Heather Gets Engaged!

My boyfriend Alex and I had been talking about marriage for the past month or so, though I think we've thought about it for longer than that. We're both getting to the age where we want to have kids and it didn't really make sense to wait anymore. We've known each other a fairly long time and so even though we haven't dated that long, we know each other really well. Add to that the fact that we fell deeply in love, and it made sense that we should get engaged.

But even though I knew it might happen in the future, I didn't think it would be so soon. This past MLK weekend, Alex told me to dress up because we were going out someplace nice. That afternoon I got my hair done and wore a semi-formal gown (worn only once before at my friend Lara's wedding -- maybe it's good luck?). He was very secretive and gave me no clue as to what he had planned. That night, he took me out to Seattle's premier French restaurant, Rover's. We had this outrageously good eight-course meal, and right before the dessert course, he popped the question. Before I could answer, the waiter brought the dessert course and seeing the ring, gasped and said he'd give us a couple moments alone (gee, thanks guy!) After the waiter left, I said, "I haven't answered your question yet, have I?" He replied, "No you haven't," while smiling at me nervously. I waited a couple of moments, and said, "Yes, of course." Interestingly enough, Judge Veronica Alicia Galvan, who pro tems in Seattle Municipal Court where Alex and I used to work, was also dining at Rover's that night and saw Alex propose. So she (and the waiter) got the news before anyone else!

When Alex put the ring on my finger, I just about died of happiness. It's a beautiful diamond ring with an lovely ideal cut center stone, two smaller side stones, and a pave band. It's absolutely perfect and I love it! Oh, and I have to add that it's certified conflict free -- no blood diamonds here!

After that, Alex told me our night wasn't done, and he took me to the Seattle Symphony. Neither of us had been to Benaroya Hall, so it was a very wonderful experience. I have to add that a symphony is the perfect thing to do immediately after a proposal. The music was romantic, but we didn't have to follow a dialogue and could just get swept up in the music and the moment. Plus the low light of Benaroya is perfect for admiring the fire in your brand-new diamond ring!

And the icing on the cake: Alex told me to pack for two days, but didn't tell me where we were going. The day after he proposed, we hopped in his Mustang and got on the ferry to Bainbridge... turns out, we were going to Port Townsend. We stayed at the historic Belmont Hotel and enjoyed a beautiful, sunny weekend together.

*sigh* If only real life were always like this!I've been floating on a cloud ever since and I am so excited to get married. Particularly since it's to Alex, my true love.