B. and I got engaged over the weekend. We’ve been together for almost 6 years, and we’d started talking about getting engaged a few weeks ago, after I told him that the “boyfriend” nomenclature wasn’t really doing it for me anymore, that I like diamonds and that I don’t mind a long engagement. It seemed like time to get our intentions out in the open. He agreed, saying that it was time to “tidy it up.” So I didn’t know what he had in mind, if anything, but he loves to surprise me.
Good things always happen to me at dances. B. and I met at a dance. And that’s where he decided to propose.
Saturday night, at our regular midtown contra dance, the caller announced it was time for the half-time waltz before the break. I started looking around for B., and didn’t see him at first. Then I realized that he was up on the riser with the band, wearing the caller’s head mic. I swear, I can’t tell you exactly what he said, but it was something like, “I have something I want to say to a special lady. Laura, will you come up to the stage, please?” Again, I really have no earthly idea what else he said, but I heard, “Will you marry me?” (I hear one of our friends has it on video, so I’ll have to refresh my memory.) I think I said yes, or at least nodded vigorously, and he stepped down (or was he already down?) and slipped a ring on my finger.
As if that wasn’t enough, he had asked the band (one of my favorite duos) to play my favorite waltz, “Two Rivers” so then we waltzed! Everyone else started waltzing too, floating by us, wishing us well.
That’s the story. VERY romantic, don’t you think? We were surrounded by friends during the break, then danced a little more, then I slipped away to call a couple of people. We went out for a drink with the dance group later and had a marvelous time, then went home and talked about it all until 3 AM.
A truly stellar day! A great moment in my life! A completely awesome fiance!
And no, no wedding plans for the immediate future – we’ll keep you posted.
ADDENDUM: November 29, 2008 – B.’S VERSION
I asked B. to fill in the blanks of the proposal, since I was fuzzy on the details, and here’s what he told me:
What he said from the stage was, “May I have your attention? I’d like to dedicate this waltz to a special lady – on one condition. Laura would you come up to the stage please?” He said he enjoyed the puzzled look on my face. He said he stepped down from the riser to meet me, then took my left hand, then my right, kissed my left hand and said, “Will you marry me?” After I said yes, he said, “I believe it’s customary to seal the deal with a bauble.” He took off the microphone, then feigned not being able to find the ring, patting all of his pockets, then pulled the ring out of his pants pocket. He showed the ring to the crowd, but kept it hidden from me. He slid the ring onto my finger, still hidden, then pulled his hand away so I could see it, then kissed me. Then we waltzed.
ALSO – We’ve seen the video our friend shot that night, which has the very tale end of the proposal – the ring part – and the entire waltz – it’s really fun to watch, especially seeing our friends’ reactions. I certainly didn’t see that the first time around, since I was only looking at B.!
This is one story that doesn’t suffer at all from too many details. It just gets better…
