Engagement Day, December 18th, 2011

Jeff and I woke up by 5:30am to drive to the train station to take our first train ride together to head down to NYC for the day. We didn't really have a plan, all Jeff kept saying was that he wanted to see the tree lit up after dark in Rockefeller Center and see if we could ice skate. We decided on the train that the first thing we'd do was check out tickets for The Christmas Spectacular and go to see the Rockettes in Radio City Music Hall. We walked from Penn Station through Times Square and up to Rockefeller Center and got through the line fairly quickly to discover that the tickets remaining for sale were 8 rows back from the front in the middle for $125 a piece. He asked me if I wanted to see the show, and I worried that was too much to spend. Without hesitation he handed the ticket master his credit card and we were in for the show set to start 10 minutes later. Spare no expense for the day you will remember for the rest of your life right?

I couldn't believe that for all the times I'd been to the city I was finally in Radio City Music Hall to see the Rockettes, and that I was that close! We sat there with our 3-d glasses and watched the digital Santa and reindeer fly over the city skyline as presents flew out of the back of the sleigh and into our faces. The Statue of Liberty gave a wink as Santa flew around her to swoop down and drop the star on top of the tree in Rockefeller Center and before long the Rockettes graced the stage for the most incredible display of choreographed artistry I'd ever could have imagined!

After lunch at TGIFriday's we wandered Fifth Avenue and ducked into Macy's to get out of the wind and the cold for a bit. I was tickled to be in Macy's because my favorite movie is Miracle on 34th Street...but that quickly grew overwhelming because of the sheer size of the place and the number of people we were dodging while trying to stay together. Back out onto the street we went to head towards Greenwich Village and the Ink Pad stamp store that I'd been hoping to find. It was neat to see how the further we got from Rockefeller Center and Times Square the less congested it became and you could observe people going through their Sunday afternoon routines holding paper bags of groceries and coming from the Whole Foods Market. The stamp store was small but jam packed with goodies. Jeff was patient enough to let me look for a few things to purchase to bring home as momentos from the trip, but as soon as dusk gave way to dark, he was anxious to head back up to the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center to see it all lit up.

We hailed a taxi to take us back to the tree because we had walked dozens of blocks in the cold to get to the stamp store. Horns honked, and lights streaked past the windows as we were jostled around in the erratic stop-go rhythm of city driving but in moments we were back into the heart of the action and jumping out onto the sidewalks again. A couple took our picture for us with the tree in the background and we attempted to make our way closer to the ice skating rink. Realizing quickly that the thick mob of people surrounding it couldn't be penetrated and the line for the wait would far extend past when we need to be back at the train station we searched for a place to settle and relax for a minute. We took an elevator down into the eateries and shops of Rockefeller Plaza, but we didn't get the view from there that we'd hoped. My heart ached with anticipation--could we find the right conditions for Jeff to be able to make his move? Would he just not ask tonight if he couldn't find the right time and place? Was he even going to ask me or was I connecting dots that weren't there because I wanted it so badly?

I decided to take matters into my own hands, and I led us across the street from the tree to an empty spot on a long bench. We sat side by side with his arm around my shoulder looking up at the glittering lights of the tree and watching as masses of people passed us and milled about. I told him thank you for everything and it was nice to just be able to stop and sit a moment and pretend we were the only one's here. Then I asked if he was happy to finally see this tree all lit up since he'd been fixated on it all day. He told me the tree was beautiful, but said that wasn't really the reason we were here. Oh, it's not? I asked, as my heart caught in my throat and he slid off the bench and down on one knee in front of me.

It's so funny that I could connect all the dots, and even help set the scene to know it was coming, but in that moment, still feel shock, surprise, and disbelief along with the overwhelming sense of joy and excitement. It was like a movie where the rest of the world freeze framed around us and no one else mattered. It was just him and I in this frozen colored blur of motion. I know he asked me to marry him. I remember that part. I remember saying yes, breathlessly, as I took his face in my hands and pulled him in for a kiss before he could even slide the ring on my finger. I remember that my vision was so blurred with tears that I could barely see the ring at first.

And then the world unfroze, and the color and life and hub-bub resumed around us when a lady with her teenage daughter on the bench nearby called out, "Girl, did you say yes, cause I couldn't hear you!" And her daughter said, "Oh my god, did he just ask you to marry him?!" I laughed and nodded and cried out "yes, Yes, YES!" as tears streamed down my face in this emotional mess of a moment. They congratulated us and went on their way, but I teased Jeff that he probably made their night as much as it made mine. My hands trembled and Jeff wiped the tears from my face as I watched the diamond sparkle with the city lights and we reveled in our moment together.

Realizing that we needed enough time to get back to Penn Station to figure out how to get the train home, we headed out to hail a taxi. When it seemed all were full and none would stop for us, a bicycle rickshaw pulled up to the curb. Jeff looked at me, I looked at him, we looked at the cart behind the bicycle, shrugged and said, why not? It was a perfect way to end the night. Riding in the cart down the street, looking up at the lights and the window displays, and down at my sparkling ring while Jeff squeezed my other hand and held me close, I couldn't be happier.

On the train ride home Jeff pulled out his phone, and I thought it would be to check the scores of the Dolphins game, but he put one earbud in my ear and one in his and played "Marry Me" by Train. I cried all over again as we looked into each others eyes. I could barely squeak out, "Thank you for the best Christmas I will ever have."

Forever can never be long enough for me
Feel like I've had long enough with you
Forget the world now we won't let them see
But there's one thing left to do

Now that the weight has lifted
Love has surely shifted my way
Marry Me
Today and every day
Marry Me
If I ever get the nerve to say
Hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm

Together can never be close enough for me
Feel like I am close enough to you
You wear white and I'll wear out the words I love
And you're beautiful
Now that the wait is over
And love and has finally shown her my way
Marry me
Today and every day
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Mm-hmm

Promise me
You'll always be
Happy by my side
I promise to
Sing to you
When all the music dies

And marry me
Today and everyday
Marry me
If I ever get the nerve to say hello in this cafe
Say you will
Mm-hmm
Say you will
Marry me
Mm-hmm