I’ve come to the very last question, and it only took me almost five months and ten posts of answers! I commend the persistence out there. Today is our third wedding anniversary (woo!), so I thought Val’s inquiry would be an appropriate fill-in while I am taking the day off from work to be out and about, celebrating. With no further ado:
Val asked:
How did JG propose?
When I was writing for a blog network last year, I wrote a post about how JG and I got engaged, and the following is a slightly edited version, which bears a striking resemblance to our first date.
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As proposals go, I’m rather picky. I dislike public proposals hypothetically, but I loathe the thought personally. If I had anything to say about it, there would be no ballfields, blimps, or bullhorns present if the memory was going to be free of dread. Also, I tend to glaze over during proposal stories that involve some sort of recitation of Shakespeare or poetry. I love literature, but that is not the point of the proposal. Save it for the open mic, Buddy, and get to the point.
I communicated my preferences as clearly as I could after it became clear to JG that he would probably have to think about the delivery of The Question. He thought my proposal pet peeves were amusing, however, and felt the need to taunt me every time we were at a sporting event or saw a plane fly overhead. “What if I proposed to you right now, on the scoreboard?” he’d ask at football games. “What if that plane is a skywriter and it spelled out a proposal from me?”
I’d roll my eyes and mutter that if he knew me at all, none of those absurd things would happen. And they didn’t, thank heaven.
At the end of the summer spent apart, JG and I moved back in for our last year of college. After getting situated in our respective rooms, JG suggested that we go for a walk. It would be a nice way to enjoy a relatively empty campus.
We set out on our usual loop and I had an inexplicable feeling that something big was going to happen. I did my best to breathe deeply and act normally, but my mind was racing.
Oh, my gosh, what if JG is proposing tonight? He’s been grumbling about how he hasn’t found a ring yet, but what if that’s a front? He’s being awfully quiet right now… But maybe nothing is going on. It won’t be good if I get all excited and then nothing happens. I can’t be disappointed if this is just a normal walk, but it would be so cool to get engaged tonight! It’s so pretty out and hardly anyone is around, yet. No, I can’t get excited. That’s not fair to him or me. I can’t fool myself into thinking that every walk or time alone means a proposal. Besides, JG might not even have a ring, right? Okay, I need to be fine with the fact that we are not getting engaged tonight. And that’s okay. No need to be let down. It’s okay.
Presently, we sat down at a bench that we thought of as ours. It looked to me as though JG took something out of his cargo pocket, but in response to my inquisitive face, he said, “Oh, just a mosquito.”
Okay, calm yourself down.
Then we were quiet. “I love you,” JG said.
“I love you, too!”
Silence, again. What is going on?
“I love you,” he repeated.
“I still love you…” I said, slowly.
All at once, he was down on one knee! He held an open ring box and said, “I love you – will you marry me?”
Then I laughed.
Not at him! Just in general! I laugh when I’m nervous or happy and this was both! I laughed, and then I quickly said, “Yes!”
JG put the ring on my finger and we both grinned from ear to ear. That “yes” didn’t make up for the laughing, though. I have never heard the end of it.
Previously: Lent, hypothetical actions, superpower, television, favorites, hypothetical money, decisions, babies, hypothetical stuff
18 comments
Happy Anniversary! I also loathe public proposals….so mine is very similar to yours. Short, sweet, and to the point.
Happy Anniversary! I totally laughing at, “I still love you,” because I would have said the same thing!
For me, an over the top proposal is a lot like an over the top wedding — when the event becomes more important than the meaning of the event. I just don’t care for it.
Oh YUCK, I hate public proposals (or Bible verse/Shakespeare quoting proposals). You aren’t going to marry the whole stadium - no need for them all to present at the proposal.
I’m like you, so ours was simple. A lot like yours in fact. A walk on campus when I didn’t think the ring was ready yet, sitting on a bench… I loved the simplicity. It was real. M didn’t act like he had to butter me up to get me to say yes or anything!
Ah, our anniversaries are just one week apart! Roth proposed to me on top of a mountain, which could be construed as a little cheesy, but we were the only two there, and it wasn’t as romantic as it could’ve been, what with me wearing a sports bra and sneakers and sweating profusely from the hike to the top we just finished. It was on my b-day, too, so I guess that’s a bit schmaltzy. No, It was perfect.
Happy day to you and JG.
Awww, cute! Ours was generally similar… we had hiked up a trail and were at the top of a little cliff, all alone, and there were no speeches and poetry. It was perfect.
Happy anniversary! Also, happy 1 year since you and I found each other’s blogs! (Actually, I think I found you on my anniversary, which is tomorrow, but still. Close enough!)
I love your proposal story — it’s perfect! I think you’ve probably read my story before. I share your dislike of public proposals but also wanted to be able to somehow share the joy of the moment with close family and friends. Tim came up with the perfect solution by proposing privately and following it up with a surprise engagement party just a few hours later. I couldn’t have planned it better myself!
I remember reading this on the blog network way back when! It’s such a sweet story! I, too, am filled with horror by the thought of an uberpublic proposal.
Fortunately, the only person who would hate the sports arena / restaurant / on stage proposal more than me is… AS!
We’re perfect together!
Admittedly, I giggled upon reading your response. I love this story, it’s so real. I kind of hate the fairy-tale esque proposals, I think the park bench and faux mosquito are much more endearing.
Happy Anniversary!
xox
That sounds pretty darn ideal. Good job, JG! And congrats on 3 years!
When are you going to have a baby?
Just kidding….
Cute story!
Well public proposals at things like baseball games would be really cool if the person being proposed to is.. say.. a huge baseball fan. In general, lame, but for some people that’s just what they want!
Happy Anniversary! I can’t believe you laughed at him!
Oh my gosh, you are adorable. Hee! I love the story.
ANd happy anniversary!
awww thats a cute story! I joked about how i’d love to be proposed to in the Vinny T’s box at an NU hockey game but i was always kidding.
When fiancé proposed I laughed out of nervousness but also because it wasn’t much of a surprise to me so i giggled because the whole thing was cute in the kind of silly way
Happy Anniversary!
That’s a great proposal story!
Happy Happy HAPPY Anniversary!!
“I still love you” - hahaha so cute!
Happy anniversary, such a lovely proposal. And I agree about the public thing - bleh, proposals are supposed to be personal!
happy anniversary you oldlyweds!
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