Well, it is all so funny... We kind of knew that this engagement was about to happen, but no one knew exactly when. Boyd and I started talking about marriage at the beginning of the year (seriously of coarse). Since we met, we sort of already knew we were going to get married. We both have great ambitions in life, we love kids, and we are just so much of the same.
A friend of my family is a jeweler, and I have told him many of times what I wanted incase Boyd asked him. Well needless to say, Boyd did ask him about a ring, and then started talking to me about rings (acting very causal). Boyd asked me to write down a few rings that I like, so he could get an Idea. Well, I did because I knew exactly what I wanted. I put a small piece of paper on the nightstand next to our bed. The paper suddenly disappeared.
It was Mardi Gras time in New Orleans! We live in an small suburb just a few minutes away. We of coarse were going to to the parades, and especially like to go to this huge party called the Bacus Bash. To get to the Bash was like an obstacle coarse because there were enormous parades passing. The scenery in New Orleans is amazing because everything is very old, and very beautiful. We came to Lafayette Square, right in the middle was the Henry Clay statue. This statue is surrounded by a garden, but there are stairs that can be walked up. Well, we both sort of stopped, and just admired it.
Boyd letting go of my hand, and started walking more toward it. He said, "wouldn't this be the perfect time and place for a proposal?" I immediately began to laugh, but he was serious. Boyd is an extremely shy person, and I would never expect him to propose in front of people. The thought of a public proposal never crossed my mind. Just as I realized how serious he was, he walked up the statue. Boyd gets down on one knee, and Shouts, "Whitney, will you marry me?" I was seriously embarrassed because I knew he was. I started to laugh, and walked off a little bit. Then he shouts my name again. I didn't know wether or not to take him seriously. After he realized how confused I was, he came down. I was speechless and confused. He then precedes to ask me why didn't I answer him. My words were, "No.. No.. you don't even have a ring." I didn't realize that I was hurting his feelings, or that my ring was being made at the moment. That was the first, and real engagement I believe.
About two or three weeks passed, and we were going on our annual camping trip with family and friends. We go every year for Easter to the same place. This year was out because my mom and dad were coming to spend a night or two. We have two children (from his previous marriage) and my parents have two children(my younger siblings). I didn't really think about it too much because my little sisters are friends with Boyd's daughter. Here we are like this big happy family camping.
We had Easter gifts for the kids when they woke up. The morning of Easter, all of the kids were in my bed waking me up (very early). I noticed how weird it was that they had not open their gifts because normally they would be ripping them open first thing. Instead they had a small basket with some eggs, candy, and grass; they were giving it to me. Boyd was next to me in bed just waking up, too. I almost thought that they were trying to play a joke on me. They all kept begging me to eat some candy or open an egg.
I was kind of frantic, but I reached in and took out an egg. I opened it, and nothing but some candy was in it. I told the kids that it was too early for candy. The kids urged me on to get something else out. I was scared, but reached in and felt around. I felt an odd object, and pulled it out. There it was, a ring box. I couldn't even open the box. I just looked at Boyd with looks of eager but surprise. Boyd then took the box from my shaken hands, and opened it. He uttered those familiar words, "will you marry me?"
The ring was exactly what I wanted, and this proposal was what I had imagined. Our family all in one small area with big smiles. This time I did tell him yes though, and it was a very happy Easter!
