Today I met my penpal's husband.

Stephen works in Texas primarily, and all over Texas. He and Aileen are from Micronesia, but work off island. He hadn't been home since March, when they got married and exchanged shell money. Shell money stands in as currency, therefore a dowry. Though, she did say they're planning a "traditional" wedding.

They reconnected now after having been apart for 20 years. How people connect across time and distance changes, and the thresholds are different for everyone. I don't know if I could do a long distance, so props to them.

Funny observation by him was that all of her friends are only girls in their family. Haha, I like to think when you're an only girl, you're feistier.