No, we’re not talking about that KKK – we’re talking about Kyler and Katia Kline!
Kylar and Katia hiking on Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado
Despite the naysayers and despite the ugliness and ignorance surrounding a recent highly publicized, highly dysfunctional interracial “relationship” that has dominated the news, interracial relationships – devoid of the cray-cray – are thriving.
Black women are living well and more and more of them are enjoying their lives, thumbing their collective noses at the nonsense and the madness and demonstrating to the world what real love is all about.
These Black women are dating, marrying and building families. Many are married to men we call “warriors” – our military men who are on the front lines protecting our freedoms.
(And many of them are “warriors” themselves!)
This week we take a refreshing break from the dysfunction and the madness and bring you a wonderful couple who, despite the deployments that are the norm of military life, are happy and whole – loving each other and living life to the fullest.
Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Kyler and Katia Kline.
In most instances the wife fills out our interview questionnaire. But in the case of Kyler and Katia, Kyler wanted to be the one to share their very special story – and in so doing proclaim his love of Katia to the world!
Enjoy their beautiful pictures – and enjoy their love!
Where do you live?
We live in Clarksville, Tennessee, in the greatest nation in the world.
How long you have been together?
We have been together for four years, three of which we have been happily married.
What are the names and ages of your children and/or grandchildren?
We currently do not have any children, but have already picked out some names for when the time comes.
How/where did you meet?
We first meet in the 10th grade and became friends and stayed friends throughout the years.
She shared an apartment with a good friend of mine and while home on leave we started talking and spending time together, and with my irresistible charm and good looks we decided to keep talking long distance.
After 6 months we decided to make it serious, and 6 months after that she sacrificed her current life to marry and eventually come live with me in Colorado – something I will forever be grateful for.
What was your defining moment – that moment when you each knew you were in love?
We were at her apartment watching a movie together and we started holding hands. It was at this time I finally knew I was falling in love with her.
Then, when I was deployed to Afghanistan she sang, “You Are My Sunshine” to me. It was at this time I KNEW I loved her.
Our coming home kiss when my unit arrived home from Afghanistan – our first kiss in a year!
How did you families and friends respond to the news of your relationship?
My sisters were worried for their little brother as always and provided me with advice, yet they loved Katia and were happy and supportive of us.
My father was supportive of our relationship, but on hearing news that we wanted to get married expressed strongly that we at the age of 21 were too young to get married. He was extremely upset after hearing that we did get married but later approved of it after hearing words of wisdom from my Step-Mom. He then even offered Katia a room at his house while I was deployed.
My biological mom was of a different side and became slightly prejudiced. She did not expect to have her son dating a beautiful young Black lady; furthermore upon hearing of our engagement she expressed she wanted white grandkids. This was deeply upsetting to us.
But after getting to know Katia she began to love her and they are now close loving friends as mother and daughter in law, and even call each other regularly. My Mom also can’t wait for the cutest mixed babies the world will have ever seen!
Katia and I before we got married. She is holding my niece Elizabeth.
The majority of our friends were very happy and supportive, but some of my male friends had the suspicion that she may be a “Tag Chaser,” which is a person who wants to date a soldier for the benefits or nostalgia of it. Most people don’t realize how poorly soldiers get paid till they marry one. But after meeting her they realized she was a benevolent young lady who loved me for me, and were then supportive.
The Army’s birthday ball at Fort Carson
How did you handle it?
I followed my heart, and could not be happier that I did.
This is my favorite picture of Katia, which I kept on me at all times while deployed in Afghanistan
What do you like most about your mate?
Everything not to sound corny, but I love how kind and loving she is, her smile, how she can sometimes be a handful, that she’s out going and fun, her body. And most of all that she chose to spend the rest of her life loving me.
This photo was our honeymoon night. Unfortunately we couldn’t go on a real vacation because I was only home for two weeks and had to go back to Afghanistan.
What advice would you give to others who are interested in dating/marrying interracially?
I don’t see races, I only see many Americans of different cultures all of which I love. Unfortunately not everyone in America feels this way, so be ready for constant glares and judgment from others in public. This more so happens to my wife when I’m with her we only get glares and looks, most likely because of my size I tend to be intimidating.
She has even been attacked on face book before, being called many names. But we still publicly display how proud we are to be together and to be in love with one another.
Our first baseball game together at the Denver Colorado Rockies stadium. We found that baseball was to boring for us.
Anything else you believe is pertinent or just want to add?
We love your page and what it stands for!
THIS, Ladies and Gentleman, is what love is supposed to be like: Pure, proud and real. Thanks to Kyler for the service he provides to our country and thanks to Katia for being the wind beneath his wings!
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Copyright © 2014 Michelle Matthews Calloway, ASwirlGirl™, The Swirl World™, Lafayette, LA. All rights reserved. Photos used with permission.
