My proposal story goes something like this…
I attended a ball and met a Handsome Prince. We had so much fun together – dancing and talking, singing “Love is an open door”. We had so much in common that we even finished each other’s sandwiches. Oh, wait. No. That was one of those strange Royal Reality shows….
My proposal was a Comedy of Errors. And I loved every moment of it.
It actually started just a few days after Sean and I met. We’d been on a couple dates in the most Romantic City in the World – Sydney, Australia! One evening in the middle of the Botanical Gardens, with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge as our backdrop, Sean looked deep into my eyes and asked, “Am I what you are looking for?”
I looked deep into his eyes and said, “I don’t know.”
Well that killed the romance, didn’t it!
I ran home and consulted my diary, in which I had written the Description of the Perfect Man, and decided the answer was ‘YES’.
And that was just the Preliminary Proposal. The Real One would come after months of separation and mountains of letters and phone bills. During that time, I was inspired to write a Fairy Tale about a Princess who had locked herself in a tower, so she could remain focussed on the Work her Father had given her and not be distracted by all the Knights and Princes that passed through the Kingdom.
Finally, after 4 months of separation, I arrived in Florida. I knew Sean could propose at any moment, and I secretly looked forward to the surprise that I knew he had up his sleeve.
He took me riding. It was his plan to lead me into the woods and then propose on horse back. But the owners of the farm wouldn’t let us leave the fenced area, and we couldn’t shake his aunt anyway.
Then he took me canoeing on the Withlacoochee River. As we floated down the river, we spotted an Alligator and turned back. I’m used to Vicious Crocs, and didn’t quite believe in Lazy Alligators…
Sean was getting flustered that his plans were constantly thwarted. Secretive and Romantic were not working out. So, the Proposal became a Family Affair. The front porch was transformed into a 5 star Italian Cafe. The Siblings became the Waiters. The Mother became the Chef. We dressed up like we were going to Paint the Town Red.
When Sean saw me, he became even more flustered and said, “You know I’m gonna propose to you tonight, right?”
“Oh Sweetheart, of course I do! You’ve been acting like a nervous doofus all day long. Don’t say another word! Some things are worth being mysterious about!”
So, we sat in the Spring Twilight, dreaming and chatting. Trying to ignore the Family Members that hid around the corner, eagerly awaiting The Moment.
Then, with perfect timing, Sean began to tell me the Story of A Prince who searched the whole world for His Princess. Finally, he saw her in the window of the Tallest Tower and ran straight to the King to ask permission to meet her. At first she refused, but over time and only with her Father’s permission, she met him. And fell head over heals during the first conversation.
He went off to fight dragons. And she patiently waited.
Finally he returned Victorious. And when she ran out to greet him, he got down on one knee (Sean did this), and asked “Will you marry me?”
I screamed “YES”. And kissed him. (And I’m pretty sure the eavesdropping Family cheered).
That was not the end of The Proposal. No. The following day was the test of my ability to keep up with this Dragon Slayer. The First Dragon we fought together was Disney World! Three parks in One Day! We ran thru Magic Kingdom, MGM Studios & Epcot in 12 hours. At the end of the day, we had sore feet. But we were still laughing and still in love.
And ready for the Quest of Life and the Dragons that we were Commissioned to Slay.
A week later, I was on a plane back to Australia. Back to my Tower to Await the Return of My Prince. Thankfully I only had to wait another Four months.
I love it! 🙂 thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sasha! I'm thinking of posting the actual Fairy Tales we wrote to each other… what do you think?