I have told bits and pieces of my story and guys keep questioning or wanting more imformation,as in how could that be?
So I guess I will tell the whole story from the top and try to tie it together to make as much sense as possible,even though parts of it I still can't believe I did.Most of you will find it interseting.Some will think it embarisingly intimate.Don't read it if it offends you.
This is going to be long,you know my abilty to tangent off in to stories.
OK,September 1999.I have been thinking about going to Colombia for some time and now I'm in a possition I can do it.I am just generally thinking December,1999. I like to take vacations to warm climates when its cold here.And that even brought up a question.Cali or Bogota?
I thought at the time that Bogota being much bigger would have more women to meet.Wrong.But also I didn't want to go to a big cold city.I wanted tropics.
Latin Love has just started going good.Alot is being said about it.So I E-mail Bud,asking him some questions.He calls me back by phone.Most of you guys don't know Bud I think.He got disgusted defending himself and his agency even before they closed it and quit posting here.In 1999 he was posting alot here..Buds story is that he had married his wife in Cali about 9 months before that.He said these girls were strait laced,you weren't going to sleep with them before you married them,but once you did marry them you would have the most loving loyal woman,whoe's main goal in life will be to make sure you are happy.So Bud marries his wife in 2 weeks.He said if anyone would have ever told me that I of all persons would ever marry a woman I never got to first base with I would never have believed it.But now I'm the happiest guy in the World.Bud,a smart busiuness guy,sees an opportunity and starts what I thought was the best agency in Cali.The house,the Crystal Palace was certainly the best.18,000 sq ft wraped around a big pool,3000 sq ft Gym,my bedroom was 2000 sq ft with a 2 story walk in closet.I think Buds story can be true,how it worked for him,but there is a big difference in Colombianas,so don't presume,like I did,that its going to work like it did for Bud.
So Bud,with all his enthusiasm,gets me off the dime in about 5 miniutes and I book my trip.He also says he went to Bogota first,was going to stay 2 weeks,stayed 3 days and then moved on to Cali for 3 weeks.He said he didn't like the more stuck up conservative attituide of Bogota women.Just what I wanted to hear,because I wanted to go someplace warm.Cali here I come.
Too bad the old archives are gone.About this time Hoda posted his series of stories from Cali and Latin Love,and got everybody interested and excited.I told him if Bud hadn't already talked me in to going his stories would have caused me to go.
I had worked about half of 1999,made my goal for the year in 6 months and was remodeling the house I bought.Part of the reason for the house was I intended to go find a wife in Colombia.And I thought it quite possible she could have a child,so we needed more room.I wanted a very nice place for us to live in.It was part of the dream to,part of that dream I am now letting go of.It did turn out to be an excellent buy and went from a $370,000 cost to me to a $745,000 appraisal in 2 years.I spent about $25,000 fixing it up.Tile,granite,windows,refinished hardwood floors,new appliances,landscaping,decks,Fences,hot tub,paint in and out.Taking my time and getting alot of bids I got what some people would pay $75,000 for done for $25,000.It was my major project for the year.And its 4 blocks from the cutest little street with shops,restaurants and coffee houses in San Jose.
Early December 1999 I go to Cali.I took a red eye out of San Francisco,flew all night,got screwed up in Bogota by Avianca but get to Latin Love,the Crystall Palace,about 9.00 PM the next day.Who walks in the door 10 miniutes after I get there?The girl I had been fantisising most about.She was dating another guy staying there,a guy that had about 4 women going at once.I asked him about her and he said go for it.
The next Day I talk to Rubby,the manager of Latin Love at the time.Rubby is a super person.I talk to Ruby about this girl.She says she is sure she will want to meet me.She is trying to set up an interview to be followed by diner that night.I basically waste the whole day waiting.I look at the books but can't get serious about anybody else.Ruuby comes back with story the girl doesn't want to date 2 guys at the agency at the same time,so we have to wait untill the other guy leaves in 2 days.Funny because I went to Diegos restaurant that night and he was there with a different girl.Rubby even said forget her once.
So the next day I get serious about the books.Seems most women either have or want kids.To me I didn't want to start over with babies,but a kid she already had is a possibility.Again Buds comments were going through my head.He said these women with kids have zero chance to get married here.No Colombiano will marry a woman and accept someone elses kid.If you are willing to do that they will think you are a saint,you can have about any woman you want in Cali who has a child.I liked the thought of being able do do that for somebody plus its better than babies.I guess I just wanted to be such a hero to her that there would be no question that she would do everything she could to make me happy.I forgot some old lessons I had learned,like they either love you or they don't.I thought new rules applied here.
So the second day,a Saturday,I pick out about 16 women I want to meet and Rubby starts setting it up.I have 2 interviews for that day,one at 5.00 pm and one at 7.00pm.Rubby gets a call the 5.00 pm girl couldn't make it.She got stoped driving her motorcycle in to the neighborhood and didn't have ID so se went back home.She told Rubby she wass a mess after that experiece,could we do it tomorrow?We set it for 11AM Sunday.This girl was Rocio,my wife now.Its good she didn't show at 5.00 because I wouldn't have much time with a 7.00 appointment following.
My 7.00 appt is a very nice girl.We go out to dinner at Diegos after the interview.She is not really my type but I am very impressesd with the quality of the person.She says "I pray to god to send me the right man." Wow. Am I in the right place or what?
Sunday, 11.00 am ,Rocio shows up.Her Name is Rocio Stella and I couldn't pronounce Rocio right so she says just call me Stella,which I did and that was in all the old posts if any of you read them.
Again she rides her motorcycle.She gets off,takes off her helmet and shakes out her hair.Nice looking lady.Just the size I like,5' 3".Her bio said she was 5' 6".
Edgar is working.We sit and try to talk,with Edgar interpretting,but the phone keeps ringing.Edgar is saying,sh!t, and Rocio is laughing about the whole thing.Great sense of humor.And modest.She has been with the agency 8 months and I am her first interview.She said she thought she was not pretty enough.She was 33 with a kid,her Bio said 31.She speaks some english.We go to lunch,getting by talking OK with the help of my electronic translater.I am thinking what a nice person,so genuine and real.I am in a way I am even feeling a little sorry for her,because she does not stack up in my mind against the more sexy glamorous girl I am still trying to hook up with.Too bad I think,she doesn't have a chance.We go back to house,spend the afternnon sitting at the gazebo by the pool.I am playing my american CDS for her.At one point she say "You are just a happy guy,huh?' Her eyes kind of teared up when she said it,like I could really be happy with you.I have a 5 .00 pm appt. so she has to leave.She gets on her motorcycel,motioned for a kiss on the cheek,.I give her that plus big hug.I really like this girl.
Next day,Monday,I keep meeting more girls,no one really jumps out as interesting.I finally meet fantasy girl.She is not interested in me and bad news anyway.The next day I meet more girls.No one special.I am even thinking of trying another agency,seems like I met about all of them that met my limited parameters.I am sitting on my bed,in my 2000 sq ft bedroom,confused what to do next.I have all these pictures and bio's of girls spread out on the bed.I see Rocio's picture again.I thought what a nice person.I could never find a better person than her.Then something really strange happened.A feeling of peace sweept over me,the confusion left,my mind cleared up.Wow,what is going on here?Feels really good though.I have Rubby call Rocio,say I want to have diner with her that night.Rubby says she is very happy I called.
Lets take a break.This is going to be a long story.Don't want to tax anybodys attention span too much.Be warned,this is only about 10-20% of the story so far.
Pete
