Sweet Life With Mary

I must have…Mary asks me,          

      “Why did you not want to go out when Dad was asking to marry you?”

On our drive back from Thanksgiving, that day with the near-accident, we had recounted the story of how Jack asked me to marry him.  Cold weather, snow, “butt-cold” temperatures— these are the memory triggers for this particular event.

Seven years ago this Christmas, I was visiting Jack in Iowa for the second time since we had met in Vancouver the year before.   Winter is not the best time to be visiting ANYBODY in Iowa, he should have gone to Vancouver instead and visited me.  But, I could take the time off from work, he couldn’t, so, anyway…

The relationship had been going very well despite it being a “long-distance” one.  However, on this second trip to see him, I had no inkling that he was going to take it to the next level.  Looking back, I should have seen the signs— his Mom was checking out my fingers as we were shopping, Jack was asking everyone about a great restaurant to go to, he was so insistent about going out — but, I was oblivous.

So, on that fateful day, Jack was all set to treat me to a nice dinner. But, it was so darned COLD!!!  It was the type of cold that if you are home, you don’t want to get into the car, then once you are in the car, you don’t want to leave the car.  I did not want to get all dressed up for a fancy dinner and have to be in stockinged heels, walking from the house to the car, then the car to the restaurant, brrrr!!! Couldn’t do it and Jack couldn’t make me.

Instead, I opted for a nice dinner at his place.  We did go shopping for it— we got the makings for fried rice, egg rolls (I know, not fancy but it was what I wanted to eat that night, did not know it was to be a “special” dinner) and Jack got some red wine, as well.  I should have known something was up because we rarely drink wine.

On that cold night, after dinner, while watching “The Bicentennial Man” on cable, he tells me to close my eyes, threw a kitchen towel over my head to make sure I was not peeking, he proposed.  I think, he went to get the ring, got down on his knees, asked me the question and I said yes.  While writing this, for the life of me, I cannot recall the words he used to ask me and what my exact reply was.  Blame it on the red wine, I was drunk that evening. 

What do I remember?

1. (One more time) It was a cold and dreary day.
2. I was adamant about NOT going out for dinner.
3. I got drunk on 2 glasses of wine.
4. We called my parents right after and my Dad said something like, “…she is not sweet…”  I think, my dad wanted to make sure Jack knows what he was getting.
5. My ring is beautiful.

I must have said yes… It’s seven years later and I live in Colorado with him and our sweet little Mary.—–
For more about the Marriage Proposal Blog Carnival, visit Wifely Steps. Thanks, Toni for hosting it!

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Update: February 15, 2008

Sending the link to this post to Sangria Lover, as part of Joel and Jen’s Fake Engagement Party.  Congratulations and Good Luck!!!

December 14th, 2007 | Category: Daily | Subscribe to comments | Leave a comment | Trackback URL