It all began exactly a year ago. A mutual friend thought - this New Zealander and American might work! We talked in the modern-day way of online dating! Fast-forward 4 months we were to meet for the first time. Needless to say we anticipated how different it would be to finally see each other pop out of the phone. Both sets of parents, Mum, Dad, Auntie and Uncle, hopped in the car and began the trek up to Pennsylvania to check this guy out. No pressure Śyāma-Govinda. Lucky for him, his mum Heather and her loving partner Brian were there to support him as we descended. My family and I were greeted with so much love. They welcomed us with garlands which Heather and Brian made at the cost of their now-needle-pricked fingers! It was the sweetest meeting of two families. We were a little shy to say the least (check out the canyon-size distance between us in Photos) Shortly after, in our accommodation, I was ceremoniously kicked out of the room to leave my parentS to speak with him. I found out later that during this high security meeting Śyāma-Govinda had asked for my hand in marriage. Yup this was the guy for me. Before we knew it Śyāma-Govinda was coming to Alachua. This time it was he who was nervous. However he survived enough to get down on one knee and pop the question! He waited wobbly kneeling, for my answer for an uncomfortably long while as I stood shocked. Poor guy. He was probably starting to wonder…We held a family engagement ceremony, met lots of friends, and got comfortable in each other’s company. Whatsapp kept us going till Śyāma-Govinda’s next visit over the winter holidays. Lo and behold at Christmas we began planning for a spring wedding! What could stop us, being in love as we were ;) Now as the wedding approaches we look ahead. Currently, we plan to live at Gita Nagari. For me, the idea of being a “temple devotee”, as my parents did forty years ago, is thrilling! We look forward to growing as a team in the loving community of Gita Nagari.