Bent Balle, (44) communicates with his wife, Laura Minikel,(37) who lives in San Francisco via webcam from his home in Struer, Denmark at 6:00 AM.
How's this for a 21st century romance: Dr. Laura Minikel met Bent Balle on an airplane in 2000--she returning to the U.S. from practicing medicine in Africa, he escorting his parents on holiday from their native Denmark. Minikel and Balle chatted throughout the 11-hour flight and later met for coffee near her home in San Francisco before Balle returned to Denmark. They fell in love (through e-mail) and married in 2005 (in person), celebrating in four cities with friends and family. Are they happy? Yes. Are they together? Not exactly. Minikel, 37, remains in California to practice obstetrics and gynecology, while...
