Jan 23 2012
Love At First Skype
People always ask how Rebekah and I met, and it is not something I can answer in a sentence or two. We didn’t meet in church, school, at work, in a doctor’s office, or in a nightclub. It’s not like we bumped into each other at the supermarket, or her car stalled in the middle of a parking lot somewhere and I rushed over to save the damsel in distress. Interestingly, we didn’t even hook up in person.
Here’s the story from my perspective…
I was sitting at my laptop planning a photography trip to New York City, when up popped an instant message on Facebook. It was from a man in India – the father of a young boy with Duchenne muscular dystrophy – whom I had friended just a few days prior. He told me about a woman in England with Duchenne who referred to herself as a ‘Limited Edition’, which caught my attention right off the bat! I did know that females with Duchenne existed in rare number, but I never actually knew any personally, so I was instantly intrigued.
He said he thought she desperately needed someone to be close to her, and ease her for some reason he never explained. And he truly believed that due to my age, experience and positive mindset in dealing with this disease, I would be able to motivate her. He asked if I would make contact. So, I raced over to her Facebook page to see what she was all about. She was absolutely radiant upon first glance, and I was absolutely floored! And the deeper I got into her page, I grew increasingly aware that this woman – who went by the cutesy moniker, Rebekah Cupcakes – was someone unique, special and dynamic. This was not the little lost soul the man from India described. The impression I formed in my mind was of a personable, outgoing, feisty beauty – an absolute superstar! And I yearned to get to know her!
Make contact with this haunting vision? No problem!
I immediately submitted a friend request, and waited…and waited…and waited, for two whole days that felt like an eternity! Rebekah finally accepted, but seemed to avoid my instant messages for a little while. Eventually, she warmed up to me enough for intermittent small talk. Soon, the small talk became more detailed and we were slowly learning about each other. As the weeks passed, I could feel myself gravitate toward her. My heart was traveling to a place where I had never been before, a place far beyond a simple crush. In fact, one of our first Facebook chats went something like this:
Me: “Hey, why don’t we rock the Duchenne world and get married?”
Rebekah: “Yeah, Mr. and Mrs. DMD. Ha, ha! Then they could do a reality show on us!”
Me: “I have a crazy idea – let’s change our Facebook status to In a relationship with each other and watch how many people will comment on it. Hee, hee!”
Rebekah: “Ha, ha, let’s do it!”
Sure enough, loads of congratulatory comments came pouring in and Facebook went all abuzz! I know this must sound like a huge practical joke, but serious truth was involved. I guess this my way of forcing the issue. I wanted a girlfriend, and something in me tabbed her as the right one. This girl had a glow about her, and I was entranced! I wanted to make her mine, even if only a dream, even if only for a day. I figured that full-blown love could eventually enter the picture. And I was right!
On Superbowl Sunday last year, Rebekah asked to actually speak with me. I told her that I wasn’t very confident in my soft, somewhat distorted voice – a product of my muscle weakness, tracheostomy, and ventilator use. But this fiery beauty in England would have nothing of it! She was no longer asking, but demanding my participation, so I really had no choice in the matter! From the moment I saw her live on the webcam and heard her sweet voice, I knew she was the real deal. I was struck again, this time by Cupid’s arrow and it hit me right smack in the heart. For me, it was love at first Skype, and I was hooked! And she confirmed that the feeling was indeed mutual.
The attraction between us was instant, and soon after, love happened. It’s been a virtual whirlwind ever since, and I ultimately decided to send Rebekah a diamond engagement ring and propose. I know it sounds a little ridiculous of me considering that I haven’t even met her in person. But matters of the heart go far beyond logic. And she accepted!
Many skeptics, cynics and outright pessimists have told us that this relationship isn’t real and that it will never be more than virtual. Well, my argument is that the true love, desire and longing is all there, so how could it not be real? Hello!
The obvious things separating us involve health and distance. These are hurdles that Rebekah and I will do our absolute best to cross. I have always believed that odds are supposed to be beaten and we’ve surely beaten our share. And being the fighters that we are, we truly believe that we will be together one day, in the same place at the same time. The man in India believes that we were made for each other. Now we just have to meet each other. No one can predict the future, and it is a long shot no matter how you slice it, however, I know one thing for certain: I would rather have five minutes with her than go an entire lifetime without her.