The Proposal

Jen at Mimi Bella Boo came up with a great idea for this Valentines Day.....to write your marriage proposal story.  Mine will be long so grab a cup of joe or a hot cup of tea and get ready for a love story like no other.  Well, at least in my lifetime.

T-Bone proposed on June 21, 1996.  T-Bone is a romantic.  Writing this story will bring tears of joy to my eyes.  I hope you feel the love, too.

Rewind to our dating story...
We had a long distance relationship.  He lived in CA and I in AZ.  We met while on a business trip to Bloomington, IN (about 45 minutes from Indianapolis).  It was a small trade show where I met him.  We introduced ourselves and exchanged business cards.  I thought "good lookin' guy that lives in a different state".  Done.  No further thoughts.

The following month there was the national trade show in Vegas where we crossed each other's paths, again.  However, it was intentional on his part.  He found the booth I was in and came and talked to me.  Oh so non-chalantly, he said "do you remember me".  Of course, I thought.  There he is again.....but he's another good lookin' guy in the industry who lives out of state.

There was an industry party one night and that's where we began to talk more.  We danced.  We talked.  He walked me back to my hotel room.  He laid a kiss on me and I immediately stopped that action.  A girls has to watch out for her reputation.

We began talking on the phone and got to know each other and realized that feelings were beginning.  He mentioned that he's like to come to AZ to spend the weekend with me for my birthday.  He came out and we had an incredible weekend.

On the Sunday morning when he was going to leave, he pulled out a calendar and started to plan when we would see each other.  One of the airlines had a killer deal for $39 RT from Phx to either OC or Long Beach.  We bought up 6 months worth of tickets and alternated weekends.  Every weekend was like a mini vacation.  I showed him AZ.  He showed me CA.

After one year of dating, we had discussed marriage.  We knew that it was going to happen.

Now, fast forward to the proposal...

The evening was beautiful.  We hadn't seen each other in two weeks and he told me that we were going to do something special that night.  He took me to the Sids, a restaurant that we dined at on our first day.  It was the type of restaurant that served the food as the chef intended it - without any variations.  The food was good but I'm usually the type that asks for salad dressing on the side, or no garlic, etc.

We talked and talked that night as we were catching up on things.  He was so attentive.  His gorgeous hazel eyes gleaming into mine.  I remember feeling like I was the only woman alive.

That is not a funky hat on my head.  It's an awning from the building across the street.

And, the picture has a scratch right through my hair.  Oh, well.

After dinner he said that we were going someplace special for dessert.  He made a call from his cell phone and made dessert reservations for 2 at 8:30.  We cruised along the Balboa peninsula passing all the numbered streets and entering into the lettered streets.  We parked on "M" street and began walking toward the beach.  I remember wondering to myself  - what kind of dessert place is on the water?

When we approached the sidewalk near the beach, I noticed how clean it was.  No sand trapesed across it like usual.  It was literally free of sand.  As I looked out toward the water, I saw a small table set inside a line of tiki torches.  At that point, I wondered if this could be the moment but figured it wasn't because he had done romantic stuff like this before.  We walked hand-in-hand and took a seat at the table.

He poured some champagne and we ate truffles.  We talked and enjoyed the beautiful view.  Then the beach cops drove up in their truck and asked to speak to T-Bone.  He walked to the truck and returned quickly to advise that the residents were calling and complaining that no fire is allowed on the beach.  T-Bone said that we could keep the tiki torches on a little longer.  Our conversation began again and, then the beach cops returned.  After having the same conversation with T-Bone, he returned to the table, again.

After a short time he finally, he dropped down on one knee - which wasn't far from our chairs that were sinking into the sand - and began reaching into his jacket pocket.  This is it, I thought.  He's going to propose.  He said a bunch of wonderful things and asked me to marry him.  I immediately said "YES".  We kissed and hugged while celebrating the moment.

The beach cops arrived once more.  This time T-Bone was asked if the proposal was over.  Apparently, the beach cops knew that this was a proposal and were extremely patient about the fire on the beach...and the complaints they were getting from the residents.  The beach cop asked if I accepted and took a picture of us with his Polaroid camera.  T-Bone and I were probably put on their bulletin board and labeled "the couple that created the most complaints from the residents".

T-Bone and I immediately put out all the fire.  Fire is bad.  The residents could now stop worrying that the beach was going to ignite in flames.  T-Bone and I sat and enjoyed the evening a bit more until.....I had to use the restroom.  We went back to his place and hung out with his roommates.

Key notes about the preparation of this proposal:

His roommate was the person T-Bone called to make the dessert reservation.  His buddy went and set up the table, chairs, tiki torches, champagne, etc. on the beach for us.

The beach cops had come out while his buddy was setting up.  His buddy told the beach cops that this was a marriage proposal and the beach cops allowed for the tiki torches.... but only for a short while as they knew complaints would come.

T-Bone went and swept all the sand from the sidewalk the night before the proposal.

T-Bone chose "M" street as the location to represent the "m" in marriage.

T-Bone flew to AZ and NM to ask for my Dads approval in marriage.  In fact, T-Bone was behind me by just a few days as I was travelling to AZ and NM for work.

I knew nothing of this proposal because we had never shopped for an engagement ring.
He had only asked me my opinion on rings.  The ring he chose was/is beautiful and simple.
A princess cut diamond surrounded by marquise from end to end of the engagement band.  The wedding band is a line of marquise cut diamonds.  Pretty!

It was an incredibly romantic night.

T-Bone is the love of my life!
I know that God intended for me to be with him.

We married one year later on Saturday, June 21, 1997 overlooking Balboa Bay.
The ceremony was simple and lovely.
We danced to an awesome Reggae Band at the reception
A total blast for family and friends.

We renewed our vows at our 10 year anniversary.
You can learn more about that story here.
Can't wait to read your story, too.