Well seeing as I'm practically the Queen of long distance relationships, (Rei and I have been apart, in total, for about 7 months out of our relationship) I decided to share my vast knowledge with everyone! Ok ok ok! I confess, I'm slightly bored and I'm missing my darling, so what better way to keep busy than work on my webpage?!

Well anyway! For all of you lovelorn people out there, Dr. Reeny is in the house! Ok now I have been through and am going through various degrees of long distance relationships. First it was the Canada-Trinidad thing, and then it was the Bermuda-Canada thing, and well now it's the 1 hour's drive away thing :) But no matter HOW far away your honey is... it still hurts when you can't be with the one you love as often as you'd like.

So I've made a list of what I consider to be the most important qualities that you and your relationship needs to survive this trying time.

1. Communication
   

   Phone calls

   If I had to pick the best type of communication, this would be it; Simply because it is where you feel the closest to the person. I would call my honey 1000 times a day (or at least once!) if I could afford it.

   Chat lines

   Any kind of interactive, real-time communication is good, although conflicting schedules can be a major problem! (Specially if he/she is in another time zone!!)

   E-mail

   This is a REALLY good way to keep in touch every day. You know what I always say, "An e-mail away keeps the doctor away!" (or in this case, the relationship therapist!) Although, a word of caution, it's very easy to misinterpret something over e-mail, so before you flare up over something that your honey said, make sure and double check the meaning first!

   Snail mail

   I don't know, somehow, snail mail seems much more personal to me. Of course, it HAS to be written in the hand of your love, otherwise you might as well have received an e-mail! Of course, the drawback is that it takes FOREVER to reach your love and usually by that time, any relevant information you wrote has changed! But, receiving a hand-written letter full of him/her saying how deep their love is for you... well that's the best thing I could imagine!

   
   
2. Trust
   It's always easy to tell someone else that they have to trust their significant other, and it's not so easy to do. Trust me, as a very jealous woman, I should know! But it is IMPERATIVE in all kinds of relationships, but especially in long distance relationships, (where you can't keep an eye on your s.o. every day of the week) to trust your darling and have faith in the love that you share.
   
   
3. Understanding
   It is extremely important to understand that no matter what your honey really DOES want to be with you and talk to you every day, but sometimes it just doesn't work out that way. (I know this from personal experience! *sigh!*) And to believe that no matter what, he/she would do ANYTHING to spend some time with you. Isn't being in love grand?!
   
   
4. Love
   And of course, perhaps the most important of all, is love. Real and pure, unconditional love. Love is basically the only motivation that could make you want to stick with that special person through thick and thin. Or in this case through near and far :)

As with any kind of relationship, it takes the above factors and more (such as respect, kindness & caring) to build a lasting relationship with the one you love. However, surviving a long distance relationship IS possible, and Rei & I are living proof of that. Honourable mention also goes to my sister Jubilee & her bf Jap.

Anyway, here are some Words of Love by Emily Matthews that I thought were quite appropriate. I got this neat poem off of a card that my darling sent me on our 1 year anniversary.

far away to feel you, and I won't hesistate at all, Whenever you call. And I'll always remember, that part of you so tender, and be the one to catch your fall, Whenever you call."

-Mariah Carey "Whenever you call"