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Way back in 1983 my brother John and his American wife Linda wanted us to come for a vacation. John thought it would be a great idea, because in a period of 10 years Charles had lost both his elder brothers in different accidents and as you can imagine it was a great strain on him. So we planned to come for 6 weeks. My brother then lived in Long Beach. Between him, his wife and our various relations, they gave us a fantastic vacation, it all felt like a dream. Towards the end of our vacation we had so fallen in love with what we saw that we both decided we wanted to emigrate to the USA. So we asked my brother John if he could file a petition for us to be able to get a permanent Visa.
We thought it was going to be quite easy, but believe me it was torture whilst it lasted. Year after year we waited to be called by the American Embassy in Malta, which is our country of origin, but this did not happen until six years ago when one fine day my brother called to tell me that I received a packet at his place. I obviously told him to open it and there they were finally, our long awaited Green Cards. I told him to hold on to them and not to send them by mail, but by courier service, they were much too precious for us to loose. We wanted to make sure they will arrive safely. We promised we will reimburse him. Instead my brother sent them by air mail.
To our dismay they got lost and ended up in Uganda somehow, where they were kept for 3 whole months. We almost gave up hope of ever receiving them. However one very stormy day our letter packet was delivered by the mailman and left on the floor in our porch because the packet would not fit the mailbox, and John inscribed on the envelope "Photos please do not bend". As soon as it was delivered I went to fetch the mail and there it was on the grass. I just could not believe my eyes. Charles and I were both crying with joy.
We came over to buy a house here in Sun City, and went back to Malta to try and sell our Villa there, in the meantime our house here was being built. On the day we came over for good, we saw our new home, it looked beautiful. Our American dream had finally come true. After having been here for a year we had to go to Europe once again to close the Escrow for our house there. And this is what was so cute. Charles wanted to impress our friends in Malta so much that he dressed like a cowboy, to show everyone how happy he was living here in Southern California.
Unfortunately and to my biggest shock ever, just three months after we arrived back from Europe we were at a party at Cousin Elda's house, Charles took off for a short walk with my cousin's husband and never came back. He had a massive heart attack. When they took me where he was lying on the ground I could not believe it. It was such a great shock. By the time they took him to hospital he was gone from my life forever. We always thought we were going to be having a good life here together for at least a number of years and not just for one year. I did not come to the USA to be left alone like this. But there it is, that's how it worked out for us. If thoughts ever come to my mind that he might not have been happy here, I just try to abandon them, because he was so happy to be finally in this country that he placed the American Flag everywhere in the house, even on the electrical switches.
That fateful day, the 26th of May 2004 when I was finally sworn in as a Citizen of the United States of America, was my happiest day since I lost Charles 2 years ago. He was there with me on that day, and he became a Citizen also. IN fact I have this to say to Charles " I thank you more and more each day Sweetheart for bringing me over to such a beautiful and loving country, the only person missing is you, whom I love with all my heart and soul.