a jane eyre proposal

I had every intention to be well on my way to a NaNoWriMo win this week.  I also had every intention to post pictures, wallpapers, and whatever else. And I really do give you my sincerest apologies for blogging my very serious blogging duties.  But you have to forgive me, really, because things have been whacko this week -- and I mean that in the very best way possible.  For, you see, my boyfriend (if you don't know of him, his name is Luke) proposed to me on Saturday.  So as you can imagine, it's gotten busy.  And I thought I'd share the experience with you because it's an exciting event in my life, and I've shared most of the other events that have occurred in the past few months; and I also think it was cute, and more than I could ever have imagined. So here it goes!


The day started with Luke bringing me my favourite Starbucks drink: a pumpkin spice frappuccino.  Actually, my favourite is a pumpkin spice blended creme, but I felt like I needed caffeine that day.  That in and of itself was a warning bell because Luke doesn't really do that.  If we want Starbucks, we go together, and usually it's as part of a trip to Chapters.  Anyway, when he arrived, he not only had my coffee in hand, he also had a bouquet of beautiful yellow mums.

We lingered around my house for a little while, biding some time, before we headed out into the chilly afternoon air for a "surprise".  A surprise that involved "an animal".  Usually I'm good at guessing where Luke is taking me on his surprises, but this time, I had no idea.  All I knew was that it was somewhere we had never been.  Only a short while later, I discovered that he had booked a trail ride -- on horses!  It had been so long since I'd last been on a horse, but it was kind of like riding a bike.  I felt really comfortable (except for the fact that I hadn't worn gloves and my hands were freezing, and also the cloth reins were digging into my fingers in a most unpleasant fashion), and it was really nice.  Although, the horse I rode was a major pest; his name was Bailey.  But he was cute, so I forgive him.


The trail ride was followed up by eating take-out sushi from one of  our favourite local sushi restaurants in the back of his car -- at the park where we had our first kiss.  Cute, right?  I was getting more and more excited, and also more and more nervous.  I was simultaneously sure that the proposal was coming soon (I mean, how was he going to top this amazing day?), but I was also working very hard to keep my head cool.  If he didn't propose, then I didn't want to be disappointed.


Once we had finished eating, Luke assured me that there was one more destination.  This is it, I thought, and I'm pretty sure my hands were getting sweaty with anxiety.  Ohhhh boy.  Don't be an idiot, I kept telling myself.  I had a feeling I knew where we were headed, and it turned out I was right.  We ended up at a golf course, which may seem strange because I don't like golf, and have never golfed in my life, and I don't think Luke is particularly fond of it either.  But it's a special place for us, because we had first decided to embark on this amazing relationship on the green of that golf course, in the dead of night, when a sky full of stars stretched out above us.  He said we were going there to eat dessert.


Instead, he called me out onto the green, pulled out a piece of paper, and read these words:


"Joy,


I have a strange feeling with regard to you, as if I had a string attached to me under my left rib, and you have a similar string attached to you.


Joy, you rare, unearthly thing!  I must have you as my own!  And so I offer you my hand, my heart, and I ask that you pass through life at my side.  You are my equal and my likeness.  Joy, will you marry me?"


I proceeded to cry like a fool, and say in a hoarse scratchy voice (for I was, and still am, slightly sick), "Of course!"


For those of you who may not be familiar, the words he proposed with were an abbreviated version of Mr. Rochester's proposal to Jane in Jane Eyre.  It happens to be my favourite book, and those words happen to make me swoon.  And to hear my own "Mr. Rochester" say those words to me with such feeling and love, was pretty much a dream come true.  No, it was better.  


And now we're starting out on a new journey, and this year is going to be crazy, and intense, and stressful, and wonderful, and full of excitement.  I can't wait for it.  


And it may just be the reason why I don't win NaNoWriMo this year.  But I think I might be okay with that.


Maybe. :)


(And if you want to know what the ring looks like, I've taken a picture.  I feel a little weird about it, but just in case anyone is curious.  You can click the picture to view it larger.)