It was the summer of 2000 that I sat in my office thinking about how I could meet a lady. I had met many Eastern European ladies in Key West, Florida where I lived. One in particular was a doctor in Russia and worked for a close friend of mine. I knew that Eastern European women offered a stable, faithful relationship that I had not found in the American women. So I sat down and went to the internet on that warm summer night.
I scanned the internet and found one lady that had the most beautiful blue eyes that I had ever, ever seen. I must write her I told myself, it was a big decision. I had never done anything like writing someone that I did not know.
I mastered all the courage that I had, and I wrote. The next day this lady wrote me back. We corresponded on a daily basis, the letters got more and more personal. Of course, she wanted to know when I could come visit her.
I told her that I could come to Kiev over our holiday called Thanksgiving. The process of tickets, visa and two apartments took up much of my time as I anxiously awaited for that wonderful meeting.
I will never ever forget our first meeting, it was the most wonderful date I have ever had. She was so shy, reserved and of course beautiful. We spent the next 5 days getting to know each other. It was cold in Kiev that fall but we still saw many of the interesting sights around town. We dined out at least once per day but also ate in the apartments when we did not want to venture out. From the first day I was depressed to think that I would have to leave my wonderful new girlfriend in a few days. We were in love from the first meeting.
I immediately started to plan my next trip. This time to go to her home town and meet family, and to ask her to come to the United States to be my wife.
I was sick when I arrived back in Florida because I missed my future fiancee. I was relieved only by knowing that I had 2 weeks off in January of 2001 that I could go back to the Ukraine and see my new and wonderful friend. The days were consumed with the task of preparing for my next visit. I had to make arrangements for the visa and tickets and this time, I would carry with me the paperwork to invite her to the United States as fiancee. I also had to arrange to carry a diamond engagement ring!
I arrived back in Kiev in January 2001, we stayed in Kiev for a couple of days then traveled to her hometown by train. I could go on about the wonderful time we had but I will only say that I met her parents and they were immediately "my family". I could never have been happier. We met again 2 more times as we waited for her fiancee visa to the United States to be approved.
I received notice of her hearing at the US Embassy in Warsaw in early Oct. of 2001 and I returned to meet with her and be at the hearing. We were approved for her visa in one day. We flew to the United States the next day.
I was worried that she would have a hard time adjusting to life in the United States. She was the only child of her parents and the United States was much different that the Ukraine. I was happy to see that she loved my home and my 3 Pomeranian puppies. We very happily got married on Christmas day of 2001!!! In the two years since she arrived I have NEVER been happier. She and her son are the two most wonderful people in the whole world. Her son Dima is a straight A student in the American schools. He shows the world that he not only can adjust to America, but he excels in America. Elena now has a new home in a new state with myself, her son and all 3 puppies. I have never, even for one day regretted us getting married. I only wish I had met her 20 years earlier.