|
|
Meet the love of my life, David....or Dave, as others call him....aka SlvrSplsh on IRC. This is pretty much how David looked when we met (minus the snow, of course)! :}
This was taken when he lived in Boston (back in '96)....it sure don't snow like that in South Carolina!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sorry, hon....I just *hafta* do it! *G* Check Splsh out when he was *totally* green & wet behind BOTH ears--he was only 17 years old in this pic!!! *BG*
Ain't he ADORABLE?!?!??!?! *G*
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first pic of us together, taken in March '98....thanks to Sherrie (also of #30plus).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My 41st birthday (June 5, '98)....in Atlanta. This was taken while we rested outside in Atlanta's Underground. Check out David's new 'do'!!! He had his hair cut on June 3. (I kept his ponytail!!!!! *G)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following is the story of SlvrSplsh & Dazzle^ (or Splsh & Dazz....or David & Cath--as told by Cath, of course!)
I met David on IRC, on #30plus. His brother, HiHoSlvr (for whatever reason), had been "impressed with my efforts" to continue my education and had told David "all about" me. David came to #30plus out of curiousity, in an effort to meet me (I learned this *AFTER* I moved to SC! *g*) And, he found me!!! :) David and I began talking in March of 1996, and we soon became close friends & "partners in crime". (Translation: we had a BLAST together online cutting up!)
I always found David to be honest and trustworthy, and a whole lot like me. (SCARY!! *G*) I knew soon after we met online that he was a soulmate--someone with whom I could share my thoughts, feelings, dreams, goals--those things that make me, ME. We shared a lot (tho not ALL!) of the same interests and philosophies, and his intelligence, sincerity, and sweetness was SUCH a breath of fresh air from many other shallow males I'd met on IRC. However, David lived in Boston, MA at the time (not *real* close to NC at all) and had no plans of returning to his old home in South Carolina except to visit his parents occasionally--which he did in May, 1996.
I met David in person that May at the airport in Charlotte, NC. His flight was late arriving, so he barely had time to unboard the plane he was on and board the plane he was to catch for SC. But instead of boarding the next plane, David decided to go on standby so he and I could have the lunch he'd promised me! Our first meeting was far from a dream-come-true. *G* David was all upset with the airlines because his flight was late, and he was more than a li'l irritable with them.
I was apprehensive at first (after all, he WAS pretty peeved at the airlines), though he wasn't the first IRCer I'd met, but lunch turned out to be very enjoyable and I soon relaxed. We enjoyed each other's conversation and company. His destination was only an hour from the airport, so I offered to drive him the rest of the way instead of him possibly having to sit and wait for a seat on a plane all night in Charlotte. Thus began our journey. *BG*
David and I went to the parking lot that afternoon to get in the car--only THERE WAS NO CAR!!!! Silly me had lost the damned car! I didn't realize there were 2 SEPARATE parking decks at Charlotte airport, but I won't forget it again...talk about *embarrassed*!!! Good naturedly, David helped me look everywhere for the car...and we finally DID find it--right where I'd said it was...only, on the *other* side of the parking garage. *G* Then, I drove him down to meet his dad and dropped him off. Although we chatted a lot after that excursion, we didn't see each other again until October, 1996 when David's dad died. :(
For many reasons, I backed away from David: David lived too far away, and my own father was dying from emphysema. Dad lived with me--I took care of him...and, I flatly refused to even *consider* leaving him to go anywhere permanently. I also knew...felt in my heart...that if I allowed myself, I'd get much *too* close to David--which would complicate things in numerous ways. He lived too far away, I was concerned about my dad, and I was married.
Though my marriage had been over for a long time when David and I met, I was still legally married and living under the same roof with my husband....and I tried not to hurt my husband even tho our marriage was over--after all, it was because of him that I could continue to try to finish up my college degree AND have dad live with us so I could care for him. So, even though David and I chatted, we grew distant....and I grew more fond of someone else who lived even further away than David--but he was 'safe'....or so I reasoned.
Then at the end of October, 1996, I saw David online and he told me the horrible news that his dad had passed away. David was making plans to fly down from Boston. I offered to pick him up in Charlotte and take him the rest of the way 'home'. I made plans and went to the Charlotte airport that October morning....but, David, having been up working all night the night before, had fallen asleep in the Boston airport and missed his flight. It would be 3 hours til the next one came in. I called Mikey (TV-KING), and he came and took me out to dinner. Mikey and I went back to the airport and met David when his flight finally came in. Then, I drove David to SC and stayed for the funeral the next day. David says he doesn't remember too much about that time, and I understand that--he had just lost his father. However, I very clearly remember the warm sweet hug, the heartfelt thank-you, and the tender kiss on my left cheek I got that evening when I left for home. Still, I didn't see David for yet another year.
I allowed the distance to grow between us as David began and ended other intimate relationships. Though always there to comfort, I never allowed myself to get *too* close--nor allowed any encouragement to David that getting close was even possible. (Truth is, I was afraid if I got too close to David, *I* would end up hurting him like so many others had--and I knew he deserved FAR better than that...) I wouldn't let myself get too close to David, yet I grew closer and closer to the one who was 'safe'.
Then, quite unexpectedly, David invited me to come visit him in Boston. He had invited me before--with all I had to deal with, he offered me a place of respite out of friendship, but this time he seemed more....enthusiastic?.... about me visiting. I didn't visit him, though. An IRC girlfriend (Dawny) had bought a ticket for me to visit her in Seattle in August 1997....I rerouted to spend a week with my 'safe' friend before heading for Seattle to meet Dawn instead of going to Boston. I had always thought of David and me as just good friends--I had NO idea how that decision would hurt him.
I met my 'safe' friend and found him to be as wonderful as I knew he would be--which restored my faith in people from IRC....I'd had several BAD (putting it *mildly*) meetings. It was at this time that I decided I no longer needed safe--I wanted to go to graduate school where 'mr. safe' was....and give myself whatever chance I could for a relationship with him. I knew by the time I was ready for graduate school, my dad would no longer be with me....no matter HOW much I would have given to have had it otherwise. (My dad died January 5, 1998.)
So, just HOW did I end up falling head-over-heels in love with David and changing my plans for grad school and 'mr. safe'????
David decided, finally, to move BACK to South Carolina....and he did so in September '97. He got in touch with me on IRC to let me know the weekend he was to arrive and asked me to meet him there....but I had pneumonia and couldn't meet him. The next weekend I couldn't meet him either...or the next. I figured he'd give up on me, though I was trying really hard to make it down to see him (although I KNOW it didn't look like I was). At this point, David was still a close, very dear friend, and I didn't want to lose his friendship.
Finally, about a month after he moved back home (October '97), I got to visit David (so he could work on my 'puter, no less!) I was apprehensive about going to meet him and spend a couple days there while he worked on my 'puter--quite honestly, I wasn't sure what David expected out of our relationsip, and I was afraid of getting too close to him...and hurting him. I was, after all, in love with 'mr. safe'--or the illusion of a "perfect" love, to be more accurate. It turned out that David was very ill all weekend--but it also turned out that was the most wonderful weekend I'd had in a very long time!
What I remembered before was a sweet, thoughtful friend....and what I found that weekend was that....and *so* much more! When David walked in his mom's after work that first night, there before me stood a gorgeous, intelligent, strong but gentle, independent, self-sufficient (yet not the least afraid to reach out and ask for help) man who needed someone to love him for who he was--is (which is *SO* EASY because he is SUCH a wonderful, sweet, kindhearted, gentle, kindred spirit!) My heart just about exploded....I **NEVER** expected that!!!
Those women who trompled on David's heart or passed him up before, shame on you....and had I been *STUPID* enough to side-step the love he offered me, shame on ME! David never gave up on me....always the forgiving, gentle comforter who rarely thinks of himself (or when he does, it's often an afterthought). I will *always* be thankful that David saw what I somehow overlooked.
And now? Well, David asked me to marry him....
David and I ELOPED as soon as my divorce was final, as promised here. Now that I'm more up to it, we plan our religious ceremony (our handfasting) on (Friday) October 13, 2000! *G*
Visit our wedding page to read about our elopement & see those wedding pics--and check back for our Handfasting pics soon! :)
David....
There is still so much I want to say to you, yet I have so few words with which to say it. Thank you for being there for me *always*....for never giving up on me--even when you thought there was no way for 'us' to be or no way out so we could finally be US....for being the wonderful, kind, adorable, fun, funny, silly but serious when you need to be, intelligent, wise, comforter and sweetheart you are....for being there for me when dad died and every day since....for helping me slowly find 'me' and become that person once again....for changing with me and helping me to evolve and grow....for helping me to deal with and overcome all the nightmares I've been through and not ever willingly contributing to that list...for respecting me and being considerate of my wishes above everything else, your own wishes included....for never pressuring or pushing me, but allowing me to make up my OWN mind--even if it means your getting hurt....for trying hard to understand all my lil quirks--and, especially, for loving me both because of and in spite of them....for recognizing, understanding, remembering, and practicing (Love Is) "Something That We Do". Most of all, hon, thanks just for being you....for always letting me be me....for trying to understand who ME is....for still being one of my very best friends, above all else....and for loving me as much as you do.
I love you, respect you, and value your friendship and love more than I can ever say or you will probably ever know....but I hope to spend the rest of my life trying to show you and help you understand just how much.
David....with all of my heart, mind, body, and soul!
Return to the main page.
You're visitor # 
so far! Thanks for
making me feel so special!!!