| Unforgettable: Vignettes of Love |
A fairytale is a fictitious, highly fanciful story. Our story of how we met is very true and
very real even though it culminated in a fairy tale happening. My last name is “Galyean”,
and I was married to a wonderful man named Dan Galyean before he died in 1996. I
have a daughter and a son. In 1999, my son finally talked me into buying a computer and
stepping into the 20th century. When I setup my email account, under the name of
'pgalyean', I was told the name was already being used. I thought to myself, “Now how
many 'pgalyean's' can there be in the world?
I wrote to this person, asking who he was and if we could be related in some way. The
person who wrote back was named Paul Galyean, and he lived in Arizona. We sent
emails back and forth for a few months, finding out about each other and trying to figure
out if he was somehow related to my late husband's family.
very real even though it culminated in a fairy tale happening. My last name is “Galyean”,
and I was married to a wonderful man named Dan Galyean before he died in 1996. I
have a daughter and a son. In 1999, my son finally talked me into buying a computer and
stepping into the 20th century. When I setup my email account, under the name of
'pgalyean', I was told the name was already being used. I thought to myself, “Now how
many 'pgalyean's' can there be in the world?
I wrote to this person, asking who he was and if we could be related in some way. The
person who wrote back was named Paul Galyean, and he lived in Arizona. We sent
emails back and forth for a few months, finding out about each other and trying to figure
out if he was somehow related to my late husband's family.
Pam and Paul as told by Pam. Married in 2004 in Harrington, Delaware She was 44; he was 38. Once Upon A Time |
When I setup my Yahoo account in February 2001, there was a name I didn’t recognize in my friend's list. When I instant messaged this
person, I learned it was Paul again, using a nickname from school. I learned Paul had moved back to his hometown of Dallas, Texas and was
now divorced. We started chatting and I learned that his stepdaughter had recently passed away. I was writing a term paper for my psychology
class about the stages of grief, and I was able to offer my help to him and his youngest daughter. Having experienced grief myself, I was able
to tell him and his daughter what emotions to expect. We formed a very close bond through this experience.
We began to send each other emails every day, and we chatted almost every night on the computer and occasionally on the phone. Finally,
after three months of talking every day, I decided to take the next step. I asked Paul if it would be okay for me to come to Texas to meet him.
He said of course. I knew I was taking a lot of chances. Some might have thought this a stupid idea, but something told me that I needed to do
this; that this guy was special.
person, I learned it was Paul again, using a nickname from school. I learned Paul had moved back to his hometown of Dallas, Texas and was
now divorced. We started chatting and I learned that his stepdaughter had recently passed away. I was writing a term paper for my psychology
class about the stages of grief, and I was able to offer my help to him and his youngest daughter. Having experienced grief myself, I was able
to tell him and his daughter what emotions to expect. We formed a very close bond through this experience.
We began to send each other emails every day, and we chatted almost every night on the computer and occasionally on the phone. Finally,
after three months of talking every day, I decided to take the next step. I asked Paul if it would be okay for me to come to Texas to meet him.
He said of course. I knew I was taking a lot of chances. Some might have thought this a stupid idea, but something told me that I needed to do
this; that this guy was special.
Peek in A Couple's Unforgettable Story
I arrived in Texas in June of 2001, and I met the man that I was already falling in love with. We had a great time getting to know each other.
When I had to leave, it was heartbreaking. I knew it would be a long time before I was able to see Paul again. I had lost my husband, and now
I felt that I was losing Paul.
After I returned home, we continued to talk. It was hard hearing his voice and not being with him. Paul called me one night in late June asking
if I wanted to be with him forever. He was willing to leave his job and his home and move to Delaware to be with me. I couldn't believe he was
willing to do that for us. He moved here in July 2001 and we were engaged on Valentine's Day of 2002.
When I had to leave, it was heartbreaking. I knew it would be a long time before I was able to see Paul again. I had lost my husband, and now
I felt that I was losing Paul.
After I returned home, we continued to talk. It was hard hearing his voice and not being with him. Paul called me one night in late June asking
if I wanted to be with him forever. He was willing to leave his job and his home and move to Delaware to be with me. I couldn't believe he was
willing to do that for us. He moved here in July 2001 and we were engaged on Valentine's Day of 2002.
We planned on marrying and had heard of a contest being run by the Delaware State Fair. It asked couples to submit a unique “fairytale
story” to win a fairytale-style wedding. We entered the contest. The day of the winning announcement came and we dressed hoping that
someone would be at our door between the allotted hours. No one showed, so we figured we lost, changed into grungy clothes and started
doing household chores. While changing the toilet in the bathroom, we heard the doorbell ring. We opened the door and were shocked to
see a TV crew standing there to surprise us with balloons and an envelope with the appropriate paperwork to give us a fairytale wedding!
We were thrilled!
On our wedding day the groom and wedding party were escorted in horse-drawn carriages, and my father and I arrived in a horse-drawn
pumpkin carriage – just like Cinderella! We were married on the fairgrounds, during one of the largest events in Delaware with everyone
celebrating with us.
story” to win a fairytale-style wedding. We entered the contest. The day of the winning announcement came and we dressed hoping that
someone would be at our door between the allotted hours. No one showed, so we figured we lost, changed into grungy clothes and started
doing household chores. While changing the toilet in the bathroom, we heard the doorbell ring. We opened the door and were shocked to
see a TV crew standing there to surprise us with balloons and an envelope with the appropriate paperwork to give us a fairytale wedding!
We were thrilled!
On our wedding day the groom and wedding party were escorted in horse-drawn carriages, and my father and I arrived in a horse-drawn
pumpkin carriage – just like Cinderella! We were married on the fairgrounds, during one of the largest events in Delaware with everyone
celebrating with us.
As it turns out, Paul's stepfather adopted him when he was 18, and Paul took his last name, “Galyean”. Paul told me he had three children
and was separated. We not only had the same last name given to us by special men, but we each had a son with the same name, Michael.
Too weird.
and was separated. We not only had the same last name given to us by special men, but we each had a son with the same name, Michael.
Too weird.
We sent emails to each other every now and then after I had to change my
email address since Paul had 'taken' mine. We lost touch for about a year when
I heard from him in a strange way.
email address since Paul had 'taken' mine. We lost touch for about a year when
I heard from him in a strange way.
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