So, Andrew and I have been dating for two years now and let’s just say I was ready to make a certain commitment that involves a ring. It was a topic of conversation that quite often ended up with me upset because he wasn’t ready and made it pretty clear that he wasn’t going to be ready for some time.
One such conversation happened Monday February 7, 2011.
It started off as a normal day chatting on our work communicator with no major topics being brought up. For some reason or another, the “proposal” conversation reared its ugly head…..again! The convo began pretty casual but soon turned into an emotional disturbance for me. In asking my typical questions to pick his brain about what he was thinking, I was getting answers that were really throwing me for a loop. “So, Andrew, people are asking me when we are getting engaged and are telling me it’s going to happen soon….thoughts?” Andrew’s response “Who is saying that, cripes, I don’t even know when I am going to be ready to do that, we have only been dating two years, Nicole.” Wrong answer, my friend……wrong answer. “What do you mean we have only been dating two year, how long do you think we have to date before we get engaged?” I asked….enthusiastically. “I don’t know, I am just not ready for that right now.” As usual, the conversation fizzled with me accepting the fact that we were probably going to be middle aged before he was “ready.”
The topic didn’t come much the rest of the week and into the next, but our planned trip to Galena, IL (where we, for the most part, met and began dating) was fast approaching and I became more and more excited for the romantic weekend that I planned for our two year anniversary. Yes…..that I planned! I pride myself in knowing Andrew very well, and this was just too cliché for him. Although everyone I knew was telling me it would happen that weekend, I knew better. I convinced myself that there was no way he would propose, so much so, that I didn’t wear my waterproof mascara, which I had been wearing (despite its inability to lengthen and volumize my lashes) for the last two months “just in case” I had a reason to cry out of pure joy.
Shortly after we arrived in Galena, we were off to dinner at a delicious and reasonably priced Italian restaurant, Vinny Vennuchi’s (strongly recommended)! They had one of my favorite wines, Lambrusco, so naturally I had to get a glass!! After dinner we walked to a cute bar in downtown Galena. It was so nice outside, slightly chilly, but not too cold. I clutched onto Andrew’s arm and he awkwardly began to hold it out. “What are you doing?” I asked. “Oh, nothing thought you wanted to grab my arm.” I just kind of laughed and said “Well I can clutch onto your arm without you holding it out!” He kind of laughed it off and opened the door of the bar for me.
A few drinks later, Andrew was ready to go, so we paid our tab and were on our way. By this point in the night I has consumed three alcoholic beverages, so to say I was chatty was an understatement. I was just talking about whatever my little heart desired and only taking breaks to get more breath to continue my talking! Andrew was pretty quiet, but that’s not unusual when I drink because like I said…. I like to talk!
When Andrew finally got a word in a started talking, I piped down and kept walking, giving him a chance to participate in the conversation. To be honest, I can’t remember much of what he said, but I know that it was sweet and romantic. As the words began to sink into my brain and I figured out what might be happening, I stopped DEAD in my tracks turned around and pretty sure I said “What?!?!”
This is the bridge we were on!!As I turned around, he was getting down on his knee and pulling out the most beautiful ring I have ever seen from his front jacket pocket (explaining the awkward arm holding).
Doesn't even do it justice!!!My eyes got tears in their eyes instantly and I managed to push out an “Of course” when he asked me to marry him. A few seconds passed and as we hugged on the bridge over the Galena River my next question shocked him. “Is my mascara running?” “Is that what you are really worried about right now, Nicole?” He replied. I then explained to him my wearing of waterproof mascara so I could remain “beautiful” when this happened and how I just knew it wasn’t going to happen this weekend. He then explained to me how he blatantly lied to throw me off his scent and told me he purchased the ring a month ago!!
The next day we celebrated our engagement the best way we knew how…..eating a Flav’s Fried Chicken in Clinton, IA. Only in Iowa can you get an old, deadbeat rapper’s chicken that was surprisingly delicious!
