The details

So I was talking to Wendy at dinner tonight and wondering about the best way to share details. I have already talked on the phone way more than normal and I am having a hard time censoring for time's sake. Therefore, I am going to type it here. And if you are getting bored with the story then you can skim it.

The first thing that you should know is that Scott and I have been talking about marriage a whole lot. I knew that he would ask and he was pretty confident that I would say yes. We have even talked about the fact that every time we did something out of the ordinary, I thought that it must be when he was going to propose. And then when it didn't play out the way I had worked it out in my head, I would be a little sad.

You should also know that I am a little bit of a thunder thief. I think that I can read people (and especially Scott) so well that it is impossible for me to be surprised. Scott will want to do something sweet for me, like send flowers to work, and before he can executed his plan, I will say "Hey, it would be so sweet if you sent flowers today." Rightfully, it completely annoys him, but makes me laugh.

So yesterday, I was heading up to Gainesville to help Scott pack for his upcoming move to Atlanta. On Thursday, he told me that he wanted to go to this place on the square for dinner. He said that it was nice and I would need to bring a dress, which was really kind of a bummer because last week was so long and exhausting and all I wanted to do was wear sweats all day. But he was excited about going.

So excited in fact, that I thought "He is totally going to propose tonight." I was so cocky that I wrote it down. Give me some credit for not just telling him up front.

But, the day didn't go as I thought that it would. Scott was (and is) sick and so we spent a few hours at urgent care and then at the pharmacy getting medicine for bronchitis. He also initiated a conversation about how he was nervous about talking to daddy. And he asked a lot of questions about when I would want to get married and how long I would want to be engaged. He completely threw me off the scent and by the time we went to dinner, I was resigned to the fact that it was just another dinner. A nice one, but nothing special.

Dinner was great (www.scottsonthesquare.com) and towards the end of dinner I suggested that we take a walk around the square. It was just so nice outside. And so we walked for about 30 minutes around downtown. Along the way he asked if I thought he was going to propose that night and I fessed up. He asked if I was disappointed that he hadn't and I said that disappointed wasn't the right word because I knew that he would do it at the right time but that this was how it was going to be EVERY time we did something together. I was always going to expect it.

So we made our way back to the middle of the square and we were standing there just enjoying being together. He asked if I was sure that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. I jokingly responded with "Are you offering?"

It was then that I felt his heart rate shoot through the roof. He got down on one knee and said some really sweet things, none of which either of us can remember now. I cried. And said yes. The ring that Scott gave me was my grandmother's ring and she passed away at the beginning of the year. It is beautiful and filled with such sweet sentiment. When I realized that he had decided to use this ring, I started crying all over again. Bobbie would be so happy. (I was even wearing yellow, her favorite color on me.)

And so we stayed in the square a while longer just enjoying the moment. The proposal was everything I every wanted: it was so sweet, it was simple, it was private, and it was a surprise. Scott is continuing to amaze me with his ability to make me so happy.

Scott completely floored me. He had been down to talk to daddy over 2 weeks ago. And he had dinner with both of my parents on Wednesday to get the ring. And I had no clue.

We went back to the restaurant to celebrate with a glass of wine and when the owner/chef (who had visited all of the tables during dinner) heard the story, he helped us celebrate by picking up the drink tab.

Today, we went to the Falcon's game with my parents, Rebecca and Josh. It was so nice to be able to see my family and celebrate with them. All day I have been completely giddy and working hard at getting over the weirdness of being engaged. I, who normally never wears rings, am completely in love with wearing this one. Everything right now seems like so much fun just because there is some new sparkle. In fact, I have had to stop a couple of times while typing this to think about how typing is so much more interesting with something shinny on my hand.

While the thought of making all the decisions necessary to planning a wedding makes me want to freak out a little, I am so looking forward to becoming Mrs. Scott Smith.

Stay tuned for episodes. I am sure that there will be many funny stories along the way.