Today I took a step forward into the next phase of my life.
Today I asked Jill to marry me.
I know, it's not like it wasn't in the works. I just had to make it official - ring and all.
Oh, and I had to make it memorable.
See, I've been driving around town with the ring in the trunk of my car for weeks now. It was the only place I figured Jill wouldn't stumble upon it. I've been contemplating exactly how I was going to propose to her for months. As time passed, a good time-frame of opportunity presented itself.
Over a month ago I requested tomorrow, December 4th, off, knowing it would give me a two-day break from work (I usually have Wednesdays off). I had to use up my last 8 hours of personal time if I didn't want to lose it by year's end. I decided that I'd ask Jill to marry me on or around the 4th. The problem was, I just didn't know how.
This morning, Jill gave me the last piece I needed to actually propose. As I poured myself a bowl of cereal this morning, I found a note on the kitchen counter. The note said:
"Eric - Will you marry me, G"
On the note was a plastic toy ring with a teddy bear on it - the kind of joke we would have with each other all the time. Seeing the note, I knew how I was going to propose to her.
So after noon, my son and I hopped in the car and picked up a bouquet of red roses. Jill's mentioned that I haven't given her flowers in a while (which was because I knew I wanted to get her some flowers for when I popped the question). After getting the flowers, I drove to the school where she works.
The plan was to have my son hide outside her room with the flowers until I called him in. I was going to do something smarmy with the ring. Instead, it turned out that Jill was in the school office talking with some of her coworkers.
My son and I walk into the school, with him carrying the bouquet. Jill walks out and stops us. My son had been excited to give her the flowers, so he just joyfully handed them to her. I was sure at this point that she thought we were there to surprise her. As we stood in the school foyer, I pulled her note out of my coat pocket. On her note I had written:
As she laughed at my silly response, I motioned for her to flip the paper over. On the back I had written:
"Jill- Will you marry me? E"
She smiled, I guess thinking I was still playing, until she saw what was in my hand - a jewelry box. She appeared to be in shock as I opened the box...
Inside was the plastic bear ring.
She laughed.
Looking at me, she joked that I should get on one knee as I give her the plastic ring. So I got down on one knee and held out the box. She she took it from my hand, I pulled out the REAL ring and held it in my hand and said, "Jill, will you marry me?"
For about the next hour, Jill was in joyful, blissful, trembling shock. I stole her away for lunch with me and my little flower holder, and she's been staring at me ever since.
I'll have to have her blog about her reaction, so stay tuned for that, and more from me in the following days.
Coming soon... a new eric creates a new family!
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EDIT:
Jill's Response
Original post blogged on b2evolution.