The Proposal
I suppose at some point I should relay the sordid details of how we actually got engaged. Here is the relevant excerpt from my trip journal during our trip to Hawaii to visit his family:
5/29/05:
Later we drove along the coast to take photos of Turtle Island, The Chinaman’s Hat, Banzai Pipeline, and Sunset Beach. At the latter we parked for a bit to get out and walk on the beach. A few groups of people (likely locals) were relaxing next to coolers and hibachis under lean-to’s. Dennis wanted to stroll up the beach to a picturesque spot with no people; I followed, though Andrew and Michelle seemed to stay behind. When we nearly reached a rocky outcropping that bordered the end of the strand I asked Dennis where we were going. He murmured something to the effect of “I wonder why Andrew and Michelle didn’t come with us,” conversationally. I told him, “Maybe because they didn’t want to! Let’s go back, I feel bad for just leaving them.” I turned around to start walking back and Dennis said, “Wait.” He had thrown his bag and shoes on the sand and approached me smiling.
“I have a question to ask you,” he said, grinning.
And then I knew.
From behind his back he presented a small mahogany-colored box and opened it. Inside, of course, was a ring, in exactly the band, setting, karat and stone cut I wanted.
“Will you marry me?”
I think I gasped, and wide-eyed covered my lips with my hands. I don’t know what I did with my hands next, or if I said “Omigosh!” before or after I said yes, but the important thing is I said, “Yes!”, with a gleeful well-duh-silly-how-could-I-say-no-this-is-the-happiest-moment-of-my-life-gasp. Then I threw my arms around him and kissed him. We were laughing and looking at each other’s eyes. Thank God I took pictures of the spot beforehand or my hands would have been shaking too hard to push the button. My knees were rubbery and unstable. I saw a wild dog staring at us bewildered from the bushes. I shouted, “Hey doggie, I just got engaged!” She twitched an ear and scooted away. Realizing Andrew and Michelle had remained down beach for this reason I jumped and waved at them in joy. As we passed the families by their grills I yelled at the top of my lungs, “Hey everybody!! I’m getting’ MARRIED!!” holding my newly ringed finger high in the air. A few adults chuckled and mumbled congrats. So of course as soon as we got in the car again I had a thousand questions. Yes, just about everyone – who could be trusted not to drop hints – knew where and when. He had been holding onto it for a month. He decided on doing it in Hawaii in February/ March. He had gotten it delivered on a day when I happened to be working in the city. Etc. etc. Finally Dennis told me, “Hon? Call your parents.” I laughed and dug out my cell phone – it would be midnight on the east coast but for this? Who cares. My mom wasn’t home. I told Dad & Lori. I talked to Tim (who knew weeks ago). I told Mo, who was visiting Tim. Dennis called David who congratulated me and mused about how I’d soon be his sister-in-law. Then he called Deb. It look me an hour or two to calm down and think coherently again. All the witty reactions I had imagined saying over the past several months were quite forgotten and irrelevant in that perfect moment of sheer surprise. Dennis was pleased that I didn’t suspect a thing. Yes, he had been nervous – not that I’d say no but that the proposal would go well – and hadn’t slept well the night before. But it went great. J For the rest of the evening we shared smiling looks and winks with each other while the glow of our big moment settled into the realization that we are now “fiancés.” Excitement, joy, eagerness, relief . . . these words don’t begin to describe it. The description of Dennis popping the question was a bit matter-of-fact at first when I spoke to my family because I was still quite stunned. Even though I’m used to the sensation of wearing a ring on my left hand (miraculously the “Ya Ya” ring Angie once gave me came off when Dennis gave me the new ring – I had been much thinner then) it still distracted me to see such a fancy shiny thing on my finger! It’s just what I wanted – plain, thick, trellis band; half karat, circular, four point diamond setting. Ideal for a backpacking, wave diving, biker, builder, handywoman, gardening gal like myself.
Great job, Dennis! A lucky gal am I. Now of course everyone is asking “So when’s the date?” “So do you have a date yet?” “When’s the date?” I’m trying to imagine how we could have done the proposal, the acceptance, and the date planning all in the same 10 minute span. But I guess people probably don’t know what else to say. Anyway, thought I’d share the experience.