Nano and I have been talking about getting married for a long time. But it wasn't until after tax season that I really did anything about it. After the April 15 deadline, I bought a ring. I picked it out myself. Then I discussed engagement with Nano's parents -- extraordinary people who are so encouraging to me. By that time, I was ready to propose.
But not all the way ready.
How someone proposes matters. A man must come correct. He cannot propose to her over the phone or in a text message. Also, no email proposals. If he proposes to her while she is brushing her teeth or at a sporting event with their image on the huge video board, then she may say no.
Even proposing at a busy restaurant over dinner can be too public. And hiding the ring in food increases the risk that someone will eat it before the big moment.
Common sense tells us that proposing at someone else's wedding is in poor taste.
But he must ask her in a way that leaves the couple with an interesting story to tell to family and friends.
I did consider hiding the ring in Nano’s house. Then, I would call her and tell her to look for the ring in its hiding place. When she found it, I planned to pop the question.
For more ideas, I turned to a great and powerful source of wisdom -- one that knows almost everything about me and the rest of the world -- Google. Search “proposal ideas,” and Google will deliver about 102,000,000 results in 0.20 seconds – depending on the internet connection.
It took me another 0.20 seconds to realize that the bar for spectacular proposals has already been set extremely high:
http://youtu.be/5_v7QrIW0zY
(It really does sound like he is saying “dancing Jews.”)
So, I decided to keep it simple. I began to carry the ring with me every time Nano and I were together. My plan was to give it to her when an opportunity presented itself. And that was my whole plan.
On August 4, 2013, we had been calling ourselves "boyfriend and girlfriend" for exactly one year, though we had been dating for a longer time. The weather was good, and we decided to spend the day hiking and picnicking in Natural Bridge State Park.
When we climbed to the top of the natural bridge, we enjoyed an extraordinary view of the park. We did not enjoy enough privacy, however, for a proper proposal. An overlook farther north was a better spot.
Nano and I were sharing a picnic lunch. I finished my peanut butter sandwich and reached into my pocket for the ring. It was tied to a white cotton ribbon. I tied the ribbon around Nano's wrist, and I told her that I love her and that I don't want to lose another four years with her. I asked her to marry me. Without hesitation, she said yes. She turned her palm upward, untied the ribbon, and slipped the ring on her finger. It fit.
The moment was perfect, even though Nano didn't have a fresh manicure that day. Her nails were only a concern to me later when I heard about another bride-to-be chipping a nail right before her now-fiancé proposed. In the obligatory photos of the hand, doesn't a beautiful ring need beautiful nails to match? I did, however, think it would have been a little fishy to tell Nano, "We're going hiking this weekend. You better get French tips."
Talking so much about the proposal eliminated that I could surprise Nano with a ring. But I would never ask someone to marry me, if I didn't already know her answer.
Indeed, the moment was right. I had carried the rock up and over the the bridge. I'm glad she carried it back down for me.
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