"so...we've been dating for almost a year"

chris and i met 8 days after his 33rd birthday. after our third date, i texted my mom and best friend, "i'm going to marry this man."

a year later, for his 34th birthday, i decided to take him on a getaway weekend to the oregon gardens, in silverton. we both love plants, flowers, gardens, and i thought it would be fun and romantic.

the actual weekend of his birthday, the oregon gardens was home to a brewfest, so we decided to delay a weekend and go on may 4,5,6.  (the 6th being a sunday, and our 1-year anniversary)

on friday, we settled in, had a few drinks, dinner at the restaurant, and an early bed due to a sudden illness of the stomach i experienced in direct relation to the scallops i had for dinner.

we woke early saturday, went into town, walked through the 7 booths at the local farmer's market (1 honey, 1 jam, 2 veggies, 2 veggie starts, and 1 wood-products booth).

four minutes later, we began walking through 3-4 antique stores, browsing and perusing bird cages, teacups, and jewelry.  we also saw a few of those handy table-hooks-for-purses that you can place on the edge of a table, and the hook holds a lady's purse under the edge of the table.  like an under-the-bar purse hook, but portable.  i'd been wanting one for a while, and chris sweetly steered me away from them, saying "i've got you covered."

when we got back to the gardens, around noonish, we decided to go for a long walk through the water gardens.  we ended up on a winding path that eventually experienced a slight and gradual curve and incline, up a small sunny, flower-covered hill, to a surprise bench at the top.  no one else is up there, but there are people below and in the distance.

chris: "do you want to sit for a while and look at the people?"
me: "yeah."

so we look down at all the other people, getting on and off the tour tram, wandering the paths, and just look out over the gardens for a few seconds.

chris: "do you want your anniversary present early?"
me: "yeah!"

so he turns to me slightly, on the bench, and holds my hand. which is not unusual; we're extraordinarily affectionate.

"so, we've been dating for almost a year."

i nod and say "mm-hmm" thinking, this is a fairly serious lead up to the tiny purse hook i think i'm getting.

"and i love you very much."

he reaches into his pocket.

"and i didn't want to wait an entire year to ask you, so will you marry me?"

he hands me a small oval burgundy velvet box with an old-fashioned clasp.

i realize that i'm so stunned and in disbelief, so absolutely happy and unbelievably in love, that i haven't said anything... it's probably only been .4 seconds, but i worry it's been longer.

i say gently, but firmly "yes. of course, honey. i love you."

at this point, i can't see the box clearly because i'm crying. and he's starting to tear up.

there's a good minute of "i love you" and "of course" and "i'm so proud" and other sweet things like kisses and nuzzles.

so i clear my eyes and open the box, and a quick "do you like it?" comes from chris.

it's exquisitely stunning and captivating.

"i love it"  it's the most beautiful thing i've ever seen.

"it was grandma jean's. it's from the 1920's.  i had it re-sized for you. does it fit?"

it fits. of course it fits. and it's so unbelievably beautiful.

me: "we're engaged. we're going to be married..."

chris: "yep."

the ring is antique, classic, feminine, and he says he can get me a "walking around" ring if this one is too much bling. i tell him no he can't. there's no way i'm ever NOT wearing this ring.  and now he knows how many times i went to antiquerings.com or walked to the vintage jewelers around the block from work. and only those places.

turns out he'd been plotting this since November the previous year... he had his folks bring the ring out with them for thanksgiving. and he's been observing which rings i wear on which fingers, subtly twisting them as we watch MadMen, to check for tightness. he even bought a ring sizer and determined my size.  even after the jeweler said "it's better to wait. re-sizing without knowing her size for sure almost NEVER works.  you'll have to come back. you should just wait," chris told them to do it.  he's a scientist and almost never wrong.

the wedding will be small and intimate.  and not quite one year after the proposal.  shy just one day, in keeping with the theme.