April 21, 2010. My one month anniversary of being engaged! Congratulations to me!!!
I know everyone that reads this already knows, but in case you haven't really heard the story - this seems like a good time to reminisce...
Harrison came to visit me - which was beyond exciting at that point in my NYC experience. I was, of course, on cloud nine UNTIL we got to our classy hotel room on the Upper West side right by the Park, and it was a smoking room. Disgusting. So what else would I do besides call my mom and bawl my eyes out about how the hotel was trying to ruin my life? Duh. Anyway, I finally calmed down and talked to the woman at the desk who rudely explained that we had only marked a non-smoking preference, and it was not a guarentee. Rude. She was nice enough to let us leave without charging us for the first night. With the help of Mom's stellar internet skills, we found a room in Long Island City which turned out to be the loveliest little place. It smelled divine.
We had a fantastic weekend. Harrison is such a child at heart - and a small-town child at that. So, let's just say, everything amused him!! It was like I had taken him to the fanciest of museums. If only you could have seen how excited he was about the rat in the subway! And don't get me started on our celebrity sightings. He is definitely one of those gasp-point-freeze-shout "That's Mario Lopez!!" - sort of people. This was mildly embarassing to me, but also rather endearing.
Anyway, he had had his mind set on going to this very fancy restaurant on Sunday night. I don't know the name of it, I didn't even know it then. I really should learn it, for the sake of telling this story. A friend of ours (love you Jarvis!) used to work there and had arranged a reservation and all for us. He had also told us that he used to seat the likes of Beyonce and company quite often. I was not really onboard with this idea, (not knowing the plan, of course). I kept telling him - we don't need to go somewhere so expensive and I actually don't know if I could handle myself appropriately in the case that I was ever in the same room as Beyonce. But he was determined, so I went.
Beyonce was not in attendance that evening.
As to how it happened: it's kind of a hilarious blur to me. He started to launch into his speech, and of course, not being aware that he was trying to propose, I managed to continue talking and generally dominate the conversation. In my mind, we were having a wrap-up our weekend/what have we learned talk. How was I to know this was more than one of our usual sentimental chats? I actually think I set him up pretty well without knowing it. By the time he actually pulled the ring out and popped the question - all I could think was "Oh my goodness...you've been trying to do that for so long!!" Haha. I cried forever. (To all those people who have told me I would not bawl at those pivotal moments in my life - you may want to revise your theory.) The food, BTW, was delicious, though I hardly ate anything.
It was sweet and subtle and just what I wanted. Nothing public or gimmicky - just our moment. Although Harrison did admit that if Beyonce had been there - it would have gone a little differently. Something along the lines of "If you like then you shou-ld put a ring on it..." - "You know what? You're right, Beyonce! I should..." Some things are too good to pass up...
Then we had to make a flood of phone calls. My sister started scream-crying and hung up on me because she couldn't handle it, my parents scolded me for not calling sooner (as if I knew), and my brother couldn't even answer his cellular (stupid Canada!). Almost all my friends thought I got a job...imagine there surprise when I said, "No...but I got a husband!!!" Harrison told me the whole 5th floor was probably very congratulatory. Sorry I'm loud - I guess you better get used to it H!!
He left the next day. Bye fiance! So it was rather surreal until I got back here.
Not that it's important: but my ring is incredible. It is finally sized and on my finger!! It contains a very rare cut of diamonds called "Hearts on Fire". This means the underside of the diamonds have hearts cut into every face and the top has very precise "fire" coming out of the center. This makes it extra-sparkly and extra-distracting to me during everyday life. Sometimes it scares me that I cannot really get it off, but the woman at the jewelry store says just use a little Windex - how very My Big Fat Greek Wedding of her.
And in case you're wondering: NO!!!!! We have made no decisions about when or where the wedding will be. It is still too stressful to approach the subject, though I suppose I need to start thinking about it soon. I will be sure to keep you informed - though that planning process may warrent a seperate blog.
In the mean time if anyone has input or ideas about what my married name should be, I would greatly appreciate it. The romantic part of me wants to take his name, but it would be such a drastic change - three words to three letters. And my name is so unique right now. I considered hyphenation. But Willems Van Dijk-Fry, seems slightly problematic to me. Other suggestions thus far have been Willems Van Fry or even Willems Van Fryjk. Cast your vote - I'm open to any suggestion or reasoning.
Love to everyone - near and far.
C