Now that I am engaged, I can tell everyone this story because it makes me giggle. Not that it didn't before I was engaged, but as time progresses it gets funnier.
I don't know how many women out there get this weird tingle in their bodies a few months before they are proposed too--they start to get a sense that at any moment their boyfriends could pop the question. Soon, every little thing he does is seen in a different light. This happened to me a couple of times before Tom and I were engaged. I would like to share one super funny story, because it made me laugh at myself for being such a dork and setting up something in my own mind that he had no intention of delivering.
So, after I graduated from JFK University in June of 2007, Tom and I took a trip down south to let me relax and get my mind off of art for a bit. Before I was done with school people would jokingly hound us about when we were going to get married because according to them we had been together for soooo long. I would always answer the question, knowing that Tom was in ear shot, with "Well, I don't want to get married while I'm in school, but as soon as that's over with whenever would be fine with me." So, since this trip we took was after I was done with school, as you can imagine, my head began to spin in a whole new direction.
Ok, so I will share this hilarious story with you, that my mom still mentions because she too thinks its a good one.
We had been driving down the coast all day, stopping whenever we felt like it to watch the ocean waves, or hike along a small trail. Pretty perfect day. Clear sky, good weather, all that good stuff. 
Tom asked if I wanted to take a break for a bit. I said sure. He found us a nice and cozy spot on a rock that looked out into the ocean. We were talking and sinking in the ocean breeze. I was loving it. I remember that Tom was talking in a slightly serious tone (I don't remember what he was saying because of what happened next). So, he turns and is digging into his bag for something and because everything had been so perfectly set up to this moment, the ocean waves, the glimmering sun, the intimate moment, and the way he was turning his back so I couldn't see what he was doing, I was sure this was it!
I got flushed, my heart skipped a few beats, I'm sure I was red and all of a sudden he turns around and is holding something in his hands.
"Do you want a peanut butter sandwich?" is what he says.
I scream, "YES!" and then realize that it was all in my head. What a perfect moment that was. I laughed inside myself for the rest of lunch.
What a lesson that was in setting yourself up. I tried from that moment on not to think about a proposal, but it got harder and harder because the more I thought about it, the more I wanted it to happen. It was a lesson in just letting go.
What a fun story that is to think about though.
Anyone else have one they want to share?
--Lauren
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5 comments:
Great story Lauren! :P When Kenton proposed to me, I was pretty sure there was NO way that he'd had time to get a ring. So I didn't experience that part of the expectation so much. I did find myself bringing up ideas for when/how he could make time to go ring shopping though - and that was pretty lame. :\ Hard being a girl sometimes...
I love your peanut butter sandwich story! Talk about the delusion being sexier than reality.
I think our delusions can also make us blind to the gifts we are really being offered. A peanut butter sandwich may seem like a poor second to a marriage proposal, but I was thinking about it after you told us the story.
A peanut butter sandwich prepared by your man and offered while in a romantic picnic spot? Shows he is thoughtful and thinks ahead. Definitely good traits in a mate.
I know sometimes I am so concerned with how I look or what I say that I miss or misinterpret what the person I am with is really trying to say. So, delusions can be isolating in that way. Like blinders.
Do you all agree?
I thought Andy was going to propose every time he bent down to tie his shoe! Then finally after about 2months of this he did it for real. Except when he finally did it, the box the ring was in was orange so I was super confused and couldn't believe it was actually happening. Great story Lauren! and congrats again!
I know what you mean Heidi. I think the biggest problem with inventing stories in your own head or putting a lot of pressure on yourself to be in a certain place in life (or with a certain person, i.e being married by the time your such and such age) can make you miss something that is standing right in front of you. Also by having specific expectations you may never realize what truly makes you happy because you're too busy thinking about what you think will make you satisfied.
--Lauren
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