Will you marry me?

Today was an exciting day for me. My boyfriend and I were planning on dinner and a movie. Preparing for the date, and the time before the date was difficult with my parents. They decided that they were going to make a fuss about the fact that we already had plans and didn't want to change them at the last minute so that my boyfriend could have dinner with my family. To me it seemed very difficult because there was no menu, it was a last minute decision, and the fact that my boyfriend and I had plans and reservations meant nothing to them.

My boyfriend came over in his trusty chick-magnet to pick me up. We had the t-tops out and headed to the Macaroni Grill. Every time we go there I remember the first time we met. As we were eating dinner I was reminiscing about which table we ate at the first time we at together. We were laughing and talking about how we almost didn't meet (he almost left because I was 3 minutes late - I went into the wrong parking lot), how we felt (both were nervous), and how we have been together almost every week, almost every day we have talked together since we met.

After dinner my boyfriend said he needed to use the restroom and that I could wait outside for him. I almost didn't until I got a little chilly. So outside I went, to the same parkbench where we had talked for a couple of hours the first night we met. A couple of minutes later, after trying to figure out which side of the bench to sit on, how to make my skirt look pretty, and just watching the breeze through the tree leaves, he came outside. I didn't know he was approaching until I saw him in my periphial vision, down on one knee. "Miss A**** R**** C******, will you marry me?" My mind was in slow motion and overtime at the same instant. There he was, sincere as everything, on bended knee, with a beautiful solitare diamond ring in a box. I said yes, but it was a speechless yes. He asked, was that a yes? I knodded, said yes, and tried not to cry or grin too much. As to how the ring went from the box to my finger I have no clue.

We sat outside on the park bench talking about how our lives had just changed, what our future plans will be, and just watching the sunset. In retrospect, if I had been looking for a proposal and more astute to what was occurring, I would have been prepared because he reached under his seat as we got out of the car. I thought it was his cell phone, it was a ring box. But aren't proposals suppose to be a surprise to the girl? This one was.

We skipped the movie, instead heading to the park. A few phone calls "I did it, she said yes!" "Guess what, D*** and I are engaged!" At the park we slowly sank back to reality. We had to tell my parents and we both knew that they would be 100% against our marriage. We decided that since we both were over 33 years old that we wanted to get married this year, preferrably in September or October, so that we could have children before we are too old. We decided that he should tell Mom and Dad that we are engaged, he said he would be to the point, state that we are getting married, and that we would like their blessing. To tell the truth, I wish that we could have kept it a secret until we were married, I don't like their lectures at all.

The ride to my home was one that both of us wish that we could have avoided. We went in and together told my parents that we were engaged. My fiance :) did the talking, I stood by his side and supported him. Dad looked disgusted, Mom looked livid. My brother, who was at home at the time, was nowhere to be found. Dad refused to give his blessing tonight. It seemed that there was nothing left to say, my parents gave both of us a very ackward time of silence. Poor darling fiance, he said "Well, I guess there is nothing else left to say. I guess I will be heading home." I walked him out to the front, we talked a bit and he went home.

After he left, I received a lecture from my parents. I would rather not dwell on that. It was quite painful.

Meet the Cousins, and another brother

Today we went to church together then headed down to Phipps Plaza to go to a restaurant called Twists. It was definately a 'happening' restaurant with the younger set. We met one of my brothers, whom my date had previously met and had dinner with before, my cousin and her husband, whom he met at a race day, and my other brother whom he had only seen from a distance. We all ate lunch together (except the brother previously seen from a distance) and had dessert, when the other brother finally met us.

After lunch we toured Phipps Plaza, stopping in Tiffany's (of course), Teavana, and stopping to chat at one of the courtyard tables. Then the cousins, my date, and myself went to Lenox Square. We went through Anthropologie (of course), the Apple Store, Starbucks, Banana Republic, and back home again. It was a wonderful day.

After driving back from the mall we went to Chili's for dinner. It was late when I got home, parents treated me like a 16-year-old, but who cares? I had a wonderful day!!

Commentaries from friends and relatives

Wow, so much advice from relatives and friends! I just have to know how to sort it all out!! My cousin's advice I will definately take as she has both feet on the ground, raised 3 boys, and knows what she is talking about.

My parents still don't like my boyfriend. I am not sure how they think that I am manipulating this relationship, how they got the impression that I am leading, or any of the other things they come up with. I honestly think they see that we are a good match and they are afraid that they will lose control in my life.

My friends, well that is a mixture of advice. The latest advice I got was that this wouldn't last, that he would dump me and I should just move on. Wow, and she hasn't even met him! Guess that is what I get for talking with a girl who recently broke up with her boyfriend.

It all boils down to what I think. Do I think I am doing the right thing? Can I see myself with him 30 or more years from now? Am I happy with the way he treats me when he is in a bad mood? Well, hmmm, no one likes being with someone in a bad mood but everyone has them. Oh yes, does he have respect for me or will he treat me badly?

What do I think? I think I will listen to my heart.