I can't imagine anything that can happen in the next five months that can trump this one. I'm engaged! And let's be honest- I was hoping it would happen this year.
The ladies out there probably understand that there are a million reasons why this was an important step for me, even though Ronnie and I have been in a committed relationship for so long. First of all, I am not one of these modern women who don't think that getting married is important. It is. Next, the pressure of all my girlfriends and coworkers asking me when it was going to happen. Then there is what the engagement signifies to the rest of the world. "Boyfriend" could mean anything. "Fiancee" is something that people take seriously. Even if we don't get married right away (which it is looking like we will wait until 2014), we are taking an important step forward.
Many of you have heard the story, or some details of it at least. But for those of you who haven't: It started (on my end) the Monday before Thanksgiving with me hitting a curb in my brand new car and popping two of the tires. I called Ronnie, expecting him to be furious (after all it was a brand new car...and the accident involved me and a curb). His reaction was a little puzzling. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Don't be mad. I got a flat tire.
Ronnie: Oh...is that it?
Me: Yes...?
Ronnie: Well did you try to change the tire?
Me: Do I look like I know how to change a tire?
Ronnie: Well did you look at the spare tire?
Me: (Lightbulb...he is hiding something in the spare tire.) No I didn't look at the tire. Let me turn my back and call the insurance company while you "look at the spare tire."
Having been together for over six years at this point, I was of course expecting the proposal at any time. Also, just from knowing him for this long, I can kind of read him like an open book. He however had no idea that I suspected anything.
Day before Thanksgiving: Ronnie wakes up at 5 am, telling me he can't sleep because we are at his parents' house and not in our own bed. Interesting.
Thanksgiving Day: Ronnie chews his Aunt's head off for saying "Congratulations" even though she was referring to a football pool that Ronnie and I won. Doubly interesting.
Black Friday (the day of the proposal): Ronnie insists that we go for a walk for me to get more steps (we are having a contest at work). I tell him okay, lets walk around the neighborhood. He says no, lets go on a "nature walk." I begrudgingly comply.
We drive to a place around our parents' houses called Gring's Mill. It is a very gorgeous and very mild late November day, with the temperature around 50 degrees, and yet the perpetually too-warm Ronnie insists on wearing his winter coat. I tell him he will be too hot, he will be uncomfortable, we will be walking around...still he insists.
At this point I know something is up. And I am about 75% sure that that something is a ring in the pocket of his coat.
For some reason I then decide to give him a hard time. I continue asking him about the coat until he tells me that "the lining is cooler" than the outer wool. I feel the lining, watching his face for a reaction as my hand approaches his pocket. (He admits that he thinks I did touch the ring at this point). I complain about something or other, I ask him when he wants to turn back. Using a white lie ("I don't think we can go that way") he leads me to a little rock landing near the creek, under a bridge.
He says, "I had an ulterior motive in bringing you out here."
I say, uttering the words that will now live in infamy: "You're stupid."
He didn't know that I knew! That's what I meant. Poor choice of words I guess.
Yes ladies, he did get down on one knee. He opened the ring box and I assume he asked if I would marry him (who the hell knows, it is such a crazy moment) and I assume I said yes. He says I hesitated but I'm pretty sure I was just mesmerized by the diamonds.
Even after six years (or maybe especially after six years) there is a lot of pressure placed on this moment. It would have been very difficult for Ronnie to pull off anything that would have surprised me. And my reaction was much less dramatic than what I'm sure he had pictured in his head all this time. But in the end all was as it should be: two people sharing a private moment, making one of the most important decisions of their lives. That's what matters. He asked and I said yes.
And to all the critics out there whose response was "It's about time!" I have to say this. Maybe he took a little longer than we expected. But he said that he wanted to wait until he found the perfect ring. And that's exactly what he did.
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