A Rose by Any Other Name!

In 2004 I left my comfortable home at the Las Vegas Country Club with the intention of retiring to the country island of Malta, where 50 years earlier I developed my first love - that of archeology.

Working with the archeology department of Cambridge's University Dr. David Trump, I was privileged to help in the excavation of the amazing catacombs at St. Agatha's.

My return to the island I had fallen in love with brought back many memories. I soon settled in to island life and one day asked the receptionist of my newly opened office if she would like to accompany me to a dinner with the British Ambassador. She pointed out that her present relationship prevented her from accepting my offer but that her sister might enjoy my company. "Tell me more?" I asked. "Is she married?"

"Yes" she replied.

"What will her husband say?"

"He will probably drive her over to meet you!" she replied.

I was soon to learn that this was quite normal on this tiny island where divorce is not allowed!

Rosaria had been separated from her husband for nearly 10 years, even though they still lived under the same roof!

We had a wonderful evening and two months later she moved in with me. Two and a half years later I made the decision to return to my Las Vegas home and the good old USA. Rosaria needless to say came with me. She possessed a multiple entry tourist visa to the USA, having previously visited Florida.

She had to return to Malta every 6 months, which she did until; in June of 2007 she arrived at the Detroit airport on her return journey from a visit to her daughter in England and was refused admission to the USA and placed on a returning aircraft after two hours of interrogation. The problem was she told the arriving officer that we intended to get married! For that full story visit Mysterious Morocco.com.

I followed her to England and together we moved to Spain where after 7 months of residence we were able to apply for Rosaria's divorce. Now we could apply for a F1 Visa - required for an overseas fiancé to get married in the USA. We were told it would take approximately 6 months and I returned to the USA and Rosaria returned to her daughters in freezing England.

Approximately 14 months would pass before she finally arrived and we were able to tie the knot. The stress was too much for her and her health declined in the English climate. She arrived in a wheel chair.

Several hundred thousand dollars worth of medical costs ensued until we were finally able to resume a normal life together. This Valentine's day will be our wedding anniversary ! Happy Valentines darling!