I've been sitting on some pretty exciting news for a while...... (drumroll)...... We have some friends coming to visit next week.
Nah only kidding that's not the news (although we really do have some great friends coming to stay at our place in Tokyo next week - can't wait to see ya - Casey and Jenn) - Darin and I are getting married!!! We made the decision together a couple of weeks ago, and have been trying to contact everyone to let them know in the meantime. Thanks to Kinki for her push to do the Internet announcement.
There was no proposal per se, but Daz has since gotten down on his knee at our nearby convenience store and asked me for my hand in marriage. I said yes. I met Darin 10 years ago here in Japan, I was a young and innocent 19 years old. There was something special about Mr Bendall that I just couldn't put my finger on - we were really good friends for the year that we spent in Osaka as exchange students. For the next six years we did not see one another, but stayed in touch through letters and email. After both of us had split up from our respective partners at nearly exactly the same time plus another year later, I decided to bite the bullet and fly to San Francisco from Brisbane Australia to visit this man that I could never seem to get out of my mind. Thank goodness I didn't leave my heart in San Francisco - it came with me to Tokyo. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. Darin is the sweetest, funniest, smartest, most talented and creative person that I know. Love ya honey!
We are getting married in Thailand on the beach on New Year's Eve this year. It's the perfect venue - sort of halfway in between Australia and the US (ok not really, but symbolically yes) - we both love warm weather, white sand beaches, Thai food and 'no hassles' weddings.
We welcome any useful or funny marriage advice!!! Please leave it in the comments.
This is one of my favourite photos of us. It was taken when we first got together in Jan 2001 in San Francisco at the Covered Wagon Saloon. Umm, there is another photo from that night, but there are four of us holding a topless female clown - I thought this one is probably more appropriate :)
P.S. If anyone is seriously interested in obtaining a copy of the Japanese knitting mag that I mentioned in the previous post, email me. I am NOT currently doing any swaps (trying to save money), but can buy you a copy for $20 (this includes shipping+handling to the US). Paypal payments only. That is at least $5 to $6 cheaper than ordering on Amazon Japan.
CONGRATULATIONS kat+darin!!! though I only know you through this crazy blog world, you guys have obviously got something special! thanks for sharing the photos+news. way to facilitate!
Posted by: nicole | September 21, 2004 at 03:10 PM
Congrats!!! Love must be in the air! I'm getting married in May 2005. Yeah!!!! I wish the two of you many happy, loving and prosperous years together!
Posted by: empress | September 21, 2004 at 03:36 PM
CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is fantastic news!! So it will be wedding & birthday celebrations in one?! Brilliant :)
Posted by: nicole | September 21, 2004 at 03:58 PM
Kaaaaawaaaaaaiiiiiii!
Posted by: Kinki | September 21, 2004 at 06:08 PM
I know you only from our silly knitting blogs, but I do find this to be lovely news. I wish you both all the best!
Posted by: Amy | September 21, 2004 at 09:13 PM
omedetou gozaimasu! Congratulations. That is so peace. MOve forward with love and light....YATTA!
Posted by: queen t | September 21, 2004 at 09:58 PM
Congrats!
Posted by: Liz | September 21, 2004 at 11:42 PM
Yippeeee!!!!! I love the pic, so cute!
Congrats sweets!
Posted by: swirl | September 21, 2004 at 11:48 PM
Congratulations...very exciting!
Posted by: sharlyn | September 22, 2004 at 12:29 AM
wow- congratulations! a white, sandy wedding sounds perfectly lovely and i hope you guys are very happy. :)
Posted by: thuy | September 22, 2004 at 03:36 AM
Omedeto gozaimasu! You two were meant to be, clearly. Now, how did the two of you end up in Tokyo?!? Oh, and I love how he officially proposed in a convenience store. Gotta love those Japanese convenience stores ... CONGRATS!!!!!
Posted by: mariko | September 22, 2004 at 03:42 AM
Congratulations, lady!! That's wonderful! We should do an internet Hen Party for you!
Posted by: Jenn | September 22, 2004 at 04:35 AM
Congratulations! Is it time to start on the honeymoon cami? http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring04/PATThoneymoon.html It'd be perfect for Thailand!
Posted by: freecia | September 22, 2004 at 07:19 AM
Congratulations! wonderful, exciting news.
Posted by: claire | September 22, 2004 at 09:07 AM
that's fantastic news, congratulations!!
Posted by: rachel m. | September 22, 2004 at 10:46 AM
As a brother, I was cruel and unforgiving, but as a brother-in-law, I'm sure I can come up with something much worse.
Love to you both.
Love Mok
Posted by: Mock | September 22, 2004 at 11:58 AM
Congratulations to the both of you. We've never been introduced, but I'm a friend of Josh at Bondi Books.
Posted by: Ando | September 22, 2004 at 12:30 PM
HOW EXCITING!!! congratulations Kat!! How brilliant :) and such a cute photo of you both! AND also thanks so much for the Tokyo/Kyoto weather advice!! I went out and bought myself a really warm ski jacket type thing today... :) I really appreciate you advice on the subject!
oh MY GOODNESS it really is so exciting about your engagement. I am not trying to be weird but I really am so happy for you, despite never having met you! I just get the feeling through your journal that you guys are just so good together and that you deserve to be so happy :)
Posted by: Lucy | September 22, 2004 at 05:03 PM
Compomise, compromise, compromise and let him win a few games of darts every now and again!
Welcome to the club guys. I hope you both have a long and happy life together and make squillions of little bendalls.
Josh
Posted by: Bondi Books | September 22, 2004 at 07:41 PM
Congrats on your engagement! My husband and I also got married in a very low-key way. Actually, we eloped. It was great and we had the best time. All the best to you both!
-Niki
Posted by: Niki | September 23, 2004 at 05:25 AM
so happy you're sharing with the world! thank goodness i don't blog on a regular basis, i don't think i could've kept my mouth shut for much longer. i think you're both very lucky to have each other - congratulations!
Posted by: rae | September 23, 2004 at 07:20 PM
This is seriously weird. I was just clicking links on my favourite Japanese knitter blog, wondering if I'd be that obsessed one day, and there you both were! I last saw Darin in 2000 and he was a lot less mean than in previous years ... if this trajectory has continued, by now he probably really is only "as mean as a dove" ... so good marriage material. I'm really happy that you guys are doing this - I can imagine you two together and think that it must really work.
Congratulations and my love to you both.
Posted by: Rachel | September 24, 2004 at 01:08 AM
congratulations. the picture is super sweet, and the wedding plan sounds like a great one.
Posted by: karen | September 24, 2004 at 02:52 AM
Aww, what an adorable picture of you two!! Congratulations! Your post is making me tear up because it's so happy and adorable and genuine. I wish you both all the happiness in the world!!
Posted by: Carrie | September 25, 2004 at 01:19 AM
we've never met, but i grew up with darin in beaver. i check his site occasionally, and for kicks i clicked on yours on the buddy list. shocking but happy news. you must be a truely unique and special person to fully appreciate, and chose to live with darin's eccentricities. darin used to eat breakfast in my driveway...he once hid behind my stove for over an hour just to scare me...his mom used to think he was a mutant, due to his slight stature(he was about 4'10" now 6'2"). any time you need interesting info about mister right, just contact me. welcome to the family.
Posted by: jason coates | September 25, 2004 at 07:14 AM