Looking back, there were many red flags that I later scrutinized myself for as "you should have known better" as far as character of my ex husband goes. Yet, there was nothing that could have prepared me for the day when I went to pick up my son after a weekend with his father, only to find his place vacated with no sign of them.
Here is a story from the beginning of our relationship:
We are laughing, listening to Abba and driving toward Vancouver Canada in an old pickup truck loaded with all our belongings to visit Vaclav’s friend for the weekend.
Minutes earlier, I was laying under the eggcrate mattress we used as a bed, covered with our clothes and other possessions, as we were crossing US Canadian border. I recently arrived from Europe and my Visa only applied to US, so this spur of the moment excursion seemed out of question at first. I assumed that suggesting I hide in the back of the car as we drive across the border was just a joke, but when I realized that Vaclav was serious, my 22 year old invincible self agreed to this adventure. After all, I looked up to Vaclav, who was 8 years my senior, lived in the states for years and knew the ropes. “Why should you pay for Visa if we are just going for the weekend, that’s waste of money we don’t have and who knows how long it would take to process” he asked. When the custom officer opened the canopy door, I was afraid to even breathe. But he just looked on the innocent looking pile of stuff and wished Vaclav a nice trip.
This would probably not end up with me laughing in post 9-11 America, but it was 1990 and US canadian border crossing was just a formality.
I have often referred to this trip in mind as a first warning sign of Vaclav’s disregard for law. But back then, I was intrigued by him.
