revisiting Anderson

For people who are new to this blog or don’t know me from my other websites – a little explanation. Tony and I met online on a MUD game many years ago. His first visit; our first time meeting in person was in July 2007. We had 19 days together and spent time attempting to cram in as many of the things we both love as we could. We took trips to Pierce Lake, Klehm, and Anderson Gardens as well as many other “local things” – but Anderson was likely the best visit. Tony is a teacher & counselor and is from Australia. Before we met online, he spent a year in Japan. He speaks, writes and reads Japanese and loves the culture. The gardens were pretty neat to him; almost like being back in Japan – but quieter.

While he was here, he proposed. I accepted. After he went back to Australia, we began our long process of obtaining a K1 visa. Not something for the faint of heart to undertake, let me tell you. It was a -long- process, with lots of paperwork and documentation and fees galore. While we waited, on opposite sides of the planet, we made do as best we could, talking on the internet and crossing our fingers. I took a lot of visits to Anderson with my camera, and spent a bit of time sitting on the benches we sat on, walking the paths we walked, remembering. The wait seemed to take forever & many tears. He finally was approved and able to come back at the end of 2008 – and arrived here on December 11th, 2008.

I took these photos on May 2, 2009. It was the husband and I’s first trip back to Anderson together since our first & only trip – in July 2007. It was a beautiful day, and everything seemed more beautiful than it always seems to. Anderson is a favorite place of my husband and I. We try to go without the kids, if possible. I mean, how many times can a 10 year old look at a tree? Haha.

~ by natalieclicks on May 25, 2009.