One day...
Foreshadowing much in Everyday, Ordinaire?
Big news.
HUGE.
I'M GETTING MARRIED!
Let me start from the beginning.
We've been dating (at that point) almost two years.
We talked about marriage, baby carriages, and retirement.
We lived together for the past year.
We co-adopted two dogs.
We were happy and in love and he embraces that I'm bat shit OCD.
Moving on.
My gal pal who worked in a jewelry store (before she selfishly left me to move across the pond for three years) had me choose my ring setting (solitare, rose gold) and asked my favorite stone (oval) like, months after Mark and I started dating so I thought NOTHING of it, even when I put it on a "wish list" from Ladies Night and he saw it when he got my Christmas gift.
Subtle is my middle name, oh.
Plus my friend always says you gotta "put what you want into the universe." I put that on blast. Believe. First date Marcia was all "do you want marriage and babies?" Hey, better to screen early and not get all in love and find out the opposite and my eggs die. Fact.
I digress.
With our trip to France fast approaching more than a few people asked if I thought he'd ask. I shot that business down, there is no need to get my imagination a going then if it doesn't happen like I visualized in my brain movie, be upset and ruin vacation.
So I put it out my mind.
It worked.
The week we left, Mark was making a to do list for himself on the dry erase board when I chimed in, "you should write me a love note, put that on the list". So he did (see below, second line -- he had erased it before I could snap a better photo, gah!)
Again, thought nothing of it. Ran errands. Exchanged currency. Got a mani-pedi. Went for a run.
We foolishly bought tickets to The Flaming Lips concert two days before we left, so I got ready, ramble-panicking about all the stuff we needed to do -- pack, laundry(!), find the spare key. Copy passports. Minutia.
Come downstairs once I'm all dressed and I see a card with my name on it.
No big, I asked for a love note. Think to myself, "man he actually listened, two brownie points for him".
Think nothing of it.
Till he tells me to open said "love note", where I read lovely things he's penned, look up and see a ring box in front of me.
Cue freak out.
In true "I don't live in reality and over think everything Marcia" fashion I assume I'm being punk'd and make some equally enthralling comment about how mean it is to joke about something so serious.
Then I (finally) realize he is not joking.
And I start to hyperventilate inside.
I have no idea if I actually said yes, I totally blacked out.
Holy shit, we are keeping each other for-e-ver.
If I could bottle that giddy-on-top-of-the-world feeling I'd sell it on the corner and make millions.
The rest of the nights chain of events went, obviously unnoticed.
We met friends, as planned, for dinner at Fork and Stix pre-concert.
Insert friend exclaiming (once we got seated), "holy shit is that an engagement ring?!"
I'm sure whatever I had was delicious. Then again they could have served me rocks and I'd have no clue.
Cut to concert.
Again, I'm fairly certain I paid zero attention to what was going on besides snapping a few photos.
At one point Mark and our friends (Meredith, Susan, Jim, and Becky) caught me knee deep in a doe eyed stare at my ring finger, and not the concert.
Oops.
Post concert we hit up Pin Up Bowl for a celebratory engagement drink (I was too excited to have anything except stare with a cheesy grin). I remember running from outside to in as I text/called friends (at midnight) to tell them the news.
Friend answers phone "did I wake you (doesn't wait for answer) -- I'm engaged!"
Smidge excited.
The next day Meredith sent me this photo (above) that she got that day. Seriously, how fitting.
I cried, obviously.
Then, upon our return from France I happened upon a doorstep surprise from Amie.
And I cried, again.
And if that wasn't enough of fate-mixed-with-reality, my sister emailed me this email (see below) I sent her ages ago while we were gone, her too assuming an engagement was upon us.
And, I cried -- again.
All the feelings.
To: Jennifer
Subject: One Day...
Jennifer,
Why not make my desires "crystal clear" (name that movie) so when my big day comes (one day, I hope, please 8lb 5oz baby Jesus) I will not be the source of undue stress and stress induced wine consumption. Which leads me to my list. Please save this, we know I have the attention span and memory of a gnat.
- Wedding: I want to elope. Period, dot, Amen. Where I am open, but preferably on a beach, barefoot
-Wedding party: None. Too much stress, drama, opinions. Plus I'd much prefer to have them enjoy the day than spend it in some itchy ass overpriced dress they'll never wear again with a $500 hair and makeup job. For the day. Besides, I need to shine, its is after all, my day
-Guests: Immediate family is ideal. If some close friends can join, great
-Bridal Shower: As long as there is champagne/wine I could care less. 30 people or less. I'm cool with having it in my hotel room (see "bachelorette party")
-Bachelorette Party: A Good old fashioned slumber party (beginning immediately after the shower). Hotel suite, manis, massages, plenty of bubbly, mongrammed pjs, old movies. Super small group (less than 10 people). I will foot the bill.
-Reception: I don't "need" one, but I could be persuaded. Immediate family and close friends. Less than 100 people. At the World's Fair Pavillion in Forest Park. Big Party, HUGE. Food, booze, music. Cocktail high tables, giant dance floor under the stars
-Engagement Party: I'd LOVE an in home or private wine dinner (by Robust) with about 10 people.
---------------
Holy cow I'm getting married.
(insert happy dance)
-- Random Closing Thoughts --
Thank God I got a manicure. You should have seen my hands prior. Nobody would have proposed to those cuticles. No one.
The ring and the engagement was a true surprise.
No, he did not get down on one knee (first question my mom asked), it was more of a bent-over-lean type deal.
Yes, we called our families on the way to the concert.
The hounds approve.
Looks like I got myself a fiance'...
My cup certainly runneth over. And over.
Somebody pinch me.
But not too hard, engagement photos are coming up and I bruise easily.
--the future Mrs. Piper --
