WE GOT ENGAGED
By our eighth year together, Jared and I had been talking about marriage for about a year. It had finally started becoming more of a reality, and something we were envisioning happening in the near distant future. We would talk about a few years in the future when we were more financially stable, and got our respective businesses off the ground. Never would I have guessed it would be coming within the year.
On January 23, 2015, I would be turning 30. I had never been a fan of proposals on major holidays or any special occasions such as Valentine’s Day or birthdays. No doubt a result of my negative perception of marriage since childhood, not to mention the 50% divorce rate. Not knowing what he had planned, I jokingly told him, as my birthday neared, that he had “better not propose to me on my birthday.”
Jared had been telling me for weeks that he had something planned for my birthday. For the past few years we made it a habit to take day trips to Big Bear. My hope was that we would be going to Big Bear for the day.
On the morning of the 23rd, Jared surprised me with funfetti waffles in bed and told me that we were going to Big Bear for the night. So we made a plan, packed our stuff, and went on our way.
The plan was to hit one of our restaurants for lunch and pie, and then to spend some time at our favorite spot off the beaten path, after which we would then make our way to the cabin in the village where we would be staying for the night.
It was like it often was, and I didn’t suspect a thing. He showed no sign of nervousness or anxiety, and gave no hints.
Right after lunch, we drove to our favorite spot by the creek. Jared asked me to bring my camera so we could take pictures for our Christmas card. I am always taking pictures, so that wasn’t suspicious either. Finally, after posing for a few photos of the three of us (Jared, myself and Bear), Jared asked me to hold Bear so he could get some pictures of just the two of us.
…still no clue…
He came back, and asked me to hand him Bear. But now he appeared extremely nervous. He took a deep breath, and got down on one knee. A tear dropped from my eye before my brain had even registered what was happening.
I wish I could tell you all the beautiful things he said, but the truth is, it became a blur and blackout as soon as he dropped to his knee.
The next thing I know, there a big, radiant, heart-shaped diamond ring sitting, upside down in the open ring box he held out in front of me.
