An engagement! Seriously, even as I sit here, staring at the sparkliness that now adorns my left ring finger and look for venues, DJs, caterers and more, I still can’t believe that it happened!
Long before Nick came home from Afghanistan and I left on deployment, we talked about where our relationship was heading. We both agreed that we could see ourselves being together. Forever. But, seeing that by the time I got home in the fall of 2011, we would have been apart for almost 18 months. So, we thought the prudent thing to do would be to spend a few months really together as a couple. On the same continent, in the same country, in the same time zone and in the same zipcode doing “normal” couple things — like date night and homecoming and visiting our families. So when I came home in October, I was expecting that this would last till the holidays and by Christmas there would be a proposal. Let me also preface this by saying that at my going away party in San Diego, Nick may have been cornered by some friends of mine asking if he was going to propose in London. He quite adamantly declared that it wouldn’t happen then. So, I wrote London off and expected a ring come Christmas.
As the fall season progressed and I started to expect it more and more, we talked more about getting engaged, married, etc and the conversation would always leave me feeling like he wanted to keep waiting a few more months and see how things turned out. I was completely thrown for a loop and didn’t know what to expect at this point. So, Thanksgiving came and went with my family. And our Christmas weekend with my family also came and went without a diamond ring. As we were driving home from North Carolina, still no proposal or ring, I thought to myself, “Hmmm, I guess he was right about waiting.” But at this point, I wasn’t expecting anything for another few months; at least until I got back from Italy.
Our time in London was fabulous, as it was in Paris. I had no inkling or even idea that my friends who were along on both the trip to London and in Paris were both in on a big surprise! As far as I understand, the ring traveled to London, all around London and to Paris. On our way there, Nick kept telling me that I had to “romanticize” him and show him why I love Paris so much. So we agreed with our friend DeeDee that we’d meet her late morning so that I could “romanticize” him and take him to breakfast. I really didn’t know that I was essentially supposed to find a place for Nick to propose. So I failed. Epically. I thought buying a street croissant and walking around a cozy Parisienne was adequate. But apparently not. This happened on both mornings. Needless to say, we left Paris and headed back to London and I was none the wiser that I had foiled Nick’s plans. Each morning DeeDee expected us to meet her and squeal with joy and excitement over being engaged. Even when we got back to London, our friends, LNRB and MB, were waiting at our hotel for us, expecting to hear good news. But, despite my ability to ruin the plans (that I was never made a part of), it had a perfect ending.
That night Nick suggested we take a walk in Hyde Park the next morning before breakfast and then doing our final souvenir shopping before heading to the airport. I thought it was a perfect way to start our last day in London, so I readily agreed. As we were walking through the park, it was early enough that not many people were in the park other than commuters hurriedly walking to work. We eventually found ourselves near the water, a cute lake perfect for picture-taking. We snapped a few shots; it was quite romantic. Nick kissed me and asked me if I really love him and of course I said “Yes yes, of course I do!”. In the split moment that I turned to fiddle with my camera, I saw him out of the corner of my eye get down on one knee and pull out a ring. He said, “Will you marry me?” I was absolutely floored — I had no idea that it was coming. My initial response was, “Are you serious?!” And then I said, “Are you sure?” **Ladies, please note that these are probably not ideal things to say to the man you love when he’s down on one knee with a gorgeous ring and asking you to marry him.** I was so completely astonished and surprised that I had never really thought about how I would answer — but then I said, “Yes of course!” That’s when he said, “Take off your glove then silly!” and he put this GORGEOUS diamond ring on my finger. It was perfect. The ring. The proposal and the morning. I could not have been more caught off guard, but I couldn’t think of a better reason to be! 2012 is sure to be an exciting year for us!
The ring!
Newly engaged!
Oh sweetie, I can hardly see the words I type through the tears rolling down my face. I can only wish that you and Nick share a lifetime of special moments just like these together. I can’t wait to read all the wedding developments as they happen, to share in that oh so special day, and continue to read as your life continues to explode around you in so many spectacular ways. Once again, congratulations to both of you!