The Proposal: What Melanie remembers

While I thought Jonathan would propose the night he surprised me with the tickets to “The Blue Man Group,” I instead had to wait until our trip to Washington, D.C. where he took me completely by surprise. I was attending a conference and Jonathan came along to see old friends. On the last day of the trip we decided to be tourists and go to the National Mall. Jonathan kept telling me how he wanted to go to the Air & Space Museum to see the Wright Brothers Plane exhibit, I totally believed him. The museum was full of noisy children and it made me kind of grouchy. Since I was tired after many days at the conference we decided to take a bicycle rickshaw back to the parking garage. I immediately felt better. It was a beautiful view of the national mall with lovely grey clouds on the horizon. Jonathan started talking about how he loves that we take trips and have adventures together. Next thing I know there’s something shiny in his hand! I thought it was a piece of aluminum foil from a hot dog we had eaten earlier and that he was trying to fake me out. Nope! It was the real thing! I was very captivated by this shiny object and put it on before I could voice my assent. Soon after that it started hailing! A good omen for things to come, I hope!

The Proposal: What Jonathan (actually!) remembers

Do I still have the ring? Ok, good. Where did all these children come from? Who ever heard of so many people going to the Air and Space Museum all at once in the summer? No seats... NO SEATS! Why don’t these kids have jobs? What do I do?!? Ah, there are some seats. She does not look happy...

Ok, just wait for a better time. Do I still have the ring?? Ok, good. Put it away. Now what? Think, think, think. Let’s leave. She’s tired, and I need time to think. Bicycle pedicabs! Reminiscent of China, and easy on the feet. Sold! This could be romantic, too, if it weren’t for all of those dark, ominous clouds everywhere. Please don’t rain, please don’t rain. The driver isn’t chatting any... do it here?? Maybe... it would be unusual. But in a good way or in a bad way?

Ok, this is it! Do I still have the ring??? Yeah, good. Here we go. Say something. What are you saying? Well, that will do, I guess. Stop talking and show her the ring already! She’s just staring. WHY is she just STARING?!? Oh, she nodded yes! That counts! Put it on her finger and she can’t take it back!

Well, that wasn’t so bad I gue... GYAH! HAIL STORM! IN AN UNCOVERED BICYCLE PEDICAB! SWEET MERCY, what are the odds! Whew, it’s over. That was fast. Do I still have the ring???? No. But she does! Woohoo!