| my version |
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Where to begin? It’s hard to imagine that my three-month long search for the perfect engagement ring is over. It’s even harder to imagine that I’m actually engaged. I’ll just dive right into it. But first, we need a little history lesson in the relationship of Chad and Jamie. Here is the short, short version: Jamie and I met at Jeff. State while we were both going to school there. One day when I walked into class, Jamie commented on the shirt that I was wearing. It was my blue Smurf’s shirt. I took that as a sign for me to ask her out. So I did. And the rest, as they say, is history. For our first date, we went to see Train in concert. This was way back in October of 1998, way before Train was ever famous. We both became instant Train fans and have loved them ever since. The first time that Jamie and I ever kissed was on Halloween night while watching the movie, ‘Ever After’. So obviously, that movie has special sentimental value to us. So much so that we have three copies of the movie between us. So, I knew from the beginning that I was going to take her back to Jeff. State, that I was going to wear my Smurf’s shirt, and that we would listen to the original Train CD on the way over. And I did all of those things. The real question was how I was going to get her to the parking lot at Jeff. State without her figuring it out. Jamie’s birthday is June 2. However, ever since I have known her, I have joked that her birthday was June 22 and not June 2. On Tuesday of last week, she said to me that her birthday was coming up and wanted to know what I was getting her. At the time, I blew it off, but then the idea hit me. I later told her that I was going to take her out to dinner for her birthday. I told her that we were going to eat somewhere in Center Point (which just happens to be where Jeff. State is located), but that it was a surprise as to where we were going. Okay, enough history, on to the proposal. I picked her up at her house at about 6:30 on Friday night. I had some other things to give her, so I gathered them from my truck, and walked into her house. I put down the first load and had to go back to get some more. In retrospect, I think that having those things to take in and then talk about helped me not to be nervous about the upcoming proposal. So, we unpackaged those things and messed with them for a while. After playing with the dogs, we were on our way. She did make a comment about the shirt that I was wearing. I just passed it off by saying, ‘thanks.’ On the way, we both sang along to some songs that neither of us had heard in a while. Jamie seemed to really enjoy the music. After noticing that my hands were sweating profusely, I let go of her hand and put it on her leg. She didn’t even notice. As we were approaching Jeff. State, I asked her if she wanted to open her present before or after we ate. She said that it was up to me. Then, I made a very hasty turn into one of Jeff. State’s parking lots. It kind of scared Jamie a bit, but I had to do it that way. As I was pulling into a parking spot close to the one where I had fumbled with my pen and paper so long ago in an attempt to write down her phone number, I said that I wanted her to open her birthday presents now. She agreed and I got out to get her ‘present’. The ‘present’ was a box, very similar to a watch box, wrapped with a ribbon and everything. Inside the box was a miniature Ruccini pumpkin carriage. She pulled it out and started playing with it. She pointed out to me that the wheels on the carriage actually rolled. Which, I of course, already knew. I tried to wait patiently for her to figure out that the carriage was actually a miniature box that opened up, but she just kept rolling the carriage and looking at it. So, I said to her, “This is the really important part,” and I opened the box up to reveal the ring. She instantly started crying and didn’t even really look at the ring. I got down to one knee and started saying something about how I had brought her back to the place where it all began so many years ago. Then, I grabbed her and hugged her. While we were hugging, I asked her if she would marry me. Through tears of joy, she managed to mumble, “uh-huh”. I said, “What?” And she repeated, “uh-huh.” I asked her one more time, and she finally said, “Yes”. Then I took the ring and put it on her finger, and we just enjoyed the moment for a while. After a brief period of looking at it, hugging, kissing, crying, and laughing. I told her to hold on because I had to make a phone call. I then called a couple of friends of ours who were supposed to be hidden, taking pictures of and filming the whole event. However, I couldn’t see them anywhere and she wasn’t answering her phone. Finally, I turned around and there they were, hiding behind some trees. I motioned them over and they took many more pictures and filmed us while we were getting our pictures taken. After finishing the roll, we thanked them for their help and decided to go ahead and take the film to Wal-mart. Then, we went back to my house to show my family. We finished the night by eating sandwiches and watching a movie. It was, by far, one of the greatest nights in my life. I really did not want it to end. I just didn’t want to leave her. |
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