Michele

Our Proposal Okay, "Our Story" in all its detail is described on the website, and I don't feel like repeating myself here. So, instead, I guess I'll describe the proposal. George is incredibly sweet, and sometimes the things he does just blows me away. For example, very early in our relationship I told him I was a bit of a tomboy, and I had always my own set of matchbox cars but I never got them. So, the next date? He gives me two matchbox cars! Just sweet stuff like that, to let you know he's thinking of you. However, George is not the type of guy that some one would describe as intensely romantic: he's not going to dress up in some medieval costume and come riding up on a white horse to claim his lady fair. And that's okay with me! Christmas 2009 was coming up and, as usual, George asked me what I wanted. Now, when George asks me what I want for my birthday or for Christmas and I tell him this or that, I get exactly this or that. Again, that's cool - I know I'm getting stuff I actually want, and he knows I'm getting stuff I actually want, and he knows he's not going to mess it up! So this Christmas, I thought I'd make a list to email to him, complete with pictures and email links. Make it as easy as possible for him! Christmas Eve comes and we go out for dinner and then just hang out watching TV. I had already agreed to give him some money towards the purchase of a new flat screen TV, which he was going to purchase after Christmas, so I mentioned to him that I felt bad I didn't have anything for him to open. He gave me a hug, and reached over and pulled out a gift for me. Huh. It was in a small box. A very small box. I looked at the box. I looked at him. I shook the box. He asked what I was doing. I said I didn't know. He told me to open it. I told him that nothing on my list would fit into a box this small. And he would NEVER buy something that wasn't on the list or that I hadn't requested. I unwrapped the present, and opened the box and inside was a small, black velvet box. Okay, even I know this means jewelry. But he had already given me a ring, a necklace, and a bracelet. Aha!! Earrings! We had seen a commercial for diamond earrings a year before and he had commented to me that he thought about buying them for me but he didn't know if I would wear them. Uh, yeah, well if you give a woman diamond earrings, I think she'd wear them, okay? So, confident I'd find the diamond studs we had seen on TV tucked snugly into the velvet (hey, am I ever wrong? Answer? NO!), I opened the velvet box. And a bright emerald surrounded by small diamonds glinted up at me. It was one of the most beautiful things I'd ever seen. My mouth flew open, and my jaw hit my lap. It still didn't register what was happening, until George said, "You said you would want an emerald...for an engagement ring." That's when I lost my voice. I absolutely could not speak, could not cry, could not do anything except hug George for about 5 minutes! How did he deliver "the question?" He asked, "Do you think you can put up with me all day, every day?" We had mentioned marriage before, but nothing seriously, at least in my mind. And we never looked at or discussed rings. He picked it out himself (I think!), and he did a darn good job! And even though this proposal might not be as romantic as some are, it's all mine and I'll treasure it as such!