My Story Part 10

[H2-Oh]

After the shock had ended, I told Sandra to get into the apt and hide. You never know who's watching in Colombia. I had to think of a place they could hide, surely double-ugly would send someone looking at my apt building. I asked Sandra where does this guy live anyway. She said 8 to 10 blocks from your apt!!! GREAT. I said let's go to bed and I would call a friend the next morning to help.
   At 8:00am I awoke and called a friend  and asked if they could find a place to hide the girls. They said give me a few hours and I'll call you back. At about 9:30am they called back and said there was a place to hide them. They came over and picked Sandra and the other girl and baby and took them to a safe place. I thought I better act like nothing had happened. I told Sandra I was going to the wedding with the new chica as a cover. She understood and said call me. I went to the wedding and got back at 10:30pm and went to bed......alone. The next morning I called my friend and said the girls can't stay here in Cali, he will find them. They said give us a few hours we'll call back. Afew hours went by and then the phone rang, it was Johanna. She said she had made a mistake and wanted to see me. I told her not now, I would call her back later. Then they called and said there was a place out of Cali that they would be safe. they told me to buy tickets and leave Thursday. during the next few days I spent many hours with Sandra alone and rekindling our relationship. It always was curious to me that after 7 weeks with Sandra, I cried for days when she left, but with Johanna after being with her for 9 months I did not shed one tear for her. Our hearts know who our true love is.
  I took the girls to the other hiding place outside Cali and set them up with a place to live and gave them money to take care off themselves and the baby. I told Sandra that I thought she should decompress for 6 to 8 weeks and just relax. She agreed and asked if I would call her everyday. The first night in the hiding place I asked Sandra if she would like to stay with me. She said yes with no hesitation. That night we watched TV in bed and she fell asleep at 10:00pm. she slept all night, the first time she slept in many months She felt safe finally and I felt thankful for what had happened. After a few days I went back to the states and thought about what we we're going to do. I spoke with Sandra everyday and we talked about our future. Then I called Bud and told him what had happened. I asked him what he thought I should do? He said, go get her and bring her back...now. So with faith and hope, I went back to the hiding place and brought Sandra back with me to the states. I leave out some details to protect friends. We will not go back to Cali for many years now and have had to change phone numbers and are moving. We are safe in the states and will start a family in a few years. Now we are building a life that we started over a year ago. I am very happy and thankful for my friends that helped me through this ordeal. Bud did introduce me to the woman of my dreams and I thank him for that. Someday..........well that's another story.

Good luck to all who search with their heads but listen to their hearts.

H2-Oh

[AustinWife]

... in response to My Story Part 10, posted by H2-Oh on Jul 24, 2001

Hi!
H2Oh

First of all " Congratulations" I hope you and Sandra have many years of hapiness. I want to ask you forgiveness for having criticized you wife ! sandra! I had not read part 10 when I wrote my last letter.

good luck

Carolina

[Pete E]

... in response to My Story Part 10, posted by H2-Oh on Jul 24, 2001

Howard,
It has been very interesting knowing you and watching this whole story evolve.I wish you and Sandra all the best,she seems like a very sweet girl.
Actually,for you guys out there,it might be hard to immagine that this lady who was involved with a cartel guy is actually a sweet and nice and  very sincere person.I don't have any of the concearns about her I had with Johanna.She seems just like Howard and others had described.
So why was she with this guy?Howard could explain more if he choose but it appears she just got kind of taken over by this guy when she was an employee in one of his legitimate busineses.
Why did he marry her so quickly?If he wanted to be with her he had to get her out of Cali,so he married her to bring her to the states.No way for a courtship here,he had to go for it or not.Not as crazy as it seems from the bare facts.
Why did she go back?I don't know for sure,but I can tell you your Colombiana probably will go through extreme adjustment crisis when see gets here.My wife did and I have seen it in others.When you add a whole lot of other elements here,such as hardly knowing each other and a communication problem,plus being bombarded by phone calls,manipulation and threats from cartel guy,its not so hard to understand her going back/him sending her back.
What about the whole Johanna thing and how does that fit in?
I and alot of others thought she was a mistake,but sometimes things happen for strange reasons that wind up getting us where we want be.This relationship kept him in Sandra's mind because she is related to Johanna.And I think Howard always really wanted to be back with Sandra anyway.I was at the Pacifico Royale news years eve with him  when she called him and he didn't seem too sorry to hear from her.Johanna was sure pi---ed though.
What about Johanna?She got treated like a queen for a year.She opened the door for Howard to go back to Sandra
by her actions.I'm glad she did because as I said I thought she was a mistake.When I told my wife the wedding was off she got this big smile on her face,then covered it with her hand and said"its not me,just my face".Ya,right.She really thought Howard should not marry Johanna.So Johanna got exposed to the good life and tossed it away.It should be a learning experience for her.Howard was very loyal and treated her well to the end.Where she will go from here is up to her.Gross deception doesn't seem like a good omen for the future but hopefully she will learn from it.If she hadn't screwed up she would be married to Howard.But I really believe it would not have worked and Howard would eventually be back with Sandra ,as Sandra told him she knew he would be.
My wife,who just tolerated Johanna sat and talked to Sandra for 2 days when they visited us recently.I think she may be the girl of Howards dreams.
Do I think this story turned out well.Yes I do.
Did anybody get hurt?I think Johanna realises she blew an opportunity that may not ever be duplicated,but I don'think she was hurt over feelings for Howard.
Howard and Sandra seem to really love each other and can finally be together without some of the problems from the past.I am happy for them.They can communicate much better than before.Howard picked up alot more spanish in that year they were apart.Of course all relationships require work,I think they will do OK.
So in short,I don't think this H2-OH gringo is as crazy as it may seem from first glance.
Howard I hope you don't mind me jumping in and trying to explain parts of your story.I wanted to give my opinion.I couldn't help myself.
Also,guys,Howard told a very personal story here.I like personal stories alot better than philosphy.If you think he did something wrong please go a little easy on the flames.

Pete

[H2-Oh]

... in response to Re: My observations and thoughts, posted by Pete E on Jul 24, 2001

Thanks Pete, I too hope that Johanna learns from this experience.Sandra and I spoke to family last night and Johanna is up to her old tricks. Rumba every weekend,.... a leopard doesn't change it's spots.

H2-Oh

[JunFanTX]

... in response to My Story Part 10, posted by H2-Oh on Jul 24, 2001

Congratulations on a happy ending...

But, I'm not sure I would want to spend the rest of my life looking over my shoulder.  Go to Idaho or something.  Colombians don't mess around when it comes to their women, and if they are narco-traffickers they most certainly have distribution and muscle men here in the US.

Good Luck and keep your powder dry (literally).

Mike

[Tai]

... in response to My Story Part 10, posted by H2-Oh on Jul 24, 2001

H2-OH,

Well...uh...Congratulations...I am stunned...congratulations...did I already say that?

Ya know, I saw you gunning it full throttle for the "Sandra" ramp, but I didn't think you were going to clear all 30 buses.

Man, you better put a disclaimer on this story before you tell it again. WARNING: This stunt is extremely dangerous, DO NOT ATTEMPT.

One question....make that two.

How is it that you weren't divorced from Sandra, yet were scheduled to bring Johanna to the states?(I am assuming on a K-1)

Also, what did they say at the embassy when you reversed again to bring Sandra back instead?

wow, again.

Tai

ps - Are you any relation to Eivel Kneivel?

[El Diablo]

... in response to My Story Part 10, posted by H2-Oh on Jul 24, 2001

Congratulations my friend!! The very best to you and Sandra.....

El Diablo

[Houndog]

... in response to My Story Part 10, posted by H2-Oh on Jul 24, 2001

^^^Good luck to all who search with their heads but listen to their hearts.^^^

Great quote...

Well let me be the first to congratulate you...quite a surprise ending.

Much Happiness and Love to the Both of You...

HD