My Beloved Olga, You are my Best Friend. You are the Love of My Life…
We met at a Training Conference in early January 1997. I was a Presenter, and you were a member of the US Army South Comptroller Team from Panama. I was already scheduled to present Army SBC Training in Panama later that month, so I reached out to your Team to prepare for my visit.
Our attraction was mutual and immediate. On our second evening of your visit, we traveled with your division chief for a snowy visit to the Presidential Inauguration area, the White House, and other buildings. We walked together, we held hands, and we got to know each other. After a beautiful evening you asked me to take you to visit The Pentagon. My immediate reply was, “Absolutely! Outstanding!” We did tour The Pentagon the next day, and over lunch, I told you for the first time that you were ‘Easy on the Eyes’, Soon after, and always since, I’ve referred to you as “My Drop-Dead Gorgeous, Fiery, Passionate Latin Lover”.
As our Love blossomed and our Hopes and Dreams for the Future solidified, we became Best Friends. We confided with each other. We shared a profound mutual respect and admiration for each other. You supported my hopes and dreams – as I did yours. We affirmed our Undying Love and Devotion – “Now and forever”. We Never wavered from our Commitments. We Never questioned our Love.
You and your children left Panama to join me in what was immediately OUR home in Manassas. We married on 1 May 1998 in an elegant but simple private ceremony. That was the way WE wanted it to be. It represented US, Olga. That was the Happiest Day of My Life!
Honey, as we had agreed so many times, OUR challenges were typical of any Marriage between two strong, intelligent people. We were dedicated to each other, and so much in Love. I can never remember any of our Communication Screw-Ups” lasting more than three or four days, and then we would come back to our senses. We communicated. We recommitted our Undying Love and Devotion to each other, even stronger. Each life challenge brought us closer together, and it strengthened US.
Even as we faced our challenges as parents, dealing with day-to-day issues and the normal differences of opinion – we were united.
Our Undying Love, our Commitment, our promise to “Always Do the Right Thing” – was NEVER in doubt. Our children knew it; or families and friends knew it. Our Love… and our Undying Devotion… were never questioned. We were ONE. We will always Be ONE.
Olga, my Love, WE spent so many exciting, happy hours planning and dreaming of our Future. WE researched, evaluated, and analyzed our plans, our Hopes and Dreams – and then together, made OUR decisions regarding the way ahead. We purposely closed “OUR Bubble” to focus on US, and we were comfortable with that – as it must be.
Our most recent decision, on February 11th, was to sell our Lake House, and to build our ‘Dream Home’ at Sullivan Ranch. Our Dreams were sincere, well-considered, and Real. When we had different perspectives or timelines, we compromised. When we did make OUR decisions, we absolutely agreed.
As we always did, we pursued our dreams at a tremendous pace. We referred to our big decisions as “Our Next Great Adventure”, and we shared so many beautiful dreams. We enjoyed SO many Successes. Now it is God’s Plan to embrace You in His Heaven. Even though my life continues, OUR plans, hopes and dreams for the future have been shattered.
Honey, as deeply as I love you and I miss you, I find comfort knowing you are With God. I can feel your Undying Love and Devotion. I know YOU are My Guardian Angel, guiding me, smiling down on me and giving me the strength to go on without you. I know, too, that some day WE will be together again for All Eternity.
May God bless you and keep you. May God make His face to shine upon you and give you Peace.
With My Undying Love, Now and Forever…
Your loving Husband, Michael