this car now, I never will." I
never have believed in love at first site, I never thought that any
person could feel this much happiness from another until I met this
man. He is getting out of the marines in a year, and is planning to
come home. I don't care how long it takes, I will wait for him, he is
the first man I have ever met that has totally swept me off my feet,
and is definitely someone worth waiting for. Until then, we keep in touch
with letters. I just keep thinking of how romantic the whole story is!
DLH
