Just a few months into our relationship we started seriously talking marriage…we both knew right away that it was going to happen for us but just not sure when exactly. On a whim we went to Las Vegas about a month into our relationship and even half joked/half seriously talked about getting married at a tacky wedding chapel there. As it got closer to our one year anniversary more and more people started asking when I thought it would happen. Walleye had to work in Milwaukee for 6 weeks September and October of 2008 so I spent a long weekend out there visiting him and people were sure I’d come back with a ring on my finger. Then with my birthday in November and Christmas in December even more people thought it would happen. It got to the point where I was sick of being asked when and I wanted nothing more than to tattoo on my forehead “Don’t know when but when he does you’ll hear!” I really had no clue when he was going to ask me and I will admit I was getting a little antsy and anxious but I never let him know that…I wanted it to happen when we both were ready and not because of any pressure either one of us felt by the other or anyone else.
We started talking about going to Jamaica in January 2009, so I got a part-time job to help save up money faster. We met with a travel agent in December 2008 and had the pen in hand to sign up for a trip and for some reason we decided to wait until the next week to sign up for the trip. Then things happened and we had to put our trip on the back burner. I was pretty certain he was going to ask me on that trip and was pretty heartbroken when we had to cancel plans.
Because I had taken so many nights off from my second job for my birthday, Thanksgiving and Christmas I decided not to even attempt to take New Year’s Eve off. We decided that it would be best to just have a low key NYE…which is fine by me as I am not the biggest fan of that holiday…too many crazies out that night. I had to work 8 am – 4:30 pm at my day job and then my second job cleaning offices from 5 pm – 8 pm. During the day I got an email from Walleye and he said that he’d make us a nice romantic supper and we’d watch the ball drop and call it a night. Sounded perfect to me! I was usually so tired and crabby after my 12 hour days that I wanted nothing more than to cuddle up with Walleye on the couch and veg.
So I got done with work a little early and headed home to change before walking across the street to Walleye’s house. I will admit that I sort of had a feeling that maybe that would be the night but quickly dismissed it when I walked in and all seemed as normal as ever. He didn’t seem nervous or any less or more talkative, there wasn’t anything out of the ordinary to tip me off so I quickly dismissed it. He made us a steak and lobster dinner with mashed potatoes, mixed veggies and good beer. After dinner we cleaned up and he made me go sit in the living room while he got dessert ready…I could hear these plastic packages open and was so confused what we would be having for dessert. Here he had gotten us each a little individual pie! Me a French silk and him a banana cream…when I saw the pie I got butterflies in my stomach and immediately thought maybe he had hidden the ring in the pie. So I very carefully and slowly ate the pie only to find there wasn’t anything in it. So once again I dismissed the thought that maybe that was the night I was going to be asked THE question. After dessert he suggested we go to my house to wait for the ball to drop, so we trudged back out in the snow, across the street and to my house. I immediately pulled my hair into a pathetic pony tail (I had shorter hair that barely fit into a ponytail!), put on my pjs (not even cute ones but rather a ratty old t-shirt and a mismatched pair of pants, socks) and my hot pink fuzzy slippers. We cuddled into the couch and waited for the ball to drop, which proved to be hard for me to do as I started dozing off. I managed to stay awake for the New York ball drop which was televised at 11 pm our time but Walleye kept nudging me and kept trying to keep me awake, saying “You don’t want to miss the ball drop Minnesota time!” and at that point I really didn’t care…I was so tired I just wanted to sleep and it was going to be the exact same ball, dropping the exact same way only an hour later and we had already seen it. Well it got to be about 5 minutes from ball drop Minnesota time and he woke me up and then immediately disappeared into the bathroom. I thought it was odd that he was so insistent on me seeing the ball drop but then turn around and head to the bathroom…I was so confused but the next thing I knew he was out of the bathroom and I was counting down and leaning in for a kiss and he slipped off the couch – completely confusing me again because I wanted my midnight kiss (I mean I did wake up for it an everything!) and I had no idea where he’d be going now…he did after all just get out of the bathroom. I thought maybe my breath stunk or something. Well next thing I know he’s down on one knee, holding my hand, telling me how he doesn’t want to spend another year without me as his wife and pulling a ring out of his pocket! I think I was speechless for a few seconds! I was completely stunned and shocked! I said yes or something like it, started crying and hugging and kissing him!
Finally, a few minutes later he said we should celebrate and pulled pink (because it’s my favorite color) champagne out of the fridge (which he had stashed there while I was at work)! We toasted our engagement and the New Year! I was so excited! I couldn’t wait to tell people so after a few minutes of celebrating I asked him if my parents knew and he said yes, he had asked my Dad at Christmas. (How cute is he? He passed my Dad a note saying he needed to talk to him because he never got a moment alone with my Dad!) So I immediately wanted to call them – I knew they would be up since they had card club that night so I called my Mom’s cell phone. She didn’t answer, so I called their home phone, again no answer. I waited a few more minutes and called her cell phone again and this time she answered. I said Happy New Year and asked her what she was doing. She told me and then asked what I was doing, a little confused as to why I would call and I answered…”just sitting here looking at my shiny new ring!” She was silent for a minute and then asked “a ring…on what hand?” and I replied “on my left!” Turns out my Dad didn’t tell her that Walleye had asked his permission so she was completely and utterly surprised! I spent the next 20 minutes or so calling my sister and a couple best friends until finally I decided it was just getting too late and I could tell people the next morning or technically later that morning. Pretty sure the little bit I slept that night was with a huge smile on my face!
It was the most perfect night of my life! It may not have been on a beach in Jamaica or some huge, romantic gesture with tons of people witnessing it but it was the perfect proposal! (I only wish I would have had cute or even matching pjs on and that I would have thought to take photos!)
