The Proposal

It was early Friday morning around 2:30 or so and we had just finished up with an excellent Thanksgiving.  All the guests were gone and Bill had gone off to party or do whatever he does.  Vanessa and I were lying in bed trying to fall asleep, or at least I was but she was talking.  When I realized sleep was not going to happen I suggested we take a walk in the park.  Of course V thought I was crazy but since she is crazy she agreed to go.

As I was getting dressed the idea of proposing popped into my head.  It was not how or when I had planned to propose but for some reason it just seemed like a good time.  Plus I didn’t know how long I could hold on to the ring without telling Vanessa.  But as I put the ring in my pocket I wasn’t sure if I would go through with it or not.  As we headed to the park I started fiddling with the ring in my pocket to make sure it was in it’s little slot in the case.  I just knew as soon as I opened the box the silly thing would fly out and pop her in the head.

Vanessa happened to grab a camera on her way out and started taking a few pictures.  I smiled and made small talk and tried not to freak out.  We walked through the park Vanessa’s arm through mine and I led her to the place I thought would be just right for a proposal.  As we got closer to the center of the park I realized how still and quite everything was.  The air was cool and moist and you could almost see the stillness.  There was not a single person anywhere around.  The only sound was the occasional car.

When we were near the spot I wanted to be Vanessa led us off course to go read a sign about park construction.  She yapped on about something or another and I just tried to get her walking again.  After what seemed like a couple hours we finally walked 10 feet over to spot I wanted to be.  There we stood and I stalled by talking about the sky, how quite it was and whatever other nonsense dribbled out of my mouth.  Just when I was getting ready to do it - all hell broke loose.  Well not really it just seemed like it.  First the B48 bus squealed its way down Nassau which seemed quite deafening but not near as loud as the garbage truck that came clanging up the other way.  I soon realized it would never be quite enough and thought - screw it.  I got down on one knee, pulled the box out of my pocket, opened it and asked Vanessa if she would marry me.  Now of all the things I remember about that night I have no idea what Vanessa said in response.  All I know is it wasn’t the accustomed "Yes" that one might expect but something strange and not normal which caused me ask her again.  Finally she said, “Of course”, and then it was just the normal hugging, kissing and crying that you do after such event.  We moved over to the park bench, shaking with excitement and talked about the evening like it had happened years ago.

This was taken soon after I proposed.	There's the ring.

11/23/01