Happy 10th Anniversary to Us

Where were we ten years ago today?



1. Where and when did you meet your husband?

In Katsutadai, Japan in March 1996. We were working at the same language school and I arrived there about six months before he did. We met on his first day on the job.

2. What was the first thing you said to your husband?

"Oh, you're tall!" There was a wall between the teacher's work area and the student wait area. I was at my desk and I heard someone milling around in the wait area. Classes wouldn't start for a few hours, so I was a little surprised to hear someone. I came around the corner to see who it was an nearly ran into him. And for reference, Andrew is 6'1" and I am 4'11".

3. Where was your first date?

After a lot of flirting we finally went into Tokyo to see "The Truth About Cats and Dogs."

4. Where was your first kiss?

In my apartment. After yet another long summer night of just talking, I pulled him to me, laid one on him, then promptly ran into the other room.

5. Did you have a long or short engagement/courtship?

Relatively short. We started dating at the end of the summer in 1996, and we were engaged the following May. We had to get married before we left Japan to facilitate the green card process, so we were married in September 1997. We didn't have our wedding until we returned to North America the following June 1998.

6. Where did you get engaged?

In Andrew's apartment. I remember it being a very humid night. He came home from work, dropped down to both knees and asked me to marry him. My response? "Of course." Incidentally, he did not have a ring with him and I ended up picking out my own engagement ring because he would get light-headed at the prices in the jewelry stores. I didn't want a diamond and was very happy to find this emerald.

7. Where did you get married?

Married? At Sakura City Hall in Sakura City, Chiba. Wedded? At Clayburn Chapel in British Columbia.

8. Any disasters during the special day?

The marriage was a done deal by this point, but what was getting on my nerves was that we were to have an outdoor reception and it rained nearly every day leading up to the wedding. I spent so much time glaring at the Weather Channel. But the day turned out beautifully with a bright blue sky. I also managed to spill chocolate milkshake on my on my wedding gown. You can't take me anywhere - not even my own wedding!

9. Most special moment of your wedding day?

In my head it was just a shiny happy day. My Gramma Pogue was still alive, and it wasn't long after this that she got very sick and died. One of my fondest memories of the day is Robbie, my parents' cairn terrier, sneaking scraps from the guests. He also had been sick and didn't live another year.



10. The song from your first dance?

We didn't have a dance.

11. If you were to do your wedding over, what would you change?

I wish I would have had my sisters as my bridesmaids as well as my friends.

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I had to scan all these photos in because they were all taken way before I ever had a digital camera. I found one picture Andrew had taken of me not long after we first started dating:



Damn, I was cute 11 years ago!