When you first become engaged and word gets out, there are two questions people ask first. Number one “Can I see the ring?” and number two “So, how did he propose?!” Of course, I never mind showing off my ring. I don’t think Matt could have picked out a better one. However, after about the 15th time of telling the story of how Matt proposed, I got tired of telling it. Not because it isn’t the most wonderful story, but because it is a long one that needs to be explained in detail and it became exhausting having to repeat it. Now that I don’t tell it as often, I sort of miss sharing it. Not enough that I hope everyone starts asking me again, but enough to share it here with you guys. So let’s start from the beginning….
I was at work on a Friday afternoon, and had an appointment at 3:30pm to get my hair done. My roots were horrid, and I had rescheduled at least twice by this point, so I was ready to be freshly blonded. As I was getting ready to leave the office, I received a text from Matt telling me to go outside. I assumed he was probably just outside and wanted to say “hi.” He would come by to see me regularly so this wasn’t anything out of the ordinary. When I walked outside I had a note, a rose, and a CD that read “Play Me!” on the hood of my car. The note basically told me that he had cancelled my hair appointment because he already had plans for me that afternoon. He told me to play the CD as soon as I got in my car. My heart sank and I had the biggest case of butterflies imaginable. Although I hadn’t even gotten in my car yet, deep down I knew what was about to happen.
When I played the CD I heard some music come on, and then Matt’s voice. He was sending me on a scavenger hunt. He gave me my first clue and told me to go to the place we first met. He made sure to put enough songs on each CD to give me just enough time to make it to the next stop. The first stop led me downtown Spartanburg. We met in the middle of the street at Music on Main, so he left my second rose and CD on top of a newspaper stand on the sidewalk.
My next CD told me to go to the place where we had our first kiss. Our story is a long one, that I will share soon, but it took Matt 8 months of trying and becoming my friend before I would give him a chance at anything else. Our first kiss was at a bar, and involved a little alcohol. It was nothing romantic, it just sort of happened. I remember thinking to myself “You’ve waited this long, you might as well just go for it.” And I kind of just kissed him. I was actually set up that night by my best friend, but again that’s another story I’ll get into later. It was like 4pm, so obviously the bar wasn’t crowded by the time I got there. When I walked in there was another CD, another rose, and two tequila shots -one empty and one full. He left me an additional note on a napkin that read “I took mine, you take yours.” As much as I didn’t want that tequila shot, I took it anyway and headed back out towards my next clue.
With my stomach burning, I played my next CD. He told me he knew my bladder was about to explode, and that I could go home for a potty break and my next clue. He knows me so well. When I got home there was my last CD. I made sure to freshen up a little, knowing in my heart what was about to happen. I headed back out to my car towards my last stop.
My last CD told me to go where it all began, on the swings. The first night Matt and I ever hung out was at my house. I lived in a park, and while my roommate and his friends were hanging out, Matt gave me a piggy back ride to the swing sets. We stayed on those swings, sharing stories about each other and our lives, until 5am. I don’t know how it took me 8 months to give the boy a shot, but I sure am glad I did.
It was around 4:30pm by the time I arrived at the park. I parked in front of my old house, and spotted Matt on a bench in the park, holding my last rose. While Matt planned everything out perfectly, he forgot to take into account how many children would be in the park on a beautiful Friday afternoon in May. As I sat down next to him, I could tell he was nervous, and so was I. While I can’t remember exactly what he said to me, I remember exactly how I felt. Nervous, excited, and perfectly happy. He got down on one knee, pulled a beautiful box out of his shoe, and asked me to marry him. He almost put it on the wrong finger, but it wouldn’t have mattered. I said “Yes!” to the most wonderful man I’ll ever know. As we were walking back to his car, all of those children he didn’t plan for screamed “Congratulations!” It was the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen, and the perfect ending to the proposal.
This was also my first time trying real maple syrup. I haven’t actually topped it on any waffles yet, but I tasted a little on my finger and OMG – I’m seriously missing out! It’s amazing!
