The Build-Up and the Question by Rob
I have always been in the search of the perfect women; as most of you have told me, she doesn't exist. But I knew quite quickly that Nancy was the closest I would find and what I was looking for. More importantly, she tolerated me. We had talked about getting married; however, she was pretty firm that she wasn't going to tie the knot again.
One weekend, we were at Nancy's folks, and her dad Don and I were talking late into the evening. Out of the blue, I decided it was time to ask him for permission to marry his daughter. Yes, I had a little courage in me, and I explained that I have never done this before and wasn't sure if I was doing it right. I told him that I loved his daughter, and I didn’t think she was ready yet, but when she was, I wanted his blessing. Don didn't think she was ready either. Then he paused, and I wasn't likening it.
Finally, Don spoke. He told me that when Nancy was ready, he was good with it. Of course, then we heard the bathroom door and Nancy appeared. We'd both thought she was in bed. To this day, she swears she didn't hear anything, despite her well-know bionic hearing.
Pre-engagement, there was a little discussion about marriage between Nancy and I, including what type of ring she wanted. One evening, during Bend's First Friday Art Walk, we ended up at a jewelry store and she actually tried on a ring. It fit and looked good. Over the next month, I had shopped at almost every jewelry store east of the Cascades and ended up at the original store. Buying the ring was the easy part.
I planned on asking her several times: her September birthday while wine-tasting outside of Eugene; Thanksgiving; New Year's Eve; and New Year's Day. None of them seemed like the right time.
One Friday, after I'd been gone all week on business, Nancy called me and suggested we'd celebrate the weekend with a Friday night dinner. The ring had been in my home office desk draw since September and wrapped in three different boxes if she happened to stumble upon it. And while I wait for her to get home that evening, I about wore out the guides on the desk drawer, opening and closing it. Finally, I worked up the nerve to pull the box out. But I heard her coming home, put it back in the draw, and slammed it shut. Though when Nancy went to freshen up before going out, I decided to put the ring in my jacket; if it was the right night, I wanted to be prepared.
Nancy wanted to try a new Mexican restaurant, but it was only a couple of steps above Taco Bell. That wouldn't work if I was going to take the ring out of my pocket. I suggested another place, and at the last minute, she agreed.
When we walked into the restaurant, they happened to have a fundraiser that evening. It didn't look good as we ended up in the back dining room. Then a band started up. But when the owner asked if the music was too loud and could he shut the doors for us, proposing was looking up again.
Nancy and I had a great dinner and a bottle of wine. Just the two of us. We'd been discussing taking a trip, and I took the moment to ask her if we went to Mexico, would it be on vacation or for our honeymoon. Then I stood up, tripped on the table, and dropped to one knee. There was a book of things that I wanted to say and couldn’t say one of them. All I could get out was, "I want you to be my wife." She said, "I will," and I wanted no doubt, so I made her say it again.