I said yes.
Today-or well, Saturday, September 3, 2011 will always be one of the happiest days of my life. Also kind of the most bizarre considering a few things that led up to it. People on my plurk already know the basic story, but I'm giving out the fuller version here.
But...yeah.
that perfect moment
Clark had wanted to take me out to a picnic for a while, and honestly I never thought much of it. We had been talking about doing other things before, but never got around to it. I didn't think it unusual at all. Even when I should have.
We went to Jasmine Hill Gardens, a kind of privately owned place that has beautiful flower gardens and statues. His mom had packed the brunch and he knew his way around. I have only been there once or twice, so I just looked at the map the lady had given us at the front while letting Clark lead.
Funny thing is, when we were going through the main building, I was thinking how people probably had weddings there due to the set up. And I also noticed on the map the "Wedding reception" area. And yes, they do hold weddings there. But anyway, it was just us (it doesn't get that much visits since it is privately owned and only open during certain times of the year) and while I had noticed there was a place marked for picnic areas, I didn't think we were going there. Not that I minded, because I figured Clark knew what he was doing.
Anyway, he takes me up to a certain spot and it was like this pathway that led to a pretty bench thing.
But the first thing I noticed are these flowers resting there.
My first thought?
"...Why are there flowers? Is it part of the bench? OH WHAT IF SOMEONE CAME HERE EARLIER AND LEFT THIS IS A KIND OF MEMORIAL LAKJSDKFJ are you sure we can eat here????"
Seriously. That's what I thought. I was thinking this whole time that maybe someone else had came by or was planning something. So I was just staring at those flowers and then looking back at the map going, "Are you sure we should eat here? It's kind of nice and this thing said there was a picnic area."
Took me like a full two minutes of doing that before I turned around. And the first thing I see is this:
And again, my first thought was, "....Eh???" and then, "Oh crap, I think someone is going to propose to someone else!!"
...Yes, I still thought this was all for someone else. But that wasn't the end. As soon as I read that and while still thinking that one thought, my eyes followed the signs.
And there was Clark. On his knee. Holding the box. And I was pretty much freaking the fuck out pretty much going "-Oh my God OH MY GOD!!" hands to face (with the map still in hands) and just. I barely heard what he said. I heard, "Since the moment you were by my side at the hospital bed..." and then something about "beautiful" "inside" "outside" "forever" and then "Will you marry me?" At this point I was pretty much sobbing and trying to catch my breath and I just couldn't believe it. I thought this had to be a dream. Not real. How could this be!?
You know, all that stuff you think of when the most unbelievable thing happens and your mind just can't really keep up with the emotional shock.
Of course I said, "Yes" and he stood up and we hugged and I was crying and I was pretty sure he was and it was just. Oh my God I could not believe it. I kept looking at the signs and yes I read them backwards. They were displayed like this:
If I had turned the other way around, I probably would have read them right. But I was closest to the "Marry me?" one so I was like "....!??!!?"
This is the ring:
And here's me and Clark.
...Yeah I look bad in those pictures, here. Have a random better one of me |D
But yeah, after that we walked through the gardens and it ended up being a sort of "butterfly picture hunt" where I would spot these freaking huge butterflies and tell Clark to take pictures of them. I really wished I had brought my camera. I actually even considered it.
Now for a little interesting story about the ring. It is Tacori brand and is platinum with the diamonds cut into it. I had actually shown him that one as well as a few others from their site because I was looking for engagement rings for Tamaki. See, natarialis and I had been playing Tamaki's and Haruhi's engagement in somarium, so I was looking up engagement rings waaaay back in the year. I ended up picking three, including that one, and I was showing Clark them. But with Clark, we went through the site together and looked at all the different ones. I ended up picking out five top picks, but it also included this one.
You see, what makes this whole thing even more amazing is that Tamaki proposed to Haruhi in game last week exactly. Here's the thread for any interested. And the ring I ended up choosing from my original final three? Yeah. The same one Clark ended up giving me. Even though they were in the same pool, it was still pure coincidence we both chose the same ring. I actually considered a different ring before changing my mind at the last second to this one. And Friday? Tamaki announced their engagement.
As Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother would say, the universe was converging and working its mysterious magic. I swear if that was supposed to be a huge sign, I COMPLETELY MISSED IT.
I just couldn't believe the coincidence. My characters get engaged and then an exact week later I do!? Seriously what are the odds!?!?!
Clark later told m all the various ways he was considering how to propose. He was originally thinking about this Japan Fest that's going on in Atlanta, but apparently they couldn't really do anything so they became dead to him. I was kind of lukewarm about going to begin with, but now I know why he was like "Eeeh we don't have to go to it" later. I just thought he had researched and saw that nothing really interesting was there so I just shrugged and went "Okay /o/" Another option was the Georgia Aquarium. He actually tried to see if there were ways to get the belugas to do something or set some special plan for it. Oh God I would have died if he had managed to pull it off.
But I think this one is the best. It was private, it was creative, and it caught me completely off guard. I seriously couldn't believe it. This whole time I thought he wouldn't ask until maybe next summer since I'd only have one year of law school left, but no. Today-well yesterday, but whatever. I just. I seriously couldn't believe it.
The wedding won't be until sometime in 2013, after I've graduated law school, haha. Apparently that was one of the stipulations my parents gave him when he asked for their blessings. Also, I can't believe he asked them while we were on our Orlando trip this past July! He asked them while I was still asleep alskjfasf. I had no idea. No idea whatsoever.
But no wonder my parents had been getting onto me about becoming a better person so I could help support Clark whenever we get married. And Dad had been like, "Are you sure you really want to be with this guy? Do you really love him that much?" Thing is, we have these talks all the time, and I had already brought up the topic of marriage even before Clark asked. Also, haha Clark had come to pick me up and I went to their room to tell them I was leaving. They were sort of awake, but Dad was like, "Nooo don't go!" in his silly voice that he always uses for me and for kids. And I was like, "Dad. Clark is here. He can hear you." XD They didn't know Clark was going to propose, but again it was like some sort of sign if you look at it in hindsight. Maybe they had a feeling or something. It's just so uncanny.
Oh goodness I might start crying again. Just thinking about it-aaaaah. I'm wearing the ring right now and I still can't believe it. It's just. Now I have no idea what to do! I don't know what to say if people ask at school (if they even notice, fff). I know one of them knows since I actually updated Facebook for the first time since I passed my first year. Apparently she had a feeling that's what he was going to do.
SERIOUSLY HOW DID I MISS THIS.
But I'll always remember it, and now I have it here on my LJ so I can always go back to look at it. I'll be seeing my brother and Meredith tomorrow and...I really can't believe this happening.
But I'm happy.
Really happy.
Thanks for reading. If we take more pictures tomorrow, I'll post them up sometime, too. It really feels weird now. I feel like now I'm officially in the real adult world. That my little "high school" fantasies are long gone. It's scary, but...well.
I guess we'll see, huh?
But...yeah.
that perfect moment
Clark had wanted to take me out to a picnic for a while, and honestly I never thought much of it. We had been talking about doing other things before, but never got around to it. I didn't think it unusual at all. Even when I should have.
We went to Jasmine Hill Gardens, a kind of privately owned place that has beautiful flower gardens and statues. His mom had packed the brunch and he knew his way around. I have only been there once or twice, so I just looked at the map the lady had given us at the front while letting Clark lead.
Funny thing is, when we were going through the main building, I was thinking how people probably had weddings there due to the set up. And I also noticed on the map the "Wedding reception" area. And yes, they do hold weddings there. But anyway, it was just us (it doesn't get that much visits since it is privately owned and only open during certain times of the year) and while I had noticed there was a place marked for picnic areas, I didn't think we were going there. Not that I minded, because I figured Clark knew what he was doing.
Anyway, he takes me up to a certain spot and it was like this pathway that led to a pretty bench thing.
But the first thing I noticed are these flowers resting there.
My first thought?
"...Why are there flowers? Is it part of the bench? OH WHAT IF SOMEONE CAME HERE EARLIER AND LEFT THIS IS A KIND OF MEMORIAL LAKJSDKFJ are you sure we can eat here????"
Seriously. That's what I thought. I was thinking this whole time that maybe someone else had came by or was planning something. So I was just staring at those flowers and then looking back at the map going, "Are you sure we should eat here? It's kind of nice and this thing said there was a picnic area."
Took me like a full two minutes of doing that before I turned around. And the first thing I see is this:
And again, my first thought was, "....Eh???" and then, "Oh crap, I think someone is going to propose to someone else!!"
...Yes, I still thought this was all for someone else. But that wasn't the end. As soon as I read that and while still thinking that one thought, my eyes followed the signs.
And there was Clark. On his knee. Holding the box. And I was pretty much freaking the fuck out pretty much going "-Oh my God OH MY GOD!!" hands to face (with the map still in hands) and just. I barely heard what he said. I heard, "Since the moment you were by my side at the hospital bed..." and then something about "beautiful" "inside" "outside" "forever" and then "Will you marry me?" At this point I was pretty much sobbing and trying to catch my breath and I just couldn't believe it. I thought this had to be a dream. Not real. How could this be!?
You know, all that stuff you think of when the most unbelievable thing happens and your mind just can't really keep up with the emotional shock.
Of course I said, "Yes" and he stood up and we hugged and I was crying and I was pretty sure he was and it was just. Oh my God I could not believe it. I kept looking at the signs and yes I read them backwards. They were displayed like this:
If I had turned the other way around, I probably would have read them right. But I was closest to the "Marry me?" one so I was like "....!??!!?"
This is the ring:
And here's me and Clark.
...Yeah I look bad in those pictures, here. Have a random better one of me |D
But yeah, after that we walked through the gardens and it ended up being a sort of "butterfly picture hunt" where I would spot these freaking huge butterflies and tell Clark to take pictures of them. I really wished I had brought my camera. I actually even considered it.
Now for a little interesting story about the ring. It is Tacori brand and is platinum with the diamonds cut into it. I had actually shown him that one as well as a few others from their site because I was looking for engagement rings for Tamaki. See, natarialis and I had been playing Tamaki's and Haruhi's engagement in somarium, so I was looking up engagement rings waaaay back in the year. I ended up picking three, including that one, and I was showing Clark them. But with Clark, we went through the site together and looked at all the different ones. I ended up picking out five top picks, but it also included this one.
You see, what makes this whole thing even more amazing is that Tamaki proposed to Haruhi in game last week exactly. Here's the thread for any interested. And the ring I ended up choosing from my original final three? Yeah. The same one Clark ended up giving me. Even though they were in the same pool, it was still pure coincidence we both chose the same ring. I actually considered a different ring before changing my mind at the last second to this one. And Friday? Tamaki announced their engagement.
As Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother would say, the universe was converging and working its mysterious magic. I swear if that was supposed to be a huge sign, I COMPLETELY MISSED IT.
I just couldn't believe the coincidence. My characters get engaged and then an exact week later I do!? Seriously what are the odds!?!?!
Clark later told m all the various ways he was considering how to propose. He was originally thinking about this Japan Fest that's going on in Atlanta, but apparently they couldn't really do anything so they became dead to him. I was kind of lukewarm about going to begin with, but now I know why he was like "Eeeh we don't have to go to it" later. I just thought he had researched and saw that nothing really interesting was there so I just shrugged and went "Okay /o/" Another option was the Georgia Aquarium. He actually tried to see if there were ways to get the belugas to do something or set some special plan for it. Oh God I would have died if he had managed to pull it off.
But I think this one is the best. It was private, it was creative, and it caught me completely off guard. I seriously couldn't believe it. This whole time I thought he wouldn't ask until maybe next summer since I'd only have one year of law school left, but no. Today-well yesterday, but whatever. I just. I seriously couldn't believe it.
The wedding won't be until sometime in 2013, after I've graduated law school, haha. Apparently that was one of the stipulations my parents gave him when he asked for their blessings. Also, I can't believe he asked them while we were on our Orlando trip this past July! He asked them while I was still asleep alskjfasf. I had no idea. No idea whatsoever.
But no wonder my parents had been getting onto me about becoming a better person so I could help support Clark whenever we get married. And Dad had been like, "Are you sure you really want to be with this guy? Do you really love him that much?" Thing is, we have these talks all the time, and I had already brought up the topic of marriage even before Clark asked. Also, haha Clark had come to pick me up and I went to their room to tell them I was leaving. They were sort of awake, but Dad was like, "Nooo don't go!" in his silly voice that he always uses for me and for kids. And I was like, "Dad. Clark is here. He can hear you." XD They didn't know Clark was going to propose, but again it was like some sort of sign if you look at it in hindsight. Maybe they had a feeling or something. It's just so uncanny.
Oh goodness I might start crying again. Just thinking about it-aaaaah. I'm wearing the ring right now and I still can't believe it. It's just. Now I have no idea what to do! I don't know what to say if people ask at school (if they even notice, fff). I know one of them knows since I actually updated Facebook for the first time since I passed my first year. Apparently she had a feeling that's what he was going to do.
SERIOUSLY HOW DID I MISS THIS.
But I'll always remember it, and now I have it here on my LJ so I can always go back to look at it. I'll be seeing my brother and Meredith tomorrow and...I really can't believe this happening.
But I'm happy.
Really happy.
Thanks for reading. If we take more pictures tomorrow, I'll post them up sometime, too. It really feels weird now. I feel like now I'm officially in the real adult world. That my little "high school" fantasies are long gone. It's scary, but...well.
I guess we'll see, huh?