Dear
Lucy, (mid August 2006)
I want to tell you how much appreciation I feel for your very
important part in helping me find my Colombian “dream
girl” wife in this lifetime. It was back in March of 2005
when I arrived in Bogotá and walked into Charlie’s Place
and met you for the first time. I had come by way of other agency
but had not found the girl of my dreams there.
After initially talking to you for a time about my personality,
I asked you to pick ten ladies that you thought I should meet.
I have now been married for a year and a half with Rosa Hernandez,
who was at the top of the list of women you thought I should
meet. You may not remember the specific thing you did Lucy,
which was so incredibly valuable. Before the first scheduled
meeting with Rosa, she called and cancelled for reasons of a
conflict with something at her work place. When you told me
she had cancelled the meeting I told you that I was no longer
interested in meeting her, for I had experienced so many cancellations
at the other agency I was not in the mood to endure more of
the same. You on the other hand convinced me that this cancellation
was not a case of Rosa being inconsiderate but rather something
that was completely out of her control. You very passionately
appealed to me to consider rescheduling a meeting with Rosa,
which I did.
The story of our marriage only 5 weeks later in mid April at
the Hotel Urapanies with your son as the official interpreter
was like a dream. Rosa and I met twice in Panama while waiting
for her K3 Visa approval. The first time in June we played it
“safe” and stayed at the Decameron Resort outside
of Panama City. The place was FANTASTIC for a second honeymoon
getaway, and we would strongly suggest that couples go there
to meet while waiting for the ladies Visa approval. The second
time in August we were a little more “daring” and
spent three weeks in Bocas Del Toro. Now THAT was a true adventure.
We stayed at a great place where we could cook all out own meals.
We went snorkeling at many different secluded beaches on different
Islands close by and speared all kinds of amazing fish to bring
back to the hotel to cook for dinners. Our experience there
was like something you would read in a “romance adventure
novel”.
Rosa’s K3 was approved in 6 months and she arrived at
the Minneapolis airport last December 6th at 8:30 PM; the temperature
outside was 2 degrees Fahrenheit. That is a COLD that you may
not relate to. I had brought warm clothes for her to change
into before she stepped out of the terminal. There was snow
on the ground and the hour drive to my house in the country
was quite surreal for her. Everything here is new, sparkling,
and so extravagant compared to Colombia. Rosa loved my house
in the country. To my complete surprise she loved the snow and
cold winter temperatures.
Our marriage has been like a book with only happy events. We
have not had a fight or been mad at each other for any reason,
and we have been together 24 hours a day ever since her arrival.
We work together, get along so well, and are still very romantic.
Today we spent a wonderful day at an art fair that she told
me she could not describe even to her family, who she talks
to every week by phone for a couple of hours. I can not express
to you how happy the two of us are, and without you Lucy, we
never would have met. So I thank you.
I hope you are well and prosperous. Please say Hi to Nelson
for us and thank him for his help in our marriage. Please also
give our best to the entire staff; Charlie, Ximena, Christina,
and Santiago, for they were all so helpful during my initial
and only visit to Charlie’s Place March of 2005 when I
met Rosa.
My Appreciation and Best Regards: Cliff Lutz and his dream wife
Rosa Hernandez
P.S. (mid October 2006)
You may have heard that I called a few weeks ago. I thought
I had temporarily “lost” my wife while she was in
the San Andres Islands with her mother, and I was looking for
someone who could speak Spanish well enough to help me locate
her. As it turned out the phones there were out for a couple
days so she couldn’t get through by phone to me. She was
having a great time there with her mom. They were spending a
week at the Decameron Beach Resort in celebration of her mothers’
birthday. It was the first time Rosa had been home since coming
here almost a year ago. She still loves Colombia but is happy
living here.
We have her “change of status” interview this next
Monday. She is excited about getting one step closer to being
here for good. My family thinks the world of Rosa and accepted
her as one of the family without any reservations.
P.S.#2 (late November 2006)
I forgot to send this and now can say that Rosa is a permanent
resident here. She has her green card and is getting a social
security number (which is a big deal here). Rosa is so happy
here and our relationship couldn’t be stronger. Thank
you again for your important help.
Today we spent “Thanksgiving” (a national holiday)
with my mom and two of my three sisters. Rosa loves the oven
baked turkeys that are traditional for the meal on this day.
So even though we had a turkey dinner today at my mom’s,
there is an 11 kilo frozen bird thawing in our kitchen sink
now so Rosa and I can make our own turkey in our oven tomorrow
or Saturday. |