Eight years ago today, Chris proposed in Central Park. I love Central Park. I loved it before he proposed but now I love it even more. He surprised me with the proposal on August 2, 2002. We rode in a horse- drawn carriage to Bethesda fountain (which had no water because NY was in the middle of a drought, so they couldn't run the fountain). It was so romantic to ride in a horse-drawn carriage but I just thought he was being sweet and romantic. I was clueless. And then we got to the fountain and were sitting on it talking. He then said, "Here, sit here and I'll take a picture of you." I agreed and he took a photo and then walked up to me and got on one knee. I was so surprised! He said some very sweet things (which he had to remind me later), showed me the beautiful ring, and asked me if I'd marry him. Of course I said, "yes" and we kissed and ran to the carriage. A huge storm was brewing and it was going to pour! And it poured rain and we got soaked. I remember talking to his parents on the phone under the awnings of the Essex House trying to hear them over the pouring rain. They were so happy for us! Then we went back to the Manhattan Club (my parent's timeshare) and enjoyed some champagne and chocolate covered strawberries with Mom and Dad. Of course, we had to call some of our favorite people and share the news!
I was so touched with his planning and preparation to make the proposal a surprise and perfect. He couldn't control the lack of water in Bethesda fountain and the huge rain storm. By the way, it stormed the day we got our marriage license at the courthouse before our wedding, it rained (drizzled) at our wedding reception, and poured rain the day I was "laboring" to have Ian. The rain has been good to us.
Chris and I are not perfect and our life is not so romantic these days but we've made a family together and that is what we both wanted. He is a wonderful man and I'm so very lucky.
