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Our first day together in real life.
Monday February 2nd, 1998:-
After checking and rechecking that I had everything I needed, my parents and I climbed into their little Austin Metro and made our way to Gatwick Airport. The traffic was terrible as there were roadworks somewhere on the route and we had to take a diversion. I was getting worried that I wouldn't make it for the 9:15 GMT check-in time, though the plane wasn't due to take off for another two hours after that.
We managed to get there only a little late, and I was a little overwhelmed by my first time at an airport as an international passenger. There were so many people and so many different gates and desks that I wondered if we would find the right one in time. The signs were pretty easy to follow though, once I had double-checked the flight details on my ticket.
Once I had checked in my baggage at the correct desk, we had a little time to kill before boarding time. Finding somewhere I could smoke was not so easy though, in the end we found some tables near a coffee bar, and I tried to calm my nerves with a much needed cigarette.
Shortly after they announced that Virgin Atlantic Flight VS011 was boarding and we all made our way to Gate 36. I said goodbye to my parents in an offhand way, almost as if I was just catching a bus to the nearest town rather than flying over 3000 miles across the Atlantic. I was so distracted, both excited and nervous as I made my way through security.
That would make a short story in it's own right! I was wearing not only a leather biker jacket with all manner of metal zips, but also steel toe-capped boots. The metal detector almost overloaded! I managed to get through that after removing my jacket and putting it through the x-ray machine, and being scanned head to capped toe by a security officer with a handheld detector.
After having my documents checked and being given a boarding pass I made my way up the flimsy tunnel that linked to the plane I would be spending the next seven hours in.
The take-off was certainly an experience for me, I had only ever flown once before, and that was just in a propeller driven plane that went from London to Birmingham. I could feel the engines pushing against the braked wheels, there was so much power there. When the pilot released the brakes I felt such a huge thrust backwards into my seat, it made my Honda Revere motorcycle seem like a child's toy. I'd love to know what the 0-60 time is for a jumbo jet.
The rest of the flight was fairly uneventful, I mostly sat there reading a Terry Pratchett novel other than the times the stewardesses brought meals and refreshments. Virgin Atlantic have quite a selection of movie and radio channels, but I just wasn't interested in them.
The most difficult thing for me was the fact that smoking is not allowed on board the plane at all. Seven hours without a smoke, and with my nervousness on top of that what a nightmare!
As the plane was closing on Boston it began to bank sharply, and the view of the coastline on that hot sunny day was so breathtaking. But not the most breathtaking sight I was to see that day.
Flight VS011 landed at Boston at about 13.25 EST - though the flight time was seven hours, it was only two hours later because of the time difference.
After what seemed like an eternity picking up my luggage and getting through customs, but was more probably around 20 minutes, I finally emerged into Terminal E.
There were very few people waiting and so Wendy was easy to spot, even wearing a cute hat with floppy "ears" on. I did have to do a quick double-take though, she was so much more beautiful than I had expected. Once our eyes met though, I knew it was her, and what wonderfully deep eyes they were too.
We rushed into each other's arms, and we cuddled then kissed as if we'd known each other for years. I knew then that it was all going to work out for both of us, I knew before that it would for me, but had doubts about how Wendy would feel about me. I needn't have worried.
I noted to myself that Wendy's photographs did not do her justice and considered myself a very lucky guy to have finally found such a prize. Her eyes were much more warm and sensual than the photos and picture files I had seen, I loved them (and her)!
Wendy insisted on struggling with one of my bags as we left the terminal. As we put the bags into the boot (sorry trunk) and got in the car I noticed that Vermont State number plates are green and it is also known as the green mountain state.
I was also impressed with the automatic seat belts and the car in general - very roomy without being too big to be practical. I was also glad to find that it was slightly untidy, just like a car should be, I dislike everyday things like the car and home being spotless - you can never relax in places like that. I felt very relaxed and very much at home with Wendy, I felt so close to her even though we had only just met in the real world.
After a few failed attempts to get out of the confusingly signposted car park and paying an extortionate toll, Wendy drove us onto the highway intending to find the Holiday Inn at Keene. I was navigating using a big folding map, but was distracted by just being with Wendy at last.
I felt very safe and secure with Wendy at the wheel, something that is rare for me, and I trusted her driving skills immediately. Everything about her seemed so familiar and so right.
We stopped at a Dunkin' Donuts for a coffee on the way and we held hands and gazed into each other's eyes. I noticed that Wendy has very beautiful and deeply expressive eyes. We held hands and/or cuddled up together on the way like long lost lovers (which we were in a way).
After driving around a while without finding Keene we decided to stop at a place called the Inn at Hampton. We were getting impatient to stay somewhere for the night to get to know each other a little better before driving the rest of the way to Wendy's house.
The hotel was very good with a communal jacuzzi, pool and sauna and very reasonably priced, especially by UK standards. We left the bags in the car and just went up to our room, taking just the cool looking electronic door key with us.
Once inside we just melted into each other arms.
We emerged sometime later and went down to the pool area. We splashed around in the water together for a while and then I decided to sit over on a bench while Wendy went for a swim. I haven't as yet learnt, but I am hoping that Wendy will be able to teach me, she certainly has the patience, and I felt very secure with her the whole time, even when she held my legs whilst I floated on the surface.
Wendy looks really good in a swimsuit, she is beautiful, intelligent and very sexy - I really could not believe my good fortune. And I was happy to just sit and watch her swim a couple of lengths of the pool.
We decided not to use the jacuzzi as two large aging men were already in it, and went straight into the sauna (another first for me). I was a little wary of pouring water on an electrically heated pile of rocks, but trusted Wendy to know what she was doing.
All I can say about the experience is that it was extremely hot - but it certainly opened up the pores of the skin. Very refreshing. It wasn't long before we went back upstairs to shower though.
We watched a little cable TV including the end of a Bruce Willis comedy film before exploring a little of the town. There was an excellent little Chinese restaurant right by the hotel and I was pleased to find that Wendy loves Chinese food as much as I do.
We also popped into a convenience store to stock up on ciggies, Ben & Jerry's ice cream and chocolate bars.
Back at the hotel we watched the beginning of the same Bruce Willis film we'd caught the end of earlier and went to sleep fairly early as we lay in each other's arms. Sheer heaven!
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