How I Met My Husband... (On SPW)

Starry

Well-known member
So, I've had more than one request to post the story of meeting my husband on this site. I did post it, maybe a year or two ago, but as it was within a thread it seemed to get a little lost... So here it is again... This will be long!!

I registered here in December 2006, 22 days later, on 2nd January 2007, a man on this site started speaking to me on the mini-chat feature. As I learned later, he'd read some of my posts and instantly been drawn to me. I still remember his first words to me, they were: "Hello! :) So, you were 21 two days ago?" Once talking, the feeling was mutual, and I quickly developed a crush on him... After just 6 days of talking with him on the chat feature I was already feeling incredibly ill with anxiety because of my feelings for him, plus the social phobia on top of it. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep... When I did sleep I had nightmares of him being with me then vanishing, leaving me all alone, and I'd wake up calling his name. The anxiety was shocking, I'd never felt so anxious before about anything. But I persisted and we spoke every day for hours on end.

Six weeks into knowing him he sent me a message just as we were saying goodnight... It said "Amo te"... I felt very ill, yet happy, when I realised what it meant... But I didn't dare to bring the subject up the next day when we spoke. He waited a day or two before asking if I got his message... I said that I did, but questioned whether he meant it in terms of friendship or something more... It was, of course, the latter, and I had to admit I felt the same...

We started speaking on MSN and, eventually, I didn't bother with this site anymore. During our time talking he rescued me from the Jehovah's Witnesses - I'd always had terrible issues with the Bible and the cruelty and evil I perceive in it, but I wasn't strong enough to break free on my own... He helped me, he got me to question things in such a way that I could no longer accept it. I knew it was wrong... All of this made me very ill, and I suffered a lot during that time, but I am so much happier now!

After 18 months of chatting online, he decided it was time to meet me in person... Now, any normal person would have caught a train to come to my city to meet me (He lived in Hereford and I was in Birmingham), but not him... Too anxious to use public transport, he decided to walk - yes - WALK! the distance to meet me... He also didn't tell me that he was coming, though we'd discussed it, and he had permission to come, though he did hint at it... Strongly enough, that I knew he was on his way... He did so without a map (he merely wrote down a few instructions on a scrap of paper). He of course had to sleep out overnight, since the journey was too long for one day... He slept in a field, with nothing but a jumper, his rucksack and a torch... No sleeping bag!

The next day, Friday 13th June, I was opening the door to take my dog for our short "Beat the agoraphobia" walk up the road and back... I did so just as he was about to knock it. Of course I jumped terribly, the dog barked ferociously at him (and kept doing so every time he moved for a day or two afterwards).. All I could mumble was "Okay then..."

He stood there with bits of grass in his hair, looking exhausted... I was terrified! We went into the back garden, where he sat on a slightly rotten garden chair, which, typically, decided to break at that very moment. It was hard not to laugh at the site of him fallen through the seat of the chair. He sat on the ground after that.

My old dog liked him straight away, but my younger dog just would not trust him, not after he made me jump so violently. (She loves him now, however. ^_^) My old dog delighted in licking his feet, which after wearing hiking boots for one and a half days solid, were not at all pleasant to smell!

We eventually went into the house, and within an hour or two he told me, for the first time in person, "rest assured, I do still love you!" I had so much fear about meeting him in person due to the fact I thought he wouldn't love me anymore... But he still did, which made my heart skip a beat!

Next thing to worry about was telling my mother that he had come... I was so embarrassed... But we managed it together.

That evening we listened to some music together and he held my hand, then cuddled me for the first time. It felt so amazing! The feeling is indescribable! When I left him to sleep I was trembling so much!

It took a week or so for my anxiety of being around him to wear off so that I was completely comfortable around him. Over the weeks he was with me, we conquered my agoraphobia and I delighted in going on long walks and picnics with him. My mother didn't make things easy... She took a dislike to him, presumably because he was "stealing her daughter from her"... She caused many arguments and made times unhappy... After 8 weeks, we caught the train to Hereford, so we could stay at his home for a while. During this time things became incredibly unhappy, his mother was worse than mine in terms of causing arguments, I hated it there, but I couldn't bare to be parted from him. Although, during this time one very happy thing occurred: On Friday, 13th of September, he proposed to me! I was so happy, I cried!

After 10 weeks in Hereford, we returned to Birmingham. After a month there he returned to Hereford on his own for a while (He planned to be gone two months, until after Christmas)... I couldn't cope without him. I couldn't eat, and spent all my time in bed, trying not to cry... I was terribly obsessed! So after two weeks he returned to me. After that we never parted again, we traveled back and forth between Birmingham and Hereford, always spending more time in Birmingham since I found it so difficult to cope with his mother.

During this time we were trying to get a home of our own.. We'd all but given up hope of ever getting a place, since it was so difficult. But finally on 17th January 2011 we found a place to live! In a village in Herefordshire. We moved in in February, and finally we were married on 8th December 2011. We had a very small wedding, with just close family, in a local church (despite not being Christian - but rather Deist - we couldn't face going to the city to use the Town Hall). We had a beautiful horse and carriage too, which was a dream come true.

And so ends the story, we've been happily married since then. I love him with all my heart and he loves me equally so, if not more!

In October/November of 2006 I'd been praying for "Truth and Love" - truth about the Jehovah's Witnesses and love because I was so lonely... Along came "Veritas" - his username, Latin for "Truth"... He did bring me the truth about the JWs and he definitely brought me love... My prayer was completely answered... So I have definite faith in the power of prayer...


And all of this goes to show, that no matter what struggles you have to go through, no matter how hopeless you feel, or how hard life is, there is always hope! So never, ever give up!
 

bleach

Banned
great, now after reading this all the SPW birds trying to find a man will bother me constantly. sorry ladies but I am gay!
 

WeirdyMcGee

Well-known member
Aw~ so sweet... haha
And also proves what people mean when they say that love comes when you aren't expecting it.

I really like that he WALKED all the way to you for the first time. That's the stuff romance novels, movies and songs are made of, Starry.
Thanks for sharing!
 

Starry

Well-known member
Thank you for the lovely comments! ^_^

And I agree, it IS like a romance story... It's wonderful! and I consider myself incredibly lucky! ^_^
 
"Amo te" Bad (no really, very bad) digital translator there :p

The story itself is lovely. But, and I don't wanna be harsh here, I think some lonely people here may draw too high expectations and hopes from it. I've known of at least other two couples that have formed from this forum, but for each couple there are hundreds if not thousands of frustrated individuals. I acknowledge that the both of you fought for the relationship and earned the happiness you're enjoying now, but it all started with a chance the both of you had and that it seems so random that I prefer not to grow any hopes to get one of those chances myself. That doesn't mean I wouldn't take a chance if it presents, but I rather not hurt myself building hopes that are most likely to get frustrated.
 

MollyBeGood

Well-known member
It's a wonderful story (movie material yes) and it gives people hope that dreams and love can happen. I am really happy for you both and your wedding sounded lovely...do you ave any pics? Congats on breaking free from that church-what a guy to help you with so many things-you're lucky! I do think love heals and helps people over come things that might have seen unimaginable alone.
 

Starry

Well-known member
"Amo te" Bad (no really, very bad) digital translator there :p


Actually, it's perfectly correct - it's Latin, not Spanish (In case you thought it was Spanish, since I know that's "Te Amo").

The story itself is lovely. But, and I don't wanna be harsh here, I think some lonely people here may draw too high expectations and hopes from it. I've known of at least other two couples that have formed from this forum, but for each couple there are hundreds if not thousands of frustrated individuals. I acknowledge that the both of you fought for the relationship and earned the happiness you're enjoying now, but it all started with a chance the both of you had and that it seems so random that I prefer not to grow any hopes to get one of those chances myself. That doesn't mean I wouldn't take a chance if it presents, but I rather not hurt myself building hopes that are most likely to get frustrated.

Of course! I wouldn't want anyone to place all their hopes upon it, when it is clearly, very rare... I think I would rather people take away from it the idea not to give up hope. Remain hopeful and optimistic, but don't fool yourself... "Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, expect nothing" - one of the quotes my husband often uses.

Cool story, did you buy him a tent and sleeping bag for xmas?

No, his mother did that! Haha.

狼;633230 said:
It's a wonderful story (movie material yes) and it gives people hope that dreams and love can happen. I am really happy for you both and your wedding sounded lovely...do you ave any pics? Congats on breaking free from that church-what a guy to help you with so many things-you're lucky! I do think love heals and helps people over come things that might have seen unimaginable alone.

Indeed I am lucky! I consider how lucky I am every single day! ^_^ We do have photographs from the wedding, but I'd rather not post them... Especially since my husband doesn't want photographs of himself on the forum.

Thank you.
 

Phoenixx

Well-known member
Awwww! This put a huge smile on my face. :) Definitely needed to read something like this today, since I've been feeling a little down. I'm so glad the two of you are happy, and I'm glad you shared us your story! :)
 

Ignace

Well-known member
Doesn't happen a lot I read such a big post completely on here, I gotta admit. ::p: But your story was .. too interesting to not read. :) I'm really impressed by him walking to you for almost 60 miles, that's 100 km. :eek: I would have died somewhere in a river or something lol. All the happiness to both of u !
 

dyingtolive

Well-known member
hi thanks for sharing your story.
it is very inspiring and wish u and your husband all the best.

i dont mean any disrespect but when i read about the walking because of fear of taking public transpo, i felt embarassed for him, i didn't find it romantic.. i wonder if he felt embarassed about it as well. i have a bit of a fear oftaking public transpo as well and would also rather walk places if i could, but putting myself in a situation like that and if i told someone i would 'walk there' because i felt uncomfortable taking public transpo, that would be embarassing for me. If i did walk because i prefered to walk, that may be different. well maybe its just the exact wording that make me feel embarassed for him. maybe he also just 'prefered' to walk
 

Starry

Well-known member
Thank you again, everyone for the lovely comments. ^_^



i dont mean any disrespect but when i read about the walking because of fear of taking public transpo, i felt embarassed for him, i didn't find it romantic.. i wonder if he felt embarassed about it as well. i have a bit of a fear oftaking public transpo as well and would also rather walk places if i could, but putting myself in a situation like that and if i told someone i would 'walk there' because i felt uncomfortable taking public transpo, that would be embarassing for me. If i did walk because i prefered to walk, that may be different. well maybe its just the exact wording that make me feel embarassed for him. maybe he also just 'prefered' to walk

No, he didn't feel embarrassed by it, quite the contrary, he's proud of it, he sees it as a massive achievement and "an important initiation into the relationship" (His words) and honestly, I'm a littler perplexed that you do find it embarrassing... I'll also point out, that he now can use public transport, though he still prefers to walk.

Are you saying that for someone to admit that they have a problem and to find a different, and perhaps more arduous solution to it is weak or embarrassing?

I feel certain you wouldn't be embarrassed if a blind person stated that because they're blind they do something which to most people would be a lot harder? After all, a blind person has a "legitimate" problem, and anyone who would look down on them for that is obviously in error. Social phobia is a "legitimate problem", admitting it doesn't reflect badly upon a person; in fact a lot of the stress people with social phobia suffer is because they're trying to hide their problem, rather than admit it outright... Think how much harder it would be for a blind person trying to pretend they're not blind.

Also, (just in case) please don't try to say there is a difference between social phobia and blindness because the one is physical and the other is mental. There are thousands of people who have social phobia throughout their entire lives, regardless of treatment; if treatment isn't helping, then as far as I can see, it's fair to equate the two... (Forgive me if that sounds argumentative, it honestly isn't! I'm just covering my point as I've been around some people who will grab hold of anything to argue against me and it makes me nervous...)

Personally, I'm incredibly open about my social phobia, I make posts about it on Facebook and I freely tell people about it, because, by doing so I'm educating people, I'm allowing them to understand me and that takes a lot of pressure off of me since I don't need to try to seem "normal" when just being in social situations is hard enough as it is.

Thank you for your well-wishes. :)
 
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