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The Engagement Story
It
started with Kerin's birthday. I made reservations for Greens (her favorite
vegetarian restaurant) as part of her gift. Kerin had not seen her family
at all, and dinner was late, so I also arranged for them to be at our
house to surprise her with a mini-party when we got home. Why do I point
this out? Because I later found out that they fully expected her to come
back with a ring on her finger. Not that night... But we will get there...
Anyway, at the dinner, I gave Kerin a certificate for a "Fully planned
romantic weekend getaway in wine country". The date was 3 weeks away.
We all know that Kerin is a researcher and planner. I really wanted the
weekend to be a joy for her, so I told her NOTHING about the weekend.
Not where we were staying, not where we were eating, nor anything we would
be doing. I just told her to make sure that she had at least one elegant
outfit and don't worry about the rest. She eventually acquiesced and went
with it. OK, so she did do a lot of research on the weather in Napa --
but that was it...
We both agreed to take Friday off, and I told her that we needed to start
driving early. We had a full day planned. So I woke her up at 5:45 in
the morning, lulled some consciousness from her, and said "don't ask,
just go with it." Fortunately, she was too tired to argue the point.
We set up the car for a road trip to "Napa" -- CD's, snack food, her dresses
nicely laid out on the back seat. I guess that is why she looked confused
when I went to cross the Bay Bridge into San Francisco. Napa and Sonoma
are the other direction. OK, she thought, maybe we are going to Monterrey
or Carmel. Nope. Passed those exits too. She spoke up. I replied that
I never SAID that we were going to Napa -- only wine country.
As we continued down 101, I confessed that wine country may not be the
best description. Kerin quickly pointed out that in "Joe speak" that means
we aren't going anywhere near wine country. Tee-hee.
As we pulled in to the airport, I confessed that we might not be staying
in the state of California. Kerin was getting a lot confused. At the parking
garage, I think she finally fizzled. She was just standing there, looking
cute and helpless. I packed her stuff into my suitcase (I had left extra
room), and directed her to the shuttle bus.
Once in the airport the mayhem continued. Kerin was sure we were in the
wrong line when I stepped up to the first class counter. And then she
found out where we were going -- Las Vegas. She has always wanted to go
there.
As we were walking to the gate, Kerin kept looking at me with those "who
are you and what have you done with my boyfriend" eyes. I guess it had
been a while since I had gotten creative...
The plane was a small 737 with only 2 rows of first class. It was cozy.
As we sat and sat on the tarmac (this was United after all), she began
to get more comfortable with the sudden change of plans and started asking
a lot of questions. I told her that all would be known by the time we
landed. I would feed her little bits at a time. We agreed that I would
give her a tidbit when the seatbelt light turned off (honestly -- we really
are that crazy -- and I really was a nervous wreck by then).
Oddly enough, when the seatbelt light turned off, the captain walked out
of the flight deck. He was standing right in the middle of the aisle talking
to a flight attendant. Kerin asked if that was the pilot. I said I thought
so. She said, "SO WHO IS FLYING THE PLANE???"
Before I could attack that problem, the captain grabbed the attendant's
intercom and started making an announcement: "Hi. This is the captain
... and I have just turned off the seatbelt lights ... you are all free
to move around the cabin. You may be wondering why I'm standing out here.
I know it is a bit unusual. But this is an unusual flight. We have a question
that needs answering. The question is: Joe Megibow wants to know if Kerin
will marry him?"
OK. Honestly neither of us remember much from this point forward. But
I'll do my best to tell you what we have pieced together.
We were suddenly surrounded by flight attendants. One had a bouquet of
flowers. I reached into my carry-on and grabbed "the box". Kerin was stuck
in seat 2A -- a window seat -- there was no escape. She tried anyway.
Maybe if she hid her face then no one would know she is there. No such
luck, the flight attendants REALLY wanted to see the ring. Well, more
trouble. Kerin couldn't get the box open. Nor could she hold her hands
still. She could have mixed paint with those hands. I opened the box and
she went into further shock. One of the flight attendants asked what her
answer was and we realized she never answered. She then said "yes, of
course." The captain then announced to the plane, "... in case any of
you were wondering, SHE SAID YES!". The whole plane applauded. The captain
went on to encourage people to stop by seats 2A and B to congratulate
us. One guy even made a homemade engagement card and put a $10 bill in
it. Amazing.
At this point I really wanted to let Kerin know everything we were going
to be doing in Vegas. I unloaded. When I was about done, Kerin looked
at me with very glazed but happy eyes and said, "I'm sure that you have
planned a lot of wonderful things but I can't hear a word you are saying.
Why don't you just tell me later."
We did have a wonderful time in Las Vegas. We called it our "engagement-moon"
We stayed at the Bellagio, on a high floor looking over the fountains.
We ate at 5 star restaurants, including Renoir (one of the best meals
we have ever eaten). We saw the new Cirque Du Soleil show, "O", done all
in water. Everything was fantastic. And so is Kerin.
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