This book is dedicated to those persons everywhere who seek to find true happiness. Especially those who are at the point of giving up but have not tried finding the love of their life on the Internet, or have ventured into cyberspace but are frustrated due to the abuse by persons with whom they sought to establish genuine relationships. I implore you to take a last stand - try a reputable on line relationship service!It is my hope that you will get the confidence to go forward, believing that it is possible to find loving and respectful individuals in our world today, even on the Internet. I did not only find the Love of my life on the Internet - I found a Family on the Internet. It is for this reason that Melody and I have agreed to share our story with the world. There are lessons to be learnt from our experiences and the task has been ours to share - We Love You!
I Found The Love Of My Life On The Internet!
There can be no Distance Between Two Loving Hearts!By Edward A. HarrisAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2010 Edward A. Harris
All right reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4520-8637-8Contents
Chapter 1. Love Defies Distance - The Initial Journey!!!...........................................................1Chapter 2. Three Miracle Words — I Love You!!!...............................................................5Chapter 3. Be Sincere — Genuine Relationships Are Built On Trust!!!..........................................7Chapter 4. Don't Only Say It — Write It!!!...................................................................9Chapter 5. Selected Emails Exchanged!!!............................................................................11#1 Melody introduces herself and family............................................................................11#2 Edward replies to Melody's introductory letter..................................................................14#3 Melody gets closer to a Commitment..............................................................................15#4 Melody follows up...............................................................................................15#5 Ed acknowledges Melody's comforting words.......................................................................17#6 Ed & Melody begin to look at travel options.....................................................................17#7 Ed shares with Melody his spiritual and professional values, including his Curriculum Vitae.....................18#8 Ed and Melody begin to think seriously about their coming together..............................................19#9 Melody responds.................................................................................................20#10 Melody expresses feelings of loneliness........................................................................21#11 Ed Commits.....................................................................................................22#12 Melody commits.................................................................................................23#13 The role of the Internet.......................................................................................25#14 Melody keeps focused...........................................................................................26#15 Ed looks at the possibility of bringing forward his Itinerary..................................................28#16 Is Ed thinking straight?.......................................................................................28#17 Melody helps Ed with his work load.............................................................................29#18 Melody assures Ed - Everything will be fine....................................................................29#19 Melody apologises..............................................................................................30#20 Love notes as a routine feature in Melody and Ed relationship..................................................32#21 Melody expresses her love for Ed...............................................................................33#22 Ed introduces Melody to the technique of Positive Thinking.....................................................34#23 Melody wants to ensure Ed is comfortable.......................................................................36#24 Ed prepares health requirements................................................................................36#25 Melody supports Ed.............................................................................................37#26 Melody is missing Ed and praying...............................................................................38#27 Ed recognizes the need for compromise..........................................................................40#28 Ed beginning to count weekends rather than days................................................................41#29 Melody imagines life with Ed...................................................................................42#30 Who initiated the relationship?................................................................................43#31 Melody informs Ed about the Zimbabwean Shona Custom............................................................44#32 Ed agrees to the Dowry.........................................................................................46#33 Melody expresses her inner desires for Ed......................................................................47#34 Melody clears the decks........................................................................................49#35 Ed putting everything in order for his trip....................................................................51#36 Melody wrestles with her emotions..............................................................................52#37 Melody feels their love is mutual..............................................................................55#38 Melody looks forward to Ed's Love Notes........................................................................56#39 Melody claims that their relationship was established by an Angel..............................................57#40 Melody confesses — Love is a wonderful feeling...........................................................58#41 Ed confesses — his search has ended......................................................................60#42 Melody expresses her deep devotion for Ed......................................................................61#43 Ed sees Melody as a woman with many moods......................................................................63#44 Ed is pleased with the progress of the relationship............................................................64#45 Melody declares — we belong to each other................................................................65#46 Ed responds to challenges but is convinced everything will be fine.............................................67#47 Melody takes note that excitement is building up...............................................................68#48 Ed requests that Melody gives leadership with love.............................................................70#49 Melody promises to be considerate in her leadership role.......................................................70#50 Edward points to the future with Melody........................................................................71#51 Melody is addicted to Ed's love notes..........................................................................72#52 Melody reveals all the reasons for loving Ed...................................................................73#53 Melody seeks assurance that Ed will be everything to her.......................................................76#54 Ed introduces Melody to St. Lucia's Carnival...................................................................77#55 Melody challenges Edward to be responsive to her love..........................................................78#56 Ed has a vision of Financial and Time Freedom..................................................................80#57 Melody vents her frustrations regarding the long wait..........................................................82#58 Melody stresses that love will conquer all.....................................................................84#59 Melody is determined to overcome all obstacles.................................................................85#60 Ed expresses confidence that Love will find a way..............................................................86#61 Ed is keeping the faith and trusting his Source to deliver.....................................................87#62 Melody expresses her deepest feelings for Ed...................................................................88#63 Melody consoles Ed in the light of possible disappointment.....................................................90#64 Ed confesses his faith.........................................................................................90#65 Melody thanks God for Ed.......................................................................................91#66 Ed reports progress on all fronts..............................................................................93#67 Melody loves her package.......................................................................................94#68 Melody paints a portrait of her love...........................................................................95#69 Melody sees Ed as her Lion and she as his Lioness..............................................................97#70 Melody shares her talent as a designer.........................................................................98#71 Ed is getting restless, the delay of his departure is causing him stress.......................................99#72 Ed leaves the decision to Melody...............................................................................100#73 Ed is trying to make every second count........................................................................100#74 The excitement begins to intensify, Melody is ecstatic.........................................................101#75 Melody maintains her momentum of excitement....................................................................101#76 The stars are now predicting Ed's future.......................................................................102#77 Melody lays it all on the table................................................................................102#78 Ed rushes to get his bags packed...............................................................................104#79 Finally, Melody is assured of Ed's arrival.....................................................................105#80 Ed looks forward to being a part of his new family.............................................................106#81 Ed recognizes that the final moments will be tense.............................................................107#82 As excitement increased words have given way to emotions.......................................................107#83 Melody invites Ed into her world...............................................................................108#84 Ed now counts the time of his arrival in hours rather than days................................................109#85 Melody gets ahead on preparations and plans a welcome massage for Ed...........................................109#86 Melody fails to get her way with internal flight arrangements..................................................110Chapter 6. Making The Move.........................................................................................113Chapter 7. We Wish You "Love"......................................................................................115
Chapter One
LOVE DEFIES DISTANCE - THE INITIAL JOURNEY!!!
Our Creator always grants us the desires of our hearts whether it is for better or for worse. That is the power of choice - to choose good or evil! I began my search for a partner who will meet my expectations and be my help meet seven years ago, in between there were relationships but the search continued, until on the morning of the 8th of June 2010, in the height of my frustration, I sat in front of my desk top computer and headed for MSN Search to find a Pen Pal Group. I came upon a listing that attracted me and with a click I was introduced to http:// www.12meetsenior.com (in spite of the name, it is a site for all ages).
I reviewed the home page and took advantage of viewing the other pages available to visitors which gave me confidence to proceed with registering as a free member. By day two I decided to become a paid subscriber. The first fan I selected was Melody who was born in Zimbabwe but is currently resident in Tanzania. I sent off the usual introductory email to her but it dawned on me that it was a great distance between us and major differences in cultures. However, I persisted having assured myself that no distance should prevent two people of like minds from sharing each other's life.
I never thought in my wildest dreams that a relationship on the internet could have been so intense. In the short time of fifty nine (59) days, a journey which commenced on the 8th June, 2010, finally culminated on the morning of the 6th of August, 2010 when I was warmly greeted at Julius Nyerere International Airport, Tanzania, embraced and welcomed by Melody! It was a moment in time that I will always remember.
We planned to spend three days in Dar es Salaam upon Melody's insistence that she will meet me on my arrival on Tanzanian soil and show me around the Capital, but we only spent a day and a night before we headed for my final destination — Arusha. It was a quiet Saturday afternoon as we drove to my new home which I share with Melody who is a widow and two of her five children, ages 25 and 2. The others are at Universities in England and South Africa.
I must admit I was unaware of the environment I was entering as Melody never sent photographs of her home and surroundings. She kept that as a surprise in spite we exchanged a lot of photographs. I trusted her judgment and within the short space of time in which we communicated via the internet, she gained my confidence.
As I discussed my impending departure from my home in Saint Lucia for more than 30 years and leaving behind established relations in business and with many friends, the question which was being asked all the time was — are you sure you are going to be OK with all the negative stories we hear happening in Africa? I repeated again and again that "I trust Melody". In the latter stages, we talked daily on the phone, sometimes I gave my friends the opportunity to speak with her so at least they will know she is real.
Like Melody, I have five children and my eldest son was relieved of his own concerns when I arranged for us to meet on SKYPE and the two sides met — Melody and her daughters, and my son — Keith and I. It was a bit difficult to establish the internet connection but we did finally. The photographs and persons we spoke with matched. At least I cleared a major hurdle in relation to my going to a country in the middle of Africa without knowing who I was going to. Photographs were not enough, it needed more and from that moment my son was fully on my side.
Tanzania is ahead of US EST by seven hours during Summer. During the period of our relationship, we spoke on the telephone, and we communicated by email, a minimum of twice daily. We woke up to a love note in the morning and went to bed after reading another at night. In between, during our waking hours as the feelings allowed, shorter notes and other bits of information were exchanged. Three hundred and thirty three (333) emails were exchanged in just under two (2) months prior to our meeting in person.
This is how it started:
2010-06-08 07:50:59 Hello Stranger, Thanks for making me one of your favourites. I like your profile and your pictures are just stunning. So, do you care to communicate with me? If you like, then we can. I will be waiting for your response. Be blessed Melody
2010-06-08 19:12:25 Dear Melody, Great to have you as a friend. Thank you for your observations about my profile and pictures. I will hope that you can tell more about your country. I have a few of my own websites which I will introduce to you so you can get a glimpse of my busy lifestyle. Ed.
COMMENT:
Welcome to the world of Melody and Ed, enjoy the ride!
Chapter Two
THREE MIRACLE WORDS — I LOVE YOU!!!
If there is one lesson I have learnt from our relationship is that truth which is found in the Holy Scriptures. LOVE is the greatest commandment. In my communication with Melody, I discovered three words that should be the theme of every relationship — I LOVE YOU! We began to use those three words freely and they became a unifying force between us, it bonded us together. I Love You!
When I use the miracle words, it causes me to pause and reflect upon my deep devotion to Melody and the respect I have for her. As our relationship grew, those three words gave us strength to move the process of our coming together even at a faster pace. I felt like I had known Melody for several years and I got the feeling that both of us felt this way.
As we progress along life's path together, we will keep true to our commitment of repeating the miracle words as if it is a mantra, regardless of the place and time, even in the middle of the night, we will exchange those miracle words — I Love You! Sometimes we communicate in whispers, and sometimes audibly. There is magic in those words, we have committed to using the three miracle words as often as the opportunity presents itself. Love removes all conflicts; Love finds a way not only sometimes, but every time.
COMMENT
We discovered three simple words with very powerful impact — I Love You!
Chapter Three
BE SINCERE — GENUINE RELATIONSHIPS ARE BUILT ON TRUST!!!
The title of this chapter is so fundamental that if applied in any relationship can only have life changing effects for the better in every aspect of our lives. I am obliged always to seek clear definition of such fundamental words as SINCERE! The dictionary at my disposal (Oxford English Reference) reveals the meaning of Sincere to be: 1. Free from pretence or deceit: the same in reality as in appearance. 2. Genuine, honest, frank.
The relationship which Melody and I have established and currently share would not have been possible without trust and sincerity of purpose. On both sides, there were lots at stake, family being the most important. As mature individuals, we had to take each step responsibly and seek to get our children on our sides. We were fortunate, that this was the easy part. We trusted our Creator in many ways to see us through. He truly gives us the desires of our hearts. We prayed for and affirmed the victory that is ours today.
Every step of the way, we opened up to each other and shared without holding back anything to the point it could be said figuratively that we declared our opening balance sheets. We knew everything we needed to know about each other that set the platform that we will build our present and future relationship upon.
The letters we exchanged were so reassuring that confidence naturally emerged on both sides. I was confident in leaving behind family, friends, social and business relationships that I built up over a period of thirty years, and she was prepared to open her heart, her family and her home to me.
COMMENT:
The stage has been set for a solid foundation that will be strong in spite of whatever challenges, as always in the process of really getting to know each other, there must be concessions on both sides but the mantra — "I Love You" is sure to give us the power to triumph over any obstacle.
Chapter Four
DON'T ONLY SAY IT — WRITE IT!!!
Don't only say it, write it. Any motivational speaker of note always exhorts his/her audience to write down whatever their goals are and commit them to memory. Then, Self Talk your written ideas and goals into reality. The objective is for you to live your dreams even before they become reality. Open up your attractive force, so that you will be seen as you expect to be seen. You will wake up to the reality that the forces necessary to take you to your destination begin to turn up and align themselves with your cause.
Melody and I have written our way to each other's heart with an indelible ink where the words of love that we exchanged are now in control of our lives, we live our words. The letters we exchanged made it happen for us. Words have very powerful effect on the recipient. "The pen is mightier than the sword" Words when used effectively cut through to the heart with laser like precision. We mutually agreed on this point. The truth is that Melody really has her way with words as you will soon experience but in every instance her words are seasoned with sincerity.
COMMENT:
As a result of the transformation which has taken place in our lives, we have decided to write a series of e-books, including our autobiographies in an effort to share our experiences on many subjects that will touch hearts and change lives around the world.
Chapter Five
SELECTED EMAILS EXCHANGED!!!
We have come to the part that this book is all about. We have carefully selected eighty six (86) emails to show a clear path as to how our relationship progressed up to the moment when I boarded the flight on British Airways from London to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on the 5th of August, 2010.
The trip was very enjoyable, no moment of anxiety as a result of turbulence, except for the anticipation of my meeting with Melody. I kept relying on Melody's favorite words in moments of uncertainty as we planned my trip to Tanzania — "Everything will be fine!" I will be first to say she has delivered. Everything has been fine ever since my arrival!
We invite you to share in our fairy tale kind of relationship where the written word has taken us up to the mountain top of reality. It is our sincere wish that our readers will benefit from the approach we applied to bring us to together in almost a magical way.
#1 Melody introduces herself and family
June 9, 2010
Dear Ed,
Hello once more, or should I say good afternoon Ed. Its 4:30pm here and there I gather its 9:30 am, so we are 7 hours ahead of you.
We are about to go home, in one hour's time, while you will be starting your day. Oh, so you have a hectic schedule? We say Pole sana in Kiswahili, meaning something like sorry for that or I sympathise with you. Maybe, I should actually say, just enjoy your day in spite of it all. Funny!
I was trying to visualize all the globetrotting that you have done so far and are about to do. That's really something. You know what, you amaze me. So you have been to Sierra Leone? You mean you stood where the Africans were being shipped away as slaves? Oh God, Edward, even if I might not have been there, but I can still feel the pain for them. Even some of us whose ancestors remained here in Africa, they underwent some form of slavery under the colonial regimes. It was just terrible, evil and outrageous. God have mercy!
Let me put my office in order and go home. I will continue with this email home after I would have rested a bit.
I am home now and my time is 9:15pm
Since I said I will send you my family's picture, here it is.
You want to know the number of children I have - I suppose? Well l have sent you a family picture that was taken 5 months ago when all the children were home on holidays. I have a large family. To be exact, I have five children, four daughters and a son. Except for my two year old daughter, my children are all adults, unmarried, and in the final stages of their professional qualifications. I even adopted a daughter who is not in the family photo. She followed in my footsteps and got married rather early. Here is a picture of my adopted daughter with me and her baby I am holding.
Please don't run away from our friendship due to fear of my big family. They are well cultured children and we are a close knit family. They will adore you, if they get to know you. The thing they are after is my happiness. We are very open with each other. Maybe it's due to the fact that they have been living away from home most of the time. Also these kids have been trained to apply themselves. Most credit goes to God on high who gave them the brains. Otherwise, it could not have been possible.
My little baby was not planned at all. It was just an accidental blessing. Even with my other children, I did not plan at all, as a result the spacing was poorly done as you can see that there was no time / space between each of them, almost every year a baby kind of thing.
You can see how traditional and unsophisticated I have been in not practicing family planning in earnest, or should I say, I am a woman with a high fertility genetic makeup? I just don't know.
I also started early. Since I had married my secondary school teacher, all my tertiary education was done whilst playing the role of wife, mother and student at the same time. I just thank God for giving me the brains and the capability.
My dear Edward, so you can see my family and now you know more about me, isn't it? You are free to ask me anything, I mean anything about me and my family even about my late husband. Feel free about that. If somehow you don't want to hear about that part of my life, please let me know so that I won't annoy you with reference to that- right?
What I know is that they will like you very much, when they get to know about you. At the moment, they know that we are friends and they are fine with that.
So how many children do you have? Do you mind me asking about your family - your wife, etc.? Please let me know if you are not comfortable with my questions. I will respect your feelings. Also, if you somehow feel that my family is too big and you don't like a friend with all these children, I will still respect your feelings. So feel free to express your true feelings. You can even joke about my family, everyone will take it; we are such a merry bunch.
So Ed, tell me, what do you say about me now?
What else will you want to know? I am a person who just expresses what I feel at any moment. Do you have any problems with that dear?
Sorry for this abnormally long letter. In my future emails, I will try to summarize the topic.
I am eagerly awaiting your reply.
Take care, Melody
COMMENT: In the past I did my best to avoid relationships where children were involved but I willingly pursued this relationship putting all my fears behind me to be a part of the family with a promise to love my adopted two year old and be a Father to her which I never was to my five children.
#2 Edward replies to Melody's introductory letter
June 9, 2010
Dear Melody,
I read your letter twice, checked the pictures and verified everyone. Don't forget, I am a freelance journalist, so you can write as long emails as you like. I will surely read them. I like reading, just as much as I like writing.
You are a great woman. God has been good to you and your family. You will be OK very soon and your last baby will be the cherished daughter of all your children. I hope your adopted daughter will emulate you and not be put off by the set back with her lack of education due to early marriage. I was also married at 19 the first time. I have been married more times that I care to remember. Unfortunately for me, I was married four times. My last wedding was held in Bronx, New York, 150 guests, restaurant on the sea, shrimp dinner. There was a skit and a floor show at the wedding, 5 stretch limos, etc. The marriage only survived 5 years. We are still friends and we talk regularly. There is one thing that I feel blessed about is that I continue to maintain a cordial relationship with all my wives, two of whom had no offspring.
I am very unsettled at the moment. I am very uneasy about my life, but somehow happy. I have great friends who look out for me and we spend a lot of time together. I have five children all adults, 3 in New York - 2 boys and 1 girl, a girl in Guyana and a boy in St. Lucia. Their ages range from 37 - 25. They are all doing well except for my eldest child who is now getting into her own, and blessed me with twin grandsons.
(Continues...)
Excerpted from I Found The Love Of My Life On The Internet!by Edward A. Harris Copyright © 2010 by Edward A. Harris . Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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