1 month and counting

I’m feeling pretty out-of-sorts today. I attribute this to 1) planning fatigue and 2) stomach trouble (which may themselves be related). We have a lot to do in the next month, and all I can think about - when I’m not mentally making lists - is whether the caterer will mess up the curry chicken, and how much of a mess the apartment is right now. Fortunately, I have nothing to do tomorrow night so a thorough cleaning is in order. The curry chicken will just have to take care of itself.

Today seems as good a time as any to remind myself of why we’re having this big stupid party to begin with. A little over a year ago, on a Sunday near the beginning of May, E and I woke up late to sun streaming through the windows. We stayed in bed for a while, enjoying the morning and each other’s company, and then threw on some clothes and went for a walk to the National Cathedral. I’m always up for a walk (last weekend I made E walk home to Dupont from Friendship Heights, on a whim) but I didn’t realize that this particular walk was part of a larger plan.

We chatted and strolled, getting sunburnt and looking for 4-leaf clovers along the way. When we got there, we made a beeline for the garden - I love the good-smelling roses there, and it’s a nice place for quiet contemplation among the buzzing insects. E sat down on a bench, and I flitted about taking pictures of flowers and smelling things. Eventually he coaxed me onto the bench, and I noticed his hands trembling slightly as I sat down. He turned to me and started a short speech. Neither of us remember the exact words, but he talked about how we are a good team, and how we balance each other, and how he’s happy when he’s with me. And then he asked: “Would you maybe want to marry me?”

MAYBE.

I GUESS.

I should say at this point that, while I expected that we’d probably get married eventually, I wasn’t really in any hurry. I'm not really the like-it-put-a-ring-on-it type, (though I do dearly love that song). E and I had been living together for nearly a year, and dating for three and a half years (minus an ill-advised but very necessary two-week blip). I figured if nothing changed in another couple of years I’d just do the proposing myself, but it was all very theoretical. So I was genuinely surprised, but happily so, and happily said “Yes” immediately.

JUST KIDDING.

First I said, “Really? Reeeeallly???” Then I said “You know I’m kind of crazy, right?” Then I tried to crawl into his lap, in the middle of the public garden. Then, after (I believe) some prompting from E, I said, “Well, yes, OBVIOUSLY.” And then “Are you sure?” I think E ended up saying “Yes” more often during the conversation than I did. He also gave me a beautiful rose-shaped ring from a fabulous vintage jewelry store near our apartment. We smooched and held hands, and then went to the Cathedral gift shop because I had to pee. A good friend called while I was in the bathroom, allowing me a little time to squeal privately. Then we went to Two Amys for delicious delicious pizza and wine, and called the parents on the walk home. (My father's reaction when I told him that E proposed: “Proposed what?”) The rest of the day was snuggling and sharing the good news with friends and family. Also tending to minor sunburn.

It was pretty nice.

Taken right beforehand.