Real Life, by Scott Moyer
Thursday, April 12, 2007

Engaged!!!

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It started during December when I was visiting her down in Chino Hills and asked her dad for permission to marry her. After receiving his blessing, the wheels were in motion. This isn't a subject new for Lindsay, we had both been talking about it for a while now. We thought sometime around springbreak would be good. I started planning renting a beach house on the coast to propose to her. I spent all Christmas break looking around at different houses and what not. I found one that I could afford and I liked and was able to reserve it for the end of springbreak weekend. That was in January.

As it started to get closer to springbreak, I started rethinking proposing on the coast. Lindsay is very family oriented and she's very close with her parents and grandparents. I really wanted them to be able to be a part of everything, and for Lindsay to be able to share her engagement with them. We were planning on going to Disneyland while we were down there, and since it's probably her favorite spot in the world, I started forming a plan of proposing there.

I was starting to think that I would propose during the fireworks at 9:30 in front of the castle. Then we could walk down to the Rain Forest Cafe and meet her parents there (a surprise to Lindsay). So I thought this was good plan and started talking to Lindsay's parents to get them involved and up to date on the plan. I was totally set to put this in action until I asked Lindsay's parents to make reservations for 9:30, and found there was a slight chink in my thinking. Meeting the parents and grandparents at 9:30 in downtown Disney is kind of late for the grandparents, and hard for her dad Jim who gets up at 4am for work the next day.

Instead we set the reservations for 6:45 and decided to go without the fireworks (which ended up not being shot off anyway due to wind). We landed in Ontario Friday evening and Saturday morning went into downtown LA to go look at rings. We successfully found a great ring and bought it that afternoon. I think I deserve some kudos for lasting in a ring shop for over 3.5 hours. When Wednesday finally rolled around, I was nervous as all get out. I decided I would carry the ring in a ziplock bag so it wouldn't be loose in my pocket. I then had this bag in my jacket which had a zipper. When we sat down for lunch I decided that I was going to ask her soon, so I transfered it to my shorts pocket. We stareted out in California Adventure and as we're walking into Disneyland after lunch I decide that I'm ready to ask her and want to do it in front of the castle. What can I say, she likes princesses. We're at the parks with a couple we are friends with, John and Linzy, and my Lindsay's best friend, Christina. They all know what's going to happen today, so I when I ask John if he wants his picture taken in front of the castle and give him a knowing look, he knew what I really meant and said yes. Unfortunately, Lindsay thought we should go get in line for magic mountain first and get pictures later, she didn't know why we wanted pictures in front of the castle anyway. While in line, Lindsay almost found her ring in my pocket because of the ziplock, so I had to take it out of the ziplock and keep it in my shorts loose. Boy was I scared for that ride. As soon as it was over I put my hand in my pocket to make sure it was still there.

After we got off, and the ring was still there, we started to head towards the castle. My heart is starting to race a million miles an hour. We get there and John and Linzy give Lindsay their camera and they start goofing around to stall as they're getting ready. I pull the ring out and get down on one knee behind Lindsay while she's focusing. At this point there's a lot of people around us and when I get down on one knee they all stop and start watching and whispering, meanwile, Lindsay is clueless. So after she takes the picture and takes a step forward to give the camera back, I grab her belt loop and pull her backwards. She starts to around saying what in an annoyed voice and sees me on my knee. She starts excitedly saying, "Are you serious!?" and I propose. We kiss and hug and then I told everyone she said yes and they all started clapping. It was really awesome because her best friend Christina was right there. I knew that meant a lot to her.

After the proposal I told her I made reservations for the five of us at rain forest cafe for 6:45. Really the reservations are for 9 and her parents and grandparents are going to surprise her. As we walk down I make her cover her eyes and I walk her right in front of her parents and grandparents before I say open. She was really happy and as a bonus for me, her parents paid for the dinner! Woo hoo! It was an amazing day and I couldn't have asked for it to work any smoother then it did. I definitely will never forget.

We landed back in Portland Friday and drove straight for the house at the coast. I didn't tell Lindsay about that until the day before we left. Saturday morning my parents drove up and her parents drove over, after having flown to Portland the night before. Our parents met for the first time that afternoon and we spent the rest of the day spending time with each other and walking around. Our parents got along really well and it was really awesome to be able to spend time with both of them.

So that's my story, Lindsay and I are engaged now and we'll get married after she graduates! I have more exciting news as well, but I feel like this is already long enough, I'll try to make sure I post again Sunday night.

So everyone who reads this, I would now like to introduce you to not my girlfriend, but my fiance!