10 Wild and Wonderful Years Ago

February 13, 1998. Friday the 13th, no less.

I was up late baking heart shaped peanut butter cookies and boxing up supplies and hunting for the spare key to Husband's (Boyfriend at the time) place so I could sneak over the next morning and surprise him with breakfast in bed to celebrate our first Valentine's Day together....completely oblivious to the fact that across town, Husband (Boyfriend at the time) was pacing the floors of his apartment, staring into a diamond engagement ring and contemplating the fact that in less then 24 hours he would be dropping down on bended knee to ask me to be his wife.

I will never forget that day.

Me, sneaking sneaking sneaking. Burning the bacon. Filling the entire apartment with smoke. Cramming a dozen heart balloons through the Husband's (Boyfriend at the time) bedroom door only to have them launch themselves up to the ceiling above his bed with a supersonic *THUMP*. Husband (Boyfriend at the time) feigning sleep and surprise because that is the kind of guy he is.

Fast forward a few hours : Driving up to Washington Park. In the rain. Arriving at the Portland Rose Garden. In the rain. Husband (Boyfriend at the time) coaxing me out of the car to look at the view of our beautiful City. In the rain. Me, bitching and grumbling about standing in the godforsaken rain. And the sweetest man I have ever known kneeling on his coat in a big puddle and offering up his whole heart to me.

I am so glad I said yes.