In my insanely contemporary musical Disc jockey mind, this “tune wedgie” appears most mornings while I try to make breakfast, wake-up and convince myself that I have a purpose in life to move on towards. Yes, it is lonely like that unless I am strengthened via prayer.
The lyric, “Its me that’s missing your love, and I….” repeats most often.
You are listening to vintage Al Green from 1973 “Call Me” album, with a song of unrequited yet reciprocal love that endures because every day the dawn will happen with a renewed chance for healing romance. I always appreciated how during his vamp-to-fade, he listed his previous, at that time, hit song’s names, lol.
This light-listen and “B-side” selection garnered major market airplay and herein is dedicated sometimes to the Ukrainian lady I thought I’d be married to by now, Inna-Nina. I blame myself for not being able to raise enough money to import her to the USA ahead of the Russian intervention and her mother’s cancer diagnosis in the spring of 2014.
This is likely the sad climax conclusion for “Cafe` Skype” because something is amiss. I will put it point-blank: If you are my girlfriend or fiancee` and my elderly mother or father becomes ill, I will not push you away or go to a mental clinic for a “breakdown”. To the contrary, I would need you more to lean upon through troubled times – even if five thousand kilometers away via a five year relationship as difficult as that may be – or if it honestly will not work anymore and I have a person in the same area of the opposite sex (maybe a past schoolmate) who fulfills that role, I would tell you. Or maybe that’s just me.
Here is when needs begin to challenge that I am a loyal, faithful man.
Murphy’s law seems to stalk my female companionship quest…
Since my fiancee`/Skype-mate freed me to be “me” in-conjunction with my social media comeuppance three years ago, I post many things to promote our plans and seek self-sufficiency sponsors. The following are from our recent London rendezvous notes. I pray that you, dear reader, have someone in your life that you feel similarly for as I do Inna, who inspired this trip and travel.
Monday, on the way across the Pond
I am “above the clouds” (a song) again and this time on Virgin Atlantic airlines, bound for London, England to rendezvous with my fiancée`, Inna who is coming in from Ukraine. Wow! Long-awaited and incredible; I hope I brought enough “pounds”! Basically, we own the next seven days.
[Then, I did not write a note for the next five days, so consumed with my lady, Inna, was I…]
Friday, 9:40am London time
Just returned to our flat and it is lonely London now, having seen Inna to the plane at Heathrow, early this morning. I felt so bad because she was in no shape to travel since coming-down with a head cold on the flight from Ukraine which got worse during our stay in London. I crash to sleep now for a few hours before I have to go and find the Big Bus Tour office and retrieve my camera case that they have so luckily found and saved for me. Too bad the same can’t be said for our cache of souvenirs from Piccadilly Square that we left at the Bond Street Tube station yesterday. Oh, well, I filed a report; maybe someone or a Tube worker found them and will notify me. This chick came from behind me and helped me out of my tourist confusion at the Tube turnstile on the way back to our flat. She too was Russian, ironically. Maybe Inna sent her? lol I smelled Inna’s perfume everywhere in-public after she left as the London winds reminded me.
I am reliving the special moments like when Inna brought my laptop to our bed Wednesday morning so she could play me some music videos by Lana Del Ray. Priceless!
Friday, circa 2:30pm London time (at Shakespeare Pub)
It is very complimentary and flattering to have someone from London tell me that they like my “American (English) accent”, when it is their country who invented it! I am at “Shakespeare” Pub, dining on their version of London’s famous “fish n’ chips” – a dish that reacquainted my diet with an old childhood staple, green peas! Simple yet delightfully health when steamed.
I think that clouds hover around England – always – I believe.
It is truly awesome that a country like this – on a big island – became so powerful! I always read about it in school and I love that Nina chose this location for us to meet-up. Just another reason I love her and she came into my life at the right time.
Now my next move is to relocate to a hotel within the Heathrow airport vicinity…Inna and our personal cab driver recommended this.
Friday evening, after 9pm London Time at Flynn’s Pub:
(Thinking) What I really hate about cell phone “plans” from all of these “providers” like T-Mobile is UNuniformity. Especially when you travel overseas! They seem to know when you land in another country, but do not give you any benefits that you had where you came from. MY android did not work (was “locked” even though I bought a “sim card” in London) for four days!
London gave me a new meaning to the American slang phrase, “Gimme a POUND!” lol Here is a brief (short) video about how better to solve the whole “no smoking in restaurants” issue!
Day Six in London
Saturday is “solo Saturday” for me near Heathrow. Having detached from our apartment in West Ealing (a really great choice for us to base from) gives me pause for the first time thinking of the future – missing her companionship and dreading the return to the grind of work back in New York City. I am still technically homeless – and this is the next hurdle I must $oon leap over.
As my luck would have it, a “major Gale” (wind storm with rain) approaches London as I stage to leave tomorrow…in the nick of time.
I am at Thistle Hotel Heathrow, a massive and expansive hotel which smells of mold. Its saving grace for me is its lounge which overlooks the airport where you can see the (mostly British Airways) planes take off. I partake of a brilliantly delicious “rump of lamb” which I wish Nina was with me to share. Tasty, tender and really scrumptious.
Sunday, Day seven in London, 4:52pm Heathrow…
Flight gate to be announced at 6:10pm; Hoping to lift-off ahead of the impending storm.
Solo, the lone ranger again, I am missing the companionship and proximity of Inna.
“More Impressions upon A Café` Skype Journey”
I happened to speak to a nice chap while in my final hours in London, who understood my story, or some such gleaned his was similar in that his beloved is from Thailand and he in London. “Why is it so difficult?” he asked, “When you want to marry, they should grant her the visa at once!” He said. It is encouraging to know of others in a similar situation. It is the quest of “Café` Skype” to soon overcome these hurdles to our love and togetherness in the same postal code.
Aboard a Majestic Virgin Atlantic Flight back to JFK
When you fly at night and look up out of your window seat, all you see is the stars – much closer they look!
Aboard Virgin US25 on my way back to ill NYC, I am calmer than expected with new urgency to attract big finances soon in order to offer Nina a chance at togetherness and comfort in The States. Living our dream and not someone else’s.
I knew I would tear-up and cry at some point, and it was at the end of the “Jack and the Beanstalk” movie, “Jack The Giant Slayer” that showed on the seat in front of me on the plane in-flight.
When I saw Jack and Isabella clasp hands and walk like Nina and I did so naturally in London, well…that was it for me being “strong”.
Pickhitt: I am now totally interested in any and all opportunities to live and work in London, U.K. Actively applying; hit me up, Mates, I’m flexible!
~ “Guv’na” Naphtali
Hey, my special Freedom Angel!
It was two years ago around this time,
I knew that you were forever mine.
You proved to help me
You became my Freedom Angel.
I knew you were sent from the heavens
I learned how it feels to be truly enamored
With a special blessing in a woman
Who for so long I have searched!
I finally got it right;
I looked in the right place,
The Ukrainian country!
I found the best Slavic woman for me.
Now I soon will travel to have Inna at my knee.
You are still my ultimate destination, Baby.
I’m coming again!
I want you to know,
Whatever the problem or obstacle,
That you can depend on me because
You have divinely inspired,
I will find a way to solve it –
Just like I did with the Passport situation.
I live for that next day or night,
When I step from a plane into your gaze and then arms;
A first real kiss that we both have missed all these months.
Whatever time we have together,
Will be great!
It will will be worth the wait!
I Pray daily to Jah,
Allow us to get this thing together!
Before we are too old to enjoy each other youthfully!
(“C’MON!!” Please hurry, cosmic forces of prayer, Dammit!)
The Following is submitted under the heading, “Anything Can Happen”
People are still asking, here in 2014, “What is next for the documentary story and couple known as “Cafe` Skype” ?
It should not have been this difficult for a Ukrainian, Russian-speaking, Woman and an American man who solidified the foundation of their love on the internet to overcome her Visa and his passport and financial hurdles in order to marry and live together – but it was. Can’t you just hear the deep-voiced movie trailer announcer selling this? Now that the debt is paid…when will we see a picture of these lover together?…
Naphtali finally traveled to Kiev to see Inna-Nina! However, she had accepted a temporary Nursing assignment in Rome, Italy to earn money she apparently could not earn in Zaporozhye to help her ailing mama. So they missed each-other “like ships in the night”. That added another “twist” to the plot of our story! Do you want to be the film crew to reenact this historic and long-awaited event? Please read-on! Contact us! We need help to happen! Calling all film Investors! Get your name or company listed in our Rolling credits for $100.00!
” A short documentary-film about The Timing of Life and Money vs The Timing of Love…Ukrainian beauty meets veteran NYC radio/club DJ and Author who lived in Nashville at the time, they fall in “love” and both must overcome passport, cold war-era Visa rules,immigration financing, family elder care and financial challenges to be together…” The truth and one of the main sub-plots is that my bride-to-be has sent me money to help pay a debt that allowed my passport to be granted… I repayed it back to her after two years of expectations, hoping to ease our first and only rift. “Money isn’t everything…”, my Mum once said. However, in this story, it was what we thought was the final hurdle that will help us overcome the Visa issue to help get Her to the USA.
Meanwhile, Nina had to take work as a Nurse to help her family back in Ukraine in Rome, Italy part-time in silent, losing hope for their meeting, despair…as I flew to Kiev.
There are sample videotrailers for you to view! just email us at the contact address to the right sidebar on this page, and you get the links. Personal interview and social media promotional video with the happy couple for $1,000!
All too often, when you hear about a romance between an American man and a Russian lady, people don't take it seriously, laughing with a wink and a nod behind his back, diminishing it as if the guy is getting scammed, tricked or insulting it as a mere "international booty-call" or something. Yes, often some women do try to con a guy via internet scams, but Nina never asked Naphtali for one penny! In fact, she magnanimously helped Naphtali overcome a debt and that completed his first U.S passport get! Don't sell US short on intelligence, OK? This is not the case with Nina & Naphtali. Forget the negative and accentuate the POSITIVE! What is going to happen next leading to the day when she jumps right through the Skype web camera, into his waiting arms?
You can help fund the film by using the yellow “donate” button in the upper-right of the sidebar.
Back-story:Naphtali finally achieved his U.S. passport, thanks to Inna and a Brooklyn long-time friend’s financial help to overcome an unjust tax from his past. So, if you truly want to see how this interesting story comes to a happy ending, donate now! We have the backing of the Fiscal Sponsor, “From The Heart Productions”, http://www.fromtheheartproductions.com/ making it easier for you to write-off your donations come tax time! The message of this film is necessary on many levels as a wake-up call, to achieve the path to unity that the Creator assembled us, various peoples on Earth for, as well as untangle some of the U.S legal system from uneven/unjust “taxtics” by states that can override the federal government’s rules and deny passports.
Proposed length: 27 minutes; Target audience: PBS, NPR, BBC, IFC.
Call our “legal Eagle” and head of fund-raising escrow, Bruce, at the law firm (718-855-6840) with your question, donation or comment! You can use your check, money orders, cashier’s checks, bank debit card so that the goal of funding this message film moves forward.
One of Inna’s beloved artists is Lenny Kravitz, whose father just-so-happens to be Ukrainian and his mother a Black Woman! Here is the first Kravitz video that Nina ever sent to Naphtali to express how their communications via email, you tube, postal mail, telephone and Skype made her feel “in stomach” – ‘Butterfly’.
Thanks to you who look, like, listen, think pro-actively and “outside of outside of the box”. See you at the movies or in syndication.
Nina, Naphtali, Nate, Nan, Cheetah
The “Cafe` Skype” docu-film project production team
How will the plot turn next? You write the conclusion and we will play it out in real life/on-screen for your $5,000 donation! There will be remixed versions!
PICKHIT: Naphtali has repaid his monetary debt to Nina and there will be happy updates into 2014, Your support will help both of our elderly Mother’s health issues. Will we just have to snag a random stranger to document the meeting at an airport? Or will your film crew be on-hand to save the moment? You have already lost two chances!
SURESHOT Urgent Update! February 28, 2013: After a great civilian protest that toppled Ukraine’s corrupt and Russian ass-kissing “President”, Putin the puppet-master orders troops to Crimea which is not all that far from where Nina lives with her elderly mother and son. What the fuck is next that will pop-up as a hurdle to our togetherness away from Ukraine? What is next?? I am so chagrined, you would not believe it – but do not show it. All help appreciated because this could become VERY bad, and then I become afraid that we might never fulfill our dream. ~ N.
World PremiereUpdate. It is now February, 2015 and thanks to paranoid Putin, the Russian “President” and his war by proxy, the prospects for our marriage and a happy ending to this story are grim. The frontline of the war is currently only about 225 miles from Nina’s city in southeastern Ukraine!! Help!! Unfortunately, my last crowdfunder only raised slightly over $500US and I sent her most of it for he family (aliing, elderly mother), the rest used to begin a savings account for eventual refugee status. Heaven only knows how far Putinitler’s goons will march into Ukraine now. I still prospect for any ideas to raise the major thousands of dollars to help. I pray that the United States, together with its allies going back to World War II soon send the necessary arms and assistance to help Ukraine deter any further Russian aggression. Your ideas are welcomed to help the “Cafe` Skype” story live on in the comment section of this post. Sadly…I thank you ~ N.
Thanks for Reading. We invite you to share this post. We still need your support to complete our story and this film as we rendezvoused together in London, U.K. in October of 2013!!!! What a journey…Look out for the book version to be released in early 2016. Someone will have to do better than “sorry”.