My So Called Blog: May 2008

Last night, I got engaged to the man of my dreams. Adrian is now my fiancé, my verloofde, my bräutigam, my fidanzato, my forlovde, my prometido, my fästman. (I haven’t decided what I want to call him now, I”ve always hated the sound of the word fiancé because I think it sound pretentious. Totally irrational, but that’s typical me.) We’re getting married!

The Ring
I suppose like most engagements, it all started with the ring. I’ve been thinking about the ring since last summer when I would doodle rings in a little notebook when I’d run out of things to do at work. A few months later, Adrian and I discussed what I wanted in a ring, so I gave him a few suggestions and sent a few pictures. I wanted him to know right away, so I could put it out of my mind and he could totally surprise me when (and if) he ever did get me a ring.

A few months ago, Adrian mentioned he wanted my opinion on a design. Since we’re in a design profession, I didn’t think much of it at first. The next day he showed me what he wanted my opinion on, a series of sketches of rings! I tried to play it cool, but failed miserably. Soon after, he had a mysterious meeting on the Eastside. He can’t keep a secret, so I found out that he was getting a ring made for me. We worked together to finalize the design, got some design advice from Jessica on our road trip, and the jeweler started to make the ring.

Jessica and Adrian promptly started conspiring together to make me think the ring would not be ready for a long time. They did pretty well, but I had suspicions it would happen sooner than they were letting on.

The ring itself is a perfect combination of Adrian and me. I wanted something rigid, rectangular, straight and simple. He wanted something more complex and curvy. We got both. The stone is an aquamarine. I picked aquamarine for several reasons. First, it was important to me that it wasn’t a diamond. A long time ago, I actually told my grandma that she could buy me diamond earrings, but that they would be the only diamonds I ever owned. Second, aquamarine is beautiful. The color is subtle yet intriguing. Third, I found out that aquamarine has historically been believed to protect sailors as they travel, ensuring a safe voyage and a safe return. Since Adrian was in the Navy for four years, I found this particularly appropriate and set my heart on getting an aquamarine.

The Proposal
How did he ask? That’s always the first thing I want to know after I find out someone has gotten engaged. I pretend not to be a romantic, but I truly am. Last night around six, we drove down to Seward Park, a park along Lake Washington, here in Seattle. I knew he had set up a scavenger hunt, to be followed by a picnic. We had done this once before in Kubota Gardens and I loved it then. We took our bikes since the park is pretty big.

The First Clue – The Car
Adrian took off to place the clues, leaving me with an envelope, filled with a map and a letter. I read the letter (actually a poem) and studied the map to the second clue. I sat patiently near the car, enjoying the rare perfect Seattle day. I waited at the car until I received the go-ahead call before heading to the next clue.

The Second Clue – The Amphitheatre Stage
I rode my bike to the first clue, nestled in the wall of an “amphitheatre” (really it was a theatre). I enjoyed the bumpy ride down the grass to the clue. His second letter described how and when he fell in love, just over a year ago. He described the intense feelings he immediately had, the ones that he said matched the feeling “that makes me squeak and jump up and down when he has his arms around me.” He said I practically vibrate, and honestly, I do.

The Third Clue – The Bridge
I had some issues finding the third clue. It was hidden in a bridge, but from the bike path, it didn’t look like a bridge so I passed right by it. When it became clear that I had gone too far on the map, I called Adrian to warn him I had gone to far and was going back to fetch the clue. I studied the pictures he included more closely and realized I had indeed seen the bridge the first time by. In the third letter, he described the smile that creeps over my face when he holds me close. He said, “When I see it, I know that you are the reason for me, and that I am finally where I am supposed to be. Yours is the most beautiful smile I will ever see.”

The Fourth and Final Clue – The Rock on the Beach
The last clue was hidden by the rock on the beach. When I got to the beach I put down my bike and grabbed the clue. This time there was no map, so I knew Adrian was close. I started reading the final letter and knew he was going to ask me. I rushed through the rest of the letter, forcing my eyes to focus on each word but not comprehending anything in it.

I walked up to Adrian and he held me close. My memory of what he said was a blur, but he tells me this is how it went “You’re the reason for me. I love you with all my heart. I’m a better person with you, and I have to ask you a question: Will you marry me?” I was crying my eyes out before he even asked. I managed to get out a “yes” and an “of course.” Then I cried some more, kissed him, made sure he had asked my dad (and mom), and then let Adrian put the pretty little ring on my finger.

Then there was more crying, jumping, laughing, and kissing. Adrian set up the picnic, and I tried to eat. I was way too excited to want to eat! I think I’m still way too excited to want to eat! After awhile he told me that his friend David had been there taking pictures of the whole event. He thought of everything! David took 217 pictures and probably got poison oak, so I’m extremely thankful for him being there.

After we finished eating, we started calling family and friends. I called my mom first. She was obviously not surprised, but she was excited she could finally tell people. Adrian called his parents and his dad happily welcomed me to their family. I called Malisa and got the squeal of excitement I wanted to hear from someone besides myself. We made a few more important calls and text messages and then packed up our picnic.

After the picnic, I wanted to go to Crate&Barrel to buy a dish to put my ring in when I do chores so I don’t damage or lose it. We decided we would also buy champagne glasses and something to remind us forever of the special night. We found the dish and glasses easily, and finally settled on a pretty wood salad bowl. It seemed practical, the kind of thing you rarely use and will not break. The sales women wanted to know what we were celebrating, and I excitedly showed her my ring and said, “I’m engaged!”

The next stop was QFC to buy champagne and dessert to totally round out the night. We selected a chocolate caramel with whipped cream frosting cake. As Adrian would say, “uh-huh.” Since I had barely touched our dinner, I was very happy to down some cake.

I’m getting married! We’re talking about planning an engagement party sometime soon. I’m pretty much the happiest girl ever, kicking my feet with excitement. Adrian makes my heart race, he challenges me, he keeps me dreaming, he really is the man of my dreams, and I thank God that I got the chance to meet and love him.