Perrils and Pleasures The story of O: #2 Part 1

Olga Had actually appeared weeks earlier and was really fast to ask for exclusivity.  I told her about Petra
and that I was spoken for and I don't date more than one girl.  Olga said she understood but goodbye.  I wrote her one last letter that I would still like to be friends, and in this world you can't have too many friends.  I figured she was gone and I threw out her emails, but then Petra got all flakey for a second time and I was sorry Olga was gone.
But she wrote back and said she would be okay with being just friends.  I told her I was no longer involved with Petra and we could become more if she still wanted.  Olga's pictures were always at the end of the letter, so I put them next to my response.  I would look at her pictures as I wrote to her.

The order of these emails is the dated chronologic sequence in my archive.  This correspondence was long enough ago that I can't remember the exact sequence of letters or events and yet they seem to me out of order.  If I'm able to spot a mix up I will reorder to correct, but this is my best guess for now.

The Story of O

Hello my dear friend Dave!

I am happy that you wrote to me again . Every day looking forward to the moment , to go to the post office and get another letter from you . I was not always able to write you a lot of lines , since my computer is broken , and I write with my work computer .

You want me to stop and chat - only due to the fact that I did not send the photo where I'm smiling . But it's not postezhimo mind . I am very pleased to know that you only want to see me happy. Well, I'll look for his photo of where I smile .

In my last letter I wrote to you that I have feelings for you there . This is confirmed , I am increasingly getting used to you. There are days when I do not get a letter from you and me from becoming sad. Therefore, please find some time to write to me . Answer me this question . What do you feel when you get a letter from me? I would be pleased if you answer this question.

Today happened to me a story. After high school, I always go to the store to buy groceries home . Upon exiting the store I ran into a guy . He wanted to meet me and asked my room . I responded told him that I already have a man . After he heard behind me and walked away. Perhaps you already knew about what the man meant. I no longer have any desire to build relations with Russian men. I disappoint them , and it's because of my past relationships . This is what I have already written to you earlier. And that's why I decided to find a man with another country , thinking that there are real , dedicated men who do not cheat on their favorite people . I have to see you one more question , answer it . It is very important to me. Do you hang out with someone else besides me? Just answer honestly . We agree with you that our communication should be no deception. As I wrote earlier " bitter truth is better than sweet lies ," do not forget that phrase. But I believe in what you communicate only with me . And you no longer have the other girls , which you write.

Unfortunately I've got to finish my letter .

I kiss you .

Olga.

Olga,

Thank-you for a picture with a smile.  I think you are twice as pretty when you smile.

I am only separated from my last girlfriend M. for 7 months or so.  This was a bad relationship in many ways and it leaves me reluctant to get into another relationship right away.  I will say honestly that I like getting to know you.  I am happy to write to you and to receive your letters.  To be honest, there are other girls with whom I exchange letters and we are friends. One girl and I have been exchanging letters for two or three months. She is a very close friend. Geographically she is closer to you than to me.  This does not mean for me that you and I cannot be friends, but if you wish to be my only friend for letters this will not be so soon since we have not known each other for even a month I think.  I do music jams and there are many women who play instruments or sing.  Sometimes we talk a minute or two after the jam. None of them should concern you.  They are not girlfriends they are girl friends.

I wish to find a woman who I will marry and I am not a man who cheats on his woman.  But it is too soon after a very unpleasant relationship for me to limit my talking to girls to just one.  If you will have the patience to continue as my friend my trust will grow that you are different from the girls who disappointed me so much in relationships. If this is not acceptable, I understand that you need more than I am willing to give such a new friend.

Again thank-you for such a good picture.  You have teeth that look perfect.  I hope you can take more pictures where you smile.  I got angry with you before because I thought you were not really listening to me and that is another thing M did not do, really listen.

With respect and affection,

Dave.

Dave,

Hi. How are you? Opening the mail, I did not see you there from the response to my letter. When you read this message, tell me. I would like to continue communicating with you.

Olga

Olga,

How nice to hear from you.  I was missing you the last few days.  How are you?

I think this picture is my favorite.  It has the best smile with your perfect white teeth.

I wonder if you will laugh when I tell you this or be angry with me.  When you asked if I would write to you and no other girl I had been writing back and forth to another Russian girl in Almetyevsk.  For two months before you I had been writing to her and so I told you I could not promise to turn this other girl away.  

Well, a few days ago she said she had a dream about me where on bended knee I handed her an engagement ring.  And I should come to Russia to propose to her.  I said if I can just find a job maybe I would save up the money to visit her, but no marriage so soon and no ring.  

Like a magic spell, poof she's gone.  No more letters. I'm not sorry I said no to her, but just when I was feeling sorry for myself with no one to talk to, there is a letter from Olga saying we can still write letters to one another. Thank-you for helping my loneliness.  I do want to be close to a woman.  I miss the touch of a woman more than I can easily communicate, but at the same time I remember how miserable I was when I was married to that adulteress.  Did you not find your boyfriend in another's embrace?  Is it not hard to love and trust another when that happens?

So through letters we can get to know each other slowly and maybe we will build trust and friendship.  If you meet someone in the mean time and wish to be in a relationship with him I will understand.  If that doesn't happen I can be a boy and a friend, and who knows maybe someday a boyfriend and then we could agree to write to no others.

Let me know what you think.  I look forward to your letters.

Dave.

Hi! 

I am pleased that you are trying to answer all my questions and carefully read my letter. I realize that I'm interested in you. I'm glad we found each other. Our acquaintance is a pleasure to me. I would hope that our relationship will not stop only on correspondence. This is my opinion and I want to be sincere with you. 

You wrote me that will not be offended if I communicate with another man from Russia. I already wrote about this, but I repeat. I no longer have confidence in the men of my country. The reason for this is also written. 

I am glad that a million people on the Internet, we were able to find each other. I think it was fate. I can not call it differently! Now, when I wake up in the morning, my head was busy thinking about you! Yes, I know, I already talked about it. When I go to sleep, my head is occupied only with thoughts of you. You made me come back to reality. You made my day brighter. I already began to forget what sadness and longing. 

Previously, I gave all the time work. But now I have other thoughts. Thoughts of you. It's fortunate for me. I always think that all you're good at. How did you spend your day. What are you doing. Correspondence with you gives me great pleasure. It's very nice when a man understands my feelings. I do not know why, but I trust you. I had no such feelings for a man for a long time. But you deserve my trust. I believe that trust is important for a strong and happy family. I think a lot about how our first meeting will be held after the virtual dating, since this is my first experience on the Internet. I can not yet imagine our first meeting, but I'm not afraid of her. It seems to me so fascinating! Are you afraid of our first meeting? You have already thought about this? I'm interested ... 

I'll wait for your answer. 

Miss you,

Olga

Olga,

Another nice picture, this one with a Mona Lisa smile.  A small smile with mystery behind.  How are you today?  I have my energy back.  I have already done half my daily exercise, but now I'm sitting at my computer with my tea with cream and honey and you are my focus.

I like your English.  I never have doubt what you are trying to tell me. Good job! 

Tell me more about yourself.  I think I remember that you are athletic.  I think you run.  Do you like to ride a bicycle?  I have a bicycle built for two that is special.  Long ago (probably about the time you were born) I was very much in love with Carol Jo C of Texas.  I didn't know that she would break my heart into a million pieces and do a wild, happy dance on the pieces.  But I ordered a bicycle to be made, very expensive, strong and light.  The frame, the part all the other things attach to would be a man's size in front and a girl's size in back.  It was sized for a girl about 5'-6".  Assembled, this bicycle is so light I can lift it with one hand and yet strong enough that two people could and did ride it from New Orleans, Louisiana to Niagara Falls, New York with many supplies for camping. This was about 3000 miles and took a month.  I still have that bicycle so I ask do you like to ride a bicycle?

Do you like movies?  I think my favorite movie of all is called "It's a Wonderful Life"  with Jimmy Stewart.  I think this movie is from the 1930's.  I hope I will not be telling you something you already know.  It is about a man who is very good to everyone, but the sacrifices he makes for others make his life less rich, less traveled and kind of boring.  Then everything goes wrong and he is so sad he wishes he had never been born.  But he doesn't know how much God loves him and the good he's done.  And God sends an angel to help.  The angel lets him see what the world would be like if he had never been born.  He sees that he has had a wonderful life, he just didn't realize.

One thing I like about you is that you answer some or all of the questions in my letters.  Thank-you.

Do you like movies?  I would like to curl up on the couch under a blanket with you and watch a movie.

I realize you have asked me an important question in your last letter and I will address it.  Am I afraid to meet you?  Yes.  I worry that despite all the honesty between us, the happy words, the desire to meet, when you see how much older I am than you, the fact that I drink and smoke and you do not, you will think "I have make a mistake!  How do I get out of this with grace and responsibility?!"   To lessen the chances of this outcome, I have started to face these bad habits by exercising more and trying to curb my self indulgence.  Bad habits are not easy to quit or they would probably not be bad habits.  I cannot promise I will stop these things completely, but I'm trying.

Sincerely,

Dave.

Hello my dear ! How did you start your morning ? You woke up in a good mood ?

Today in the morning, I have a good mood and I think it's all thanks to you. Before we met with you, all the days seem monotonous and boring. But when we met with you, gradually , I began to understand that not alone and I need you . You showed me a new world, which up to this point , I had not noticed . Now I look at the world quite differently. I feel happy. Previously , on some points I was not paying attention , and now I look and wonder . Even take this morning . Previously, I did not like to get up early in the morning . But now I realize how beautiful morning! I was awakened by a ray of sun that shines in my eyes gently and kindly woke me up . At some point , I wanted you to be beside me and woke me up instead of a ray of sunshine. I would very much like waking up in the morning , you 'd bring me coffee , and hugged me gently and kindly . But at the same time , I realize it's too early to think about it . I want to be confident in our relationship. Still, I would hope that we would be together , and those moments we will be very much. What do you think ?

Thank you approved my English , I am pleased to hear you say those words . You asked me . Do I love to ride a bike ? Yes , I like to practice this sport . I love watching movies . One of them is the movie " Twilight ." I really like to watch movies about love. I am pleased to learn that you are trying to give up their bad habits .

I just want to know what makes you happy? What makes you smile ? What do not you like? I want to know everything about you , I want to make you glad that you were always smiling . We will be happy only when each of us will be happy. I hope you're my half of the heart, and I'm yours . I do not want to make a mistake , I want to believe and know that I am yours and you are mine for life . I want to open fully , you open your heart, your soul. But I was holding something and does not fully reveal ! I do not know why, but with time, I think my heart and my soul unfold ! You will see all the beauty , all my tenderness of my heart and my soul.

Now I end up writing a letter , because I have to go . Tomorrow , I 'll be waiting for your sincere and affectionate letter . With each your letter , I more and more want to see your letters ! They seemed to fascinate me ! I get pleasure to the soul . I'll wait for your letter.

your Olga

Olga,

I like your letters too.  That is one of the things I like.  I like that you send me so many good pictures of you.  Not even a Mona Lisa smile today though.  I content myself that your body rocks.  This is English slang to say you have a very beautiful figure.

What are things I do not like.  I cannot eat raw onions. They make me ill.  I do not like mean people.  Some people are mean when they get in their cars to drive.  They will go so fast to get in front of you only to slow down and make a turn when they could have done it behind you.  

I will be leaving very soon to go to a musical jam.  I think you know by now how much I love to play my banjos.  I practice in the evenings and several times a week I go to jams. After the jam this morning I will have just enough time for a quick lunch before I go to another jam on the other side of town.  I will be one tired boy by the end of the day!

This will change next week as I will begin job training in downtown Phoenix.  The program is for two weeks from 8:30 in the morning until 4:30 in the afternoon.  I will be tested and get training on the computer so I will have a better chance to get a job.  There may be more school in the weeks after that once I have completed my testing.

I'm off to jam, I'll write more later if I can.

Sincerely,

Dave.

Olga,

This will probably be short because I am pretty tired.

More things I don't like, the banjo player who sat next to me at the afternoon jam.  This guy was begging for an AWB:  Assault with Banjo.  I wanted to take my banjo and hit him in the head!  He played so loud I couldn't hear any of the other musicians.  I asked him twice to play more softly unless it was his turn to do lead.  I guess he thought he was playing more softly, but he wasn't.  I listened to him for an hour and a half, then I left the jam early.  I think if I can just sit across the room from him next time I will be ok, but as I was leaving I was thinking 'What a butt head!'

I guess by the time you get this it will be tomorrow some time, so how are you today?

Now that I don't have a girl friend besides you I can think what it might be like to wake up next to you, get up and make you a good cup of coffee for you to have the best morning you could have.  I bet you would give me really good hugs and kisses in the night if you were my woman.  I bet your kisses are soft and gentle because you seem so feminine and graceful.  I bet when you love you make your man very happy.

I hope I have not dwelt too much on the things I don't like.  I think I am a really happy person.  At the jam today which was held in a library some of the people in the library came into the room to listen.  There was a little girl who was probably about 8 and she was so happy.  She danced and turned this way and that and she clapped her hands whenever a song ended.  This and your letter were the best parts of the day.

Sincerely,

Dave.

Hi my love David! I'm talking about love is not just. I say this because I really feel it towards you . These feelings come from my heart. From the very beginning of our acquaintance feel that you are really the person that I am looking for. When I read your profile , you seemed to me an interesting man . And it was true. Even in the last letter I told you that I knew you changed my life for the better.

I want to thank you for the compliment . I am very pleased . I do not like evil people , but these, unfortunately , in our world of plenty .

Yesterday, when I came home , I kept thinking about you. I thought how wonderful it would sit next to you and feel the warmth of your body . We sit together and talk . On my soul calm. My mom said I have a romantic view , when I thought about you . She said that I burn the eyes and the smile on his face . I told her the truth that I love you. She said that I looked happy as a child that my parents bought a chocolate bar . : )

After a conversation with my mother , I went to bed. But I could not sleep for a long time , because I thought about you. I thought how wonderful it would be if we were together. I wanted to run to work , to read your next letter . And so with the thought of you I fell asleep . When I woke up , my first thought was you. I thought , what are you doing at this moment. I am very interested in your life. And now I got your letter and I write you an answer and my heart is breaking out in a crowded feeling. And all this love is only for you . I can not hold my love for you Forgive me if I offend or could impose on you. I'm just showing you my love, because I can not keep their feelings and not tell anyone . I would love to be near you . I would now be pleased if now sitting on the shore of some lake or sea . We could watch the beautiful sunset . That would be very nice . And we sit on the shore together and admire this phenomenon. Have you ever watched the sun ? I like to do it. All the sky is red or orange . It is not transmitted by sight. His need to see for yourself . After sunset, we could admire the moonlight and watch the stars . We could talk about many things in this moment.

I just can not imagine how it would be perfect : you and me, no one but us . As if we are alone in this big world . We are watching the sunset and happy that we are together. I can not restrain my feelings when I think about it. But it makes me sad and lonely when I think that we're not together . Now I find solace only in your letters . From them I feel better . You just can not imagine the feelings I have for you. I want to experience these feelings , being close to you . If we were together, I was always glad to you news and various other things. I would not let you get bored , because I love you. When I read your letter, I imagine you yourself and tell me the nice words . I'm getting good at heart. I feel your breath and voice. You gave me a new life . I'll finish this letter and I will wait for your answer . I'll wait for your letter with impatience.

your Olga

Olga,

I resisted you.  I could not believe in love after the disappointments of the past, but you are a force of nature.  You are like a cool breeze on a hot day, a wonderful light rain on an April afternoon.  Yes, I can love you.  Please, be careful with my heart.  If I give you my heart, you must hold it next to yours and treat it gently.  Yes I too imagine us sitting next to a river or the sea watching a beautiful sky of a thousand colors as the sun sets, seeing the colors reflected in your eyes and leaning forward, looking in those eyes as we kiss.  I feel so alone.  Only you help me feel less alone.  Thank-you for your letters of love.

So, as a child you loved chocolate.  Do you still?  I must confess, I can resist any other candy, but I really like chocolate. At least a few times a month I go to my freezer and I take out my small bag of chocolates.  I love the way cold chocolate melts in your mouth.  Or you can bite it and it fractures into many small pieces and then they all melt at the same time. The good part is that chocolate has bioflavonoids.  These are nature's colors like the yellow in fresh corn, the red in a tomato, or the blue of a blueberry and these colors are actually quite good for the body.  They clean the body of toxins and waste that collect in us and make us old faster.  So chocolate is good if one wants something sweet.

Thank-you for your patience.  I am honest in that I could not say I would write only to you if it was not the truth.  I did not enjoy turning you away when you said you could not share me with another.  I am happy that I can now say that you are my girlfriend, the two words that mean one thing when they are separate and something beautiful when they are joined. You were my girl friend, but from now, until you say different, you will be my girlfriend, and I will love you. I will love you and only you.  And I will trust you.  I don't think you are like the other girls who made me bitter and distrusting.  We have both been hurt and so we know how wonderful it can be to have someone to trust.

I will trust in you and you in me,

Dave.

Hi my love Dave! Today my mood is very good, because I met you . I love you. I have these feelings overwhelm you. I'm head over heels in love with you. : ) I would now be the happiest girl in the world, if it was close to you. Every day I re-read your letters. It gives me great pleasure . Sometimes I go and sing love songs. And sometimes I want to go to the balcony and full-throated scream that I love you.

In the letter you wrote me that you trust your heart . I am grateful to you for those words . And I'll really cherish your heart . You wrote to me , whether I like chocolate as before . Yes, of course , I think my affection for chocolate never disappear.

When I start the morning , my mood is not always good . Sometimes I have a such a feeling that you did not write me . And so I go all day. But when I get a letter from you , my day is filled with bright colors. Then I have no one but you. I do not need in such moments . I read your letter , and as if the whole world stops . You have such feelings arise ? Do you understand what I want to tell you ?

I'm glad that you and I found each other in this big world. We can experience this wonderful feeling as love. It overwhelms us and we are happy every day. I am very pleased that somewhere in the world there are people who are waiting for me and wrote wonderful letters . I know that you can always support in difficult times . I am pleased that you think of me every minute and do not forget to answer my letters . I think about you when I fall asleep . When I go to work , I also think only of you . All my thoughts are filled with only you. And I was very happy.

I've never met such a wonderful man like you. No man from Russia can not be compared with your kindness, charm and tenderness. To me you are the best. Sometimes I think that I am not worthy of you. But I hope that's not true . My love , am I right ?

I can not believe his luck . I can not believe that I found my love . I very much hope that you feel the same way about me. Even my friends envy me because I have you . They sometimes even joke and say that you will take away from me. : ) But I say that you love only me and no you do not need . My love , I answer them correctly ? They are happy for me . They are also happy that I have a man who loves me and do not hurt. In my soul every day the flame of love. It is getting hotter . I'm glad it was you who made ??me so happy. I love you. I never tire of repeating these words to you. I want to tell you these words every minute. : )

My dear Dave, I'll finish this letter. But I do not want to say goodbye to you. I want you to have a lot to say , but you need to go . Tomorrow I will wait for your answer .

Only your love Olga

My dear Olga,

Happy Easter!

Do you celebrate Easter in Russia?  Here Easter is very much for the children.  Parents hide Easter baskets filled with a variety of candies.  The children get up early in the morning because they are too excited to sleep and they look everywhere until they find their baskets.  Parents also boil eggs and color the shells quite creatively and these are also hidden for an Easter Egg Hunt.  By noon the kids are tired from all the excitement and candy and they lay around the rest of the day.

I try to answer the questions you pose in your letters.  Do I understand what you are saying?  Yes.  Love pours out of you like sweet, bubbly champagne when you pop the cork.  And I love your champagne.  You make me happy too.  There is frustration with the happiness.  When I read your letters, I wish you were speaking the words to me from my arms.  I wish you were kissing me as you finish each sentence.  I wish I could turn on the shower and invite you in with me.  Is that too forward.  I'm sorry if that is so, because I wish to kiss every inch of you,  your toes, your feet all the way to the top of your beautiful head.  I wish to give you the smile of a girl who knows she is loved.

Do I think you are unworthy of my love?   No.  I will show you some day how worthy you are and then show you again and again every day as long as my hands can squeeze and my lips can kiss.

Which brings me to a question:  I am willing to keep trying to get a job until I do and I will save my money until I can come to your arms.  But will you come here to live with me in America when the time is right?  What good will this love of ours do each other if we cannot someday be together for the rest of our lives?  Have you ever thought about living in America? Perhaps it is too soon to ask these questions.  I like very much that you answer my questions that I put in these letters, but if a question makes you uncomfortable, do not feel obliged to answer.  

Many months still lie between my finding a job and saving some $1500 that it will take to visit you.  Time to get to know what you like and don't like (besides Russian men) and how our future will unfold so we can plan it, and plan well.  I'm sure your money is tight as is mine, but perhaps if I get a job, we can try to get Skype arranged between us.  At least we would be able to see each other smile and actually talk back and forth.

I have to go give plasma so as to have a little money in my pocket.

Love,

Dave.

My dear Olga,

Tomorrow I start a new job program called S.O.A.R. sponsored by our federal government.  I write you now because I have to be downtown at 8:15 AM and I may not be able to write tomorrow or if I can write it may be short.

You are so right that when you begin to give yourself over to love it starts to be all you think about.  I am so happy you did not give up on me.  You came back even when I said you should probably go away.  And now we are together in spirit. Our touch and our bodies I hope will be together someday.

I take comfort in thoughts of you,

Dave.

Hi my love Dave! Your letters warm my heart . I do not know how I would live now, if it were not for you. You brought bright colors to my life. You changed me. My dear , thanks to you , I began to live a new life . I am grateful to you that you are in my life .

You wrote to me , we celebrate Easter or not. Yes, everything in Russia celebrate this holiday . We made ??godparents to their godchildren walk . Usually presents. At the meeting , we do not say " hi " and say " Christ is Risen " on that other person must answer " He is risen indeed ." Also paint eggs in different colors . Some dyes are used , but we use natural products for dyeing eggs. You understood me correctly , I planned to come to you when the time will come . I have not thought about life in America. You wrote to me that he had found a new job. I'm happy for you . I hope that you can find enough free time that would answer my letter.

Today I spent all day thinking about you and could not stop thinking about you . I asked myself why I chose you. I could not come up with reasons why you, I opened my heart, which is not open to anyone for a long time . I found the answer to my question. This choice has prompted my heart. When I saw you for the first time in me as if something twitched . And now I realize that it was the choice of my heart. My heart did not disappoint me . I think you - my destiny. Now I remember what my first letter

. They were unsure about what would you say to them. I thought long and hard before you write a letter. I was a little girl , which meets for the first time with the boy. But now, when I write , I do not think . I write what I feel. Words come from the depths of my soul. I write to you , as if talking to you , and you're sitting next to . When I read your letter , I feel that my feelings are mutual . I understand that men are not better than you do on Earth . If not for you , then I do not know what it would be with me now . But I can tell you exactly , without you my life would not be so bright and happy.

Sometimes my day is heavy, but the thought of you throw all this weight . I feel easy. I want to fly from happiness.

Now I am writing this letter and my fingers like yourself click on the button. It feels as if I have no control over them . My hands do not listen to my thoughts, they do as they said my heart . Now I want to live, live for you.

My dear, I can not tell you all my feelings into words ... It is very difficult to do, because my love fills my soul.

My hands were sweating with excitement. : ) I fell in love with you. My heart belongs to you only you.

My love , I am very worried about our future with you . Suddenly it happens so that we can not be together in reality , then remember my words. My heart will always belong to you alone . I will not take it from you . Then just think of me . Your thoughts , I 'll live . My love , remember that somewhere far away lives a girl who loves you with all my heart . She would never forget you, despite not years. She does not let you down . These feelings will give you confidence. With thoughts about me you'll be able to overcome all obstacles in your life .

My love , I'm dreaming something and did not notice how time passed . I'll finish this letter , and I will wait for your answer tomorrow. I hope your day was wonderful . I love you and I can not imagine my life without you .

your Olga

Sweet Marina,

I don't have a job yet.  I have job training to help me get a job, starting today. I have to jump into the shower and go.  I'm naked :)  Hope that's not TMI (too much information).

More letter later,

D.

Olga,

My computer froze this morning and I could not send this before I left.  Now I am back from a very full day of school.  The first part of the school will be to find out how much I have learned from all the jobs I have had.  And I have had very many jobs in my life.  I started out as an ambulance attendant. I worked in a restaurant.  I have installed cable TV, alarm and music systems, I've been a musician, music promoter, architectural designer, mechanical designer and delivered pizza.  I cannot believe with the help of the county and state I cannot find a job.  

If I get training and a trucker job, you and I could see America.  Trucking companies allow a guest to ride along.  I have crossed this country at least 10 times since a boy and yet there are states I have never visited.  I like to travel.  Do you?  I like road trips in a car, do you?  I've been to Mexico, Canada, Russia, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Japan.  Would you like to go to Japan with me?  It is very beautiful as are you.  You would make Japan more beautiful. What country would you go to if you could go anywhere?  I haven't been to China.  My father has been to many more countries than I.

Where would you like to go in America?  Is there some place you have heard about in American history or travel?  Some day I will take you there.

I will bid you goodbye now as classes start early in the morning and I want to go there by bicycle.

Your man who loves you,

Dave.

000000000000000000000

Hi my love Dave! I understand that you need me , when I receive a letter from you . I would be the happiest girl in the world , if there was next to you . How was your day ?

I do not want to receive a letter from you , where you write that buy me clothes or something like that . I myself earn money that would buy or what clothes I liked . About call I still do not know anything . I wrote to you once know something, I 'll write and warn .

My love , I miss you . I understand that we'll be together . But I can not wait for the day when I can feel the warmth of your body . I want to spend all my free time alone with you. I would like to meet you in the evening with dinner ready on the table. I will do it very nicely . I think you want this too . I love you. I can not stop loving you , because the heart can not command. It loves in spite of our consciousness. I would be pleased to be with you and love you. My dear, I created just for you . Only for you love in my heart . You are my only love, I want to carry my whole life. Only you burns my heart with his love.

I can not live without you ... Every day runs through me. My love , only I need you. I do not want anyone else to feed you . I do not need jewelry and some other things. I need you . Women only know to go shopping, and they only talk about all things. But it's just stuff. It's just a thing. They do not know what real love is . Many women use their men only in order that they give them money for various purchases . They are not important feelings. Each day they pass in stores. It's all material values. It is not happiness that I want. I am not one of those women. I do not need it all . I just need you . I do not care how much you earn for their work. Important to me that you were next to me. Together we will overcome all difficulties. Together we will be easier. And then we will be very happy family. If I was born in your town and lived in it , I never would have parted with you.

Now we are far apart . This distance prevents us to be together now . But we can overcome the distance . And then we will love each other and enjoy the happiness that will be given to us. My dear , what do you think about this? Tell me your thoughts. What do you think when you go to work ? I'm curious to know your thoughts about us . Just tell me the truth, even if you do not always think of me . I understand everything .

My gentle Dave, I would like to tell you a lot more . But I have to go. But I want to tell you that my love is in the heart just for you . Only I love you and will love .

I'm sending you lots of tender kisses . Can you feel them? I hope you feel the touch of my lips to yours.

Always yours Olga

Dear, dear Olga,

I believe only God could do this for me.  I have been sent the love of a girl who does not measure love by the money a man spends, but by the assurance of the love he holds in his heart that flows out to you.  What a contrast you are to the girl I left behind who spent all her money, all my money and all the money that would be made for the foreseeable future.  To be given a girl who is not concerned only with money, you are my dream come true.

I apologise if I have sounded pushy for you to call me.  I latched onto this idea like a hand in a glove because the thought of your voice made me so happy.  I will be more patient.  I will try not to wake up in the night because I have dreamt that the phone has rung.  I will try not to be sad waiting to hear your voice.  You make me full of anticipation, when will I first hear your voice, when will I first see your face with a smile because we are finally face to face, when will I hold my Olga in my arms and kiss that beautiful mouth again and again?  Do not wonder if these images are thought about repeatedly through the day.  There is less time during the day when they are not the first thing in my mind.

Alas, my dear true love I am not a psychic and if I feel your kisses traveling through space, they fall too lightly upon my lips and face.  They cannot satisfy this wonderful frustration of loving you so much and knowing you are so far away.  I only wish you could give me a date when, like a prisoner in a jail, I may know that the door to my prison will be opened and I will walk free into the sunlight.  That day is the day you will come to me.  I know you will not keep this information from me, when you know the date you can come to me, you will tell me.  I trust this as I have come to trust you and we know that for me trust of a woman did not come easily or fast.  But until I know you are on your way I remain a prisoner of your love at the same time feeling it gives my heart wings.

Sleep well my dearest Olga as I begin my day and yours comes to an end,

Love,

Dave

Hello my dear Dave! Each your letter kindle the flame of love in me . Your letters raise my spirits .

You have listed my profession, who are you working for? I'm surprised that you're capable of much. You also wrote a country where you managed to visit . You're lucky you 've been in many countries around the world . I have never traveled outside of Russia. I would not mind to go in your country. Send me your phone number . I want to hear your voice.

My dear , I'm thankful that it brought us together . Yesterday I again thought about you and me . I could not believe that life brought us together. I still can not believe it. I can not believe that the world is a man who thinks of me every minute. I know that you're my soul mate . My love , I tried on your mate to his heart . They came together and fused into a single integer not divisible . My dear , we found each other , having their life stages in life. And now it seems to me that past relationships have not been on much serious. Our feelings with you the most real . We will carry our love through any obstacles. Nothing will prevent us love one another. You agree with me ?

Before, when I did not know you , I thought that my life will no longer be a decent man with whom I will feel my girlfriend . I thought the rest of my days I will live this way :-( And these thoughts I became bored, sad and very lonely. At that time I wanted only one thing . I wanted to meet a real man who could love me , respect , support in difficult times . and so is my dream come true. Fate gave me you and me - you. now I understand that you're the man I've been waiting so long . and now I want to be with you. My love I want to be your wife, whom you will love and respect . I think we will create a happy family .

My love , I really think a lot about you. I come only good thoughts . Bad thoughts can not be , because we love each other. I think that only love can make this world a better place . We will try to do it .

After becoming acquainted with you , my life appeared goal . Now I know that I live is not just. I live for you.

My love , I thank you for your kind words and all the wonderful feelings that you give me every day . I could not think that I would have such a wonderful man . I will always be faithful to you alone . I will never let you down .

My dear , how was your day today? What did you do ? How is your health ? You have no idea how I am pleased to ask such questions . You probably very nice to know that somewhere far away for you experiencing a girlfriend . Am I right ? I am very happy girl in the world.

My love , I need to finish this letter. My gentle , know that I love you and can not imagine my life without you .

your Olga

Sweet Olga,

I don't have a job yet.  I have job training to help me get a job, starting today.  I have to jump into the shower and go.  I'm naked :)  Hope that's not TMI (too much information).

More letter later,

D.

Olga,

My computer froze this morning and I could not send this before I left.  Now I am back from a very full day of school.  The first part of the school will be to find out how much I have learned from all the jobs I have had.  And I have had very many jobs in my life.  I started out as an ambulance attendant. I worked in a restaurant.  I have installed cable TV, alarm and music systems, I've been a musician, music promoter, architectural designer, mechanical designer and delivered pizza.  I cannot believe with the help of the county and state I cannot find a job.  

A picture before you were born @ 1966

If I get training and a trucker job, you and I could see America.  Trucking companies allow a guest to ride along.  I have crossed this country at least 10 times since a boy and yet there are states I have never visited.  I like to travel.  Do you?  I like road trips in a car, do you?  I've been to Mexico, Canada, Russia, England, France, Switzerland, Italy, Greece and Japan.  Would you like to go to Japan with me?  It is very beautiful as are you.  You would make Japan more beautiful. What country would you go to if you could go anywhere?  I haven't been to China.  My father has been to many more countries than I.

Photo:  Left to right, back to front.  Pop, mom, Susan, Kristen, Carolyn and me.

Where would you like to go in America?  Is there some place you have heard about in American history or travel?  Some day I will take you there.

I will bid you goodbye now as classes start early in the morning and I want to go there by bicycle.

Your man who loves you,

Dave.

Dear Olga,

This will be a short letter because I have to leave for school so soon.  You asked for my phone number.  I give it gladly.  I do not remember the country code you will need, but here is my cel phone. 602-419-8577.  Our land line is 602-266-6551. The time difference between us is I think about 11 hours later where you are.

I cannot answer my phone in school between 8:30 AM and 11:30AM and 12:30 PM to 4:30 PM.  I am scheduled at plasma donation at 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM and can't use my phone there.  So if you want to call me, I think 9:00 am your time, 8:00 PM my time will be the best opportunity.  I was looking for Russian people in Arizona so if you came here there would be people you could talk to and answer your questions about America.  I didn't find them yet, but the web site said there is a phone card one can buy that makes calls to Russia for pennies a minute.  That is very cheap.

Likewise you can give me your phone number and what you think will be the best time of day to call you.  I don't have international calling right now so I too will have to look for these phone cards to make cheap international calls.  But I think to hear the sound of your feminine voice and Russian accent will make me very happy, not as happy as I will be the first time I take you in my arms and squeeze you tight to me and kiss your sweet lips to mine.

I have to go, I will write later if I'm not too tired.

Love,

Dave.

Olga,

I got the time wrong 9:00 AM will be 10:00PM my time.  Any time after 7:00 AM your time will be ok.  I go to bed around 10:30 to 11:00 PM and may not hear the phone.

Love,

Dave.

Hello my dear Dave! How was your day ? What are you doing today ? How is your mood? I hope you have the whole day went perfectly . Now I read your letter, and the smile on my face .

You sent me your phone number , I thank you for that . Important for me to hear your voice. I'll call you as soon as I had the opportunity . Before you call , I'm telling you that would call convenient time for both of us .

Now I sit in front of a computer and I am overwhelmed all the feelings that I feel for you . I can not convey to you all that I feel. It does not transmit sensations . Love - a feeling which can not be described in words. This feeling only understand people who love true love . I am very glad that I can love and be loved . I want to feel your love and hear the words of love . I never tire of hearing it . Now we shared a long distance , but I'm glad that I have you . Waiting for our meeting makes our feelings even stronger. I with no patience waiting the day when it will disappear between us away and we 'll be together .

Today was a wonderful day. But I still missed because you were not there with me . If you were there , that this day would be filled with warmth , light, happiness and love . I miss it all. It would seem so small things in such a difficult world, but so important in my life. But I want to reassure you , I'm fine . I just miss you . I think it happens to all girls planet. I miss my half of heart. I think you've already guessed , I'm talking about . This, of course , you. But I believe that , no matter what, we will be together, and then we have nothing hurts to be a happy couple.

My love , I'm sorry , but I have to go, because my time is running out . All the feelings that I have described in this letter , it is still not all that I feel in my soul. Not everything can be described in words. But I tried to show you how much strong my feelings for you . My love , I'm sorry if I do not vividly described her love for you . I think that if we are together , I 'll show you how much I love you . Gently kiss you and wish you a good day.

your Olga

My dearest Olga,

Another fine letter from you, and your love comes through the words as much as words can send your feelings to me.  This is a fine picture of you with just a hint of smile.  You know I love to think of you smiling the way I smile when I think of you.

My days pass kind of slowly as I am in school from the morning to the late afternoon and I don't want school, I want a job so I can take you to a fine restaurant and buy you some pretty clothes when you come to me.  Don't misunderstand me.  I think you look perfect.  Your clothes are perfect and I think you eat healthy food.  I am just saying I think the man in a relationship should be employed and able to buy things for his girl.

I very much anticipate your phone call.  If you can let me know when the call is best for you even if it is in the middle of my night I will set my alarm and be awake for our voices to meet.  I want that as soon as it is practical for you to do it.  But I can't take a call during school.  That is prohibited.  from 7 PM to 4 AM your time this will not work I am not home and I cannot answer my cell phone.  I think if you use the land line: 602-266-6551 the sound quality will be better and I will hear your sweet Russian voice more clearly.  I will wish to know how much cost there will be per minute and how much time we will have so you are not paying too much.  I am sure I will enjoy every minute we converse and will hate to let you go.

You speak of a gentle kiss and I agree this is appropriate for a first kiss.  But after that kisses one after another and hugs one for each day we have been apart.  Many, many hugs and kisses please, if that is alright with you.  I want to smell your hair and touch our cheeks together, put my hand in the small of your back and pull you close. These are the thoughts of you that I have all day, every day.
Love,

Dave.

Hi my sweet Dave! How are you doing today? What did you do ? I hope you'll be happy to get my letter.

You said too much time , I can not sustain itself for a time and arrive to you. I think the summer come to get you. You want an answer ?

My dear Dave, I'm happy to read your wonderful letter , which is filled with love and affection . I am always pleased to read your letters. I even printed them on paper so you can read them at home before bedtime. When I read them at home , they soothe me , and I can not imagine you beside me. Today I thought a lot about you. But I 'll think of you more in the evening when I'm alone in my room. I always think of how we spend time together as you kiss and hug me. Every night I fall asleep thinking about you. I do not think about anything else can not. I think about our meeting . My first thought of you when I wake up in the morning. From these thoughts on my face a smile that does not go the whole day.

Most of all I now dream to meet you . I can imagine how you meet me at the airport with a big bouquet of flowers. You say that this bunch for me. But I say that I do not need gifts. The main gift in life is only you. After these words, I faint . But you kiss me and picks . I woke up in your arms , like Snow White cartoon . I think you saw this cartoon when I was a kid .

I hope you are fine and you feel fine after reading my letter. With thoughts of you my days are bright and colorful . I feel like the happiest girl in the world. I have the most wonderful man I love and want to be with him . I think you understand what I 'm talking about you .

My love , it did not take much time. But I think that we know each other for a lifetime. I am pleased to be aware of this . Now we can talk about absolutely everything.

I think we have not much left to be alone . I think that very soon the day will come when we can be together . I want it with all your heart . I want to carry with you all the time, go on nature walks in the park.

My dear Dave, I'll finish this letter. I look forward to your prompt reply. I'm sending you a huge and gentle kiss .

your Olga.

Olga

When I got up this morning I did a little exercise then turned on my computer. When finally my email came up, there was no letter from you!  I became very sad, so sad I felt like crying.  Then in a period of 10 minutes there was your letter.  Such relief coming over me like a cool breeze when you've been running on a hot day.

Thank-you for your letters.  It is hard to put into words the happiness they give me.

You spoke of coming to me this summer.  As much as this would make me happy, Arizona is in the heart of the Southwest desert and if you're not used to this kind of heat, it could be unhealthy.  I am used to the heat and I was riding my motorcycle and playing tennis the day it was 121 degrees Fahrenheit, almost 50 degrees Celsius. Usually it is less, only 46 degrees C.  But I think if you want to be healthy, you should plan on October then you could enjoy temperatures around 29 C.

You know I would love to see you tomorrow, so to put you off for 3 or 4 months is not something I do for me.  A person from a cold place should come here in the fall or earlier spring than this to have time to acclimate to Arizona.  But I am pleased we are not talking about years before we will meet.  I don't know if I could take that.

I had more school yesterday, but today is a music jam in the morning then homework for the rest of the day.

Such a beautiful picture of you today!  Oh to caress that beautiful long hair of yours, to kiss your ears, neck and lips.  You are so beautiful.  I cannot believe I might hold you in only 6 short months, not much time to be patient.

Love,

Dave.

Hi my love ! You have no idea how I'm glad to read your letter again filled with your love to me. How are you doing today? What did you do ?

I am pleased to learn that when you get a letter from me , you become happy. You wrote to me that I would not hurry with the arrival to you. But I can not wait so long . I already wrote that play sports . I think I acclimate to this heat I will not be hard . Do not you think ?

I received your letter, and I now have a wonderful mood. It's like the coming of warm and sunny spring after the cold winter . That's what I 'm feeling right now . Today I had a good day and I feel great . My face was a smile , when I went to work . Passers people , when they saw me and smiled in response . It is very nice . They were written on the faces of the question of why I'm so happy . They could not think that the joy of love for you. I am glad that in my life was you . I'm ready to shout about love to you. I always sing love songs.

My love , now all my thoughts are about you. Every night I have dreams about you and how we spend time together. In the dream, we are both happy . We thank God for what he gave us each other. I think that soon these dreams become reality . For some reason I 'm sure when we 'll be together , we will be the happiest . I more and more want to see you . I want to cuddle up to you , I want to feel your warmth , to feel the sweetness of your kiss . I want to look into your eyes and see you smiling .

I think the day of our meeting will be the most beautiful . We will never forget . From this day for both of us to start a new and happy life. My Dave, imagine , our eyes meet , we run towards each other and then a long kiss, a long evening , and the longest and our first passionate love and a long night . I want this all my heart. My love , you have not forgotten that this heart belongs only to you ? I want to remind you that I gave it to you . I 'm sure you 'll never make my heart hurt. I wanna be with you every day. The longer we talk , the more I want to see you . I do not know how you charmed me , but I wish to be with you . And to anyone else . I just need you .

My love , tell me, do you truly love me? You want us to be together ? You want to feel my kisses every day? Do you want to share your life with me ? I want to keep our hearts beating in rhythm . Do you feel the way your heart beats , when you write to me ? I do not even know how to show you all the feelings that I have inside .

I want to meet with you. I want to spend the most wonderful time with you , I can not even imagine how it would be fine . If now I'm fascinated by you, what will happen ?

When we meet with you, I drown in the ocean of our large and passionate love. I'm sure that only you can give me the true love that so long sought .

My gentle Dave, I will finish my letter . Remember that I love you and can not imagine my life without you .

I'm sending you a passionate kiss ! your Olga.

Olga,

I am so happy when I see ------------ in my email inbox.  Then I read your wonderful letters and I am swimming in a river of love and swimming to my dear Olga.  I float through my day still in the comfort it brings me.

I went to a music jam with my banjo yesterday.  It was a really good jam and my happiness went to the rest of the group through my banjo.  I made happy music and sang out my happiness.  The music was good and you were there helping me in spirit with our love.  I hope you will sing Russian songs to me and we will learn each other's songs and harmonize.  

You wrote that you do not want to wait until the fall to come to me.  I do not want to wait one second more than I have to for you to be in my arms and hold you close.  When you decide what the day will be just let me know so that I may be sure that I can meet you at the airport at the gate you will come through.  

I will be so excited, my eyes going from one person to another until finally I see you still many meters from me, but then you will see me waiting on the other side of the gate and I will see that your eyes recognize me.  We will both be so happy as you get closer and closer, then finally the wait will be over and so many first things will happen...  My arms will reach out to you and you to me.  It will be cool in the airport, but we will feel our warmth as we hug for the first time.  Our eyes will meet with just inches between and then a kiss, the first of many.

I am glad you talk about the passion you feel.  The magic of our first day will be great, but to have you to hold and love through that first night, it will be the best night of my life, and then to have all the days and nights after.

I truly love you!  If you want, we can climb a mountain a few miles away and we can yell it to the world.  I love my Olga!  I love you, I love you.

Please keep me informed as you make your plans, as you begin to think what month you will come, the week, and finally the day and hour.  I have work to do here to prepare.  I moved from North Phoenix back to my father's, and I did not worry that my room was crowded with things.  There was only a place for one in my room.  I will be so happy to make room for two.  There is a bathroom in my room, you won't need to share a bathroom with my father.  You can share a shower with me if you want.  When I think of washing your small back with your beautiful long hair and your body glistening with the water running down, I have to stop thinking about it.

I wait for you.  I wait to feel your love,

Dave.

Hi sweetie,

I just had a thought that you should have my address just in case you ever lose access to the internet.

Dave Lawrence

----------------------------.

Phoenix, Az. 85015

Love you very much,

Dave.

Olga,

If I write back this many times does it mean I'm crazy, or just crazy about you?  It's my night and I will go to bed soon, but I have thought about you all day.  I cannot go to sleep without writing you again.  I want to meet you, I must meet you my love.

Please write me again, about you and speak to me about your dreams of us.  I hunger for your words, your love, your touch.

Love,

Dave.

Hi my love Dave! How are you doing today? Every time I get your letter , my soul is filled with joy. I miss you , like your letters . For my complete happiness only lacks you. I am very sad and lonely without you . The only thing that gives me joy, it's your words of love . When we 're together , I will not delight your letters , and you . I'm waiting for this moment since the day when I had feelings for you love. I want this day to come as quickly as possible . I hope that soon we will be together .

Sorry , but I do not understand your first question. You asked me how's my mom. She's fine, she asked me what I would have gave you from her "hello" . I always drink coffee with cream . I never brought coffee in bed , so I do not know what it is . I learned that I could take a vacation at any time , since I did not take it for two years.

Every night I look at the sky , thinking about how you look at it , too . And we see you one single moon. We are with you are very far from each other, as this moon from the earth . Moon can not be with anyone ever. She will be forever alone. But you and I have the opportunity to be together . I want you to be warmed me as the sun warms the earth with its rays . While we are far from each other , I feel like the moon . As cold and lonely . My face was covered sadness and boredom . I look at the meteor shower and all the time guessing the same desire. I will not tell you what to put forth . Because if you talk about it , it will not come true . But I hope you can guess myself about my desires . It's so beautiful to look at stars . I hope that soon we will be able to lie to you on the open field and watch the shooting stars .

Lately, I've become quite different. I began to feel differently , but not like before . When I see your letter , and still do not have time to read, my heart starts beating very fast. I think that in my breast a fire starts . I have the excitement , passion, experience, respect, honesty , affection , hatred . All this feeling gathered in one sense . And now I can feel it. You just can not imagine what kind of feeling that I have. I can not tell you exactly what I feel. But I understand that this feeling called love. And when we'll be together , then I can show you my feelings and love . I can show you how much I love you .

If someone had told me before I fall in love with a man in the Internet through letters , I laughed a lot. Because I'm real life , and I would not believe in love on the letters on the Internet. But now I am writing you a letter to the Internet , and I understand that I could fall in love through letters . Through our words . My dear , I do not know how it would respond to the majority of people around the world that it is possible to fall in love through letters . But I believe that this is possible . I think that you also believe in love over the Internet. I love you very much. My feelings and love for you is serious . I do not care other people's opinion . I only listen to my heart . And do what I think is necessary. My heart says that you are my love , and I should appreciate you and cherish you. Once we're happy to be together .

My dear your letters give me hope . They give my heart the hope of life . What are we going to live . And we will enjoy life. My dear , please do not break these expectations. Because my soul , and the more my heart , it is fragile as a crystal goblet . You touch it gently and lovingly . And it makes a beautiful sound . And if you squeeze it hard, it can not withstand the stress and breaks .

My dear , I hope you read my letter. And understand that I feel for you . Well my dear , now I finish my letter and send it to you. Read it carefully. I will wait for your answer . Love you .

Yours forever Olga

Dear Olga,

I'm glad your mother is well and says hi.  Hi and a hug back to her from me.

I am surprised that as pretty and kind as you are, that no man has ever brought you coffee when you are still lying in bed and waking up. That's what I meant by coffee in bed.  The man makes coffee just the way his girl likes it and he brings it to her with a cup, saucer, spoon and a napkin over his arm as if he were a waiter, except in this situation the waiter may bring a cup for himself.

As for your vacation, the sooner you could come, the cooler it will be.  I don't know if you need any special paper work like a visa to visit the United States.  Do you have a passport?  These things sometimes take a while to be provided by government agencies, so this may influence when you could come.  This would be a good place to start your plans to know how long you may have to wait.  As for me, I wish you were here now, so come to me as soon as is practical.

Alas, when some time ago I was still writing to other girls and said you should forget about me, I erased your old email thinking I would never hear from you again.  While I'm glad you wrote me and now we have become in love, I could not unerase your earlier emails and I cannot remember what town you are from, and so I don't know how to help you plan your trip.  I also cannot remember your last name.  I'm embarrassed that I am in love with a girl and I don't even know her whole name.  If you will tell me these things again, I will promise never to forget them.

I feel it is impossible, but if you could come here before the end of May, the temperature might still be below 100 and more comfortable to be outside and active.  I don't think I have asked you, do you play tennis?  I have not played for a few years, but before that I used to play up to three or four times a week and was not bad.  I still ride the bicycle built for two all by myself because it is of much better quality than a regular bike.  It works well.  So I know when you are here we could go bike riding and maybe keep you from getting bored.  What are things you like to do that maybe we could do when you're here?

Olga, in past emails I think I have let my feelings for you fuel my impatience and I may have put pressure on you to act faster than is proper for you to do.  I am trying much harder now to accept that our meeting will happen when it is meant to and to relax.  Please know this was my love making me crazy, and I will be happy to see you whenever God directs.  Still I wish God would hurry :)

Sending you kisses and hugs across the oceans, mountains, forests and plains, love,

Dave.

My dear Olga,

I hope you do not mind that I must write before I go to bed to speak my love one last time this day.  I will confess that I had a terrible time this morning and I did not tell you in the letter before.  You asked in a past letter if I wanted to break up with you and today I awoke with the fear that you said it because you wanted me to break up with you.

I believe that a true test of love is when you love someone so much that you put their happiness ahead of your own.  And I wondered if, to make you happy I would have to break up with you.  All morning in class my stomach and my brain were at war, a war which neither could win.  How can I be so crazy about you that one moment I can be the happiest man on earth and then the saddest?  The answer is as simple as 1 + 1 = 1.  I love you so much that I think of the two of us as 1.  And to think any different then the world does not make sense.  Time slows down.  Minutes become hours.

Please keep saying that you will love me always.  And don't put such doubts in my head where I have to decide if you love me or not.  Don't even ask.  I love you.  I love you.

Dave.