Who says long-distance relationships don't work out? Min-Ah and I met while we were separated by over 1,000 miles. I was sent by my squadron (while in USAF) to do some work near where Min-Ah lived. We met in a dance club of all places and hit it off right away. We had a great time and before we went out separate ways that night I asked for her number which she wrote in lipstick on a napkin. That was the start of something great.
The job ended after three wonderful months and I went home, but not before I handed her tickets to New Orleans for the big New Years celebration (December 31, 1996). She flew down a couple weeks later for New years, we hung out for a week or two, then she went home again. I surprised her a couple weeks later by driving 1,000 miles to see her. Not coincidentally, I got another assignment to where Min-Ah lived and we spent another three months together. Eventually, this job ended and I went home once again.
There weren't any more jobs in Min-Ah's area so I took one that was 600 miles closer and left me a mere 400 miles from her. I ended up driving 400 miles each way every other weekend while at this job. Finally, I was told I had a reassignment and was moving permanently. This move put me at 500 miles from her. I also ended up driving this almost every other weekend. I was a 1989 Honda Accord LX and it never let me down, even though I was abusing the heck out of it. Her father (who doesn't speak much English) actually thought I lived near Min-Ah, little did he know i was putting ~30,000 miles on my car annually.
The photo on the top of this page is Min-Ah and me on our wedding day which I made into an oil painting via PhotoShop.
...to be continued...