November 30th, 2002

For those of you who don't know, the couple mentioned in the post below are my older brother and his soon to be wife. We are thrilled for them, and I'm looking forward to hearing all the delicious details of the when, wheres and etc...

Now, it just so happens that today is an anniversary of sorts for us. On November 30th 2002 M and I got engaged. We celebrate this day, when we remember. One year we sorta forgot...

It's 4 years ago now, that M told me, "dress up on Saturday night and I'm going to take you out to a nice place." Immediately my spidey sense was tingling. I was pretty sure he was going to propose that night, and I was really nervous. More nervous than him. For sure. I don't know why. Even now, I don't know why I was so nervous.

Anyway, we got in the car, it was a sunny but cold early evening and we headed over to a restaurant with a bright yellow lit up awning. It didn't look like a fancy restaurant. In fact, it's proximity to the Husky Gas station there at that time sort of made me wonder what kind of restaurant we were going to. But when we got inside, it was indeed one of the nicest in town. It was called "The Victorian." I had never heard of it until that night, it was nice, decorated in victorian style, and serving some very good food.

As we were eating, we were both startled by the waiter who said "K, these are for you!" He handed me a bouquet of a dozen red roses wrapped in plain brown paper and twine. Beautiful. We were both startled because the waiter said my name, me because what waiter calls you by name? And M because he had forgotten about dropping off the flowers earlier that day and asking them to give them to me!

So, then I thought, here it comes.... but instead M just said he wanted to take me out to let me know how special I am. So we proceeded to have a great discussion over shrimp and lobster tails.

As supper was nearing a close M asked what I wanted to do, I didn't know.... so he suggested going to a wrestling tournament that was on at the University. Ok, sure I thought. Why not? It was kind of fun to be spontaneous, so off we went... and at that point I thought we were just hanging out, and maybe it wasn't the night for a proposal.

When we got to the University, there was no wrestling, only a volleyball tournament.... his information was wrong. So, he asked if I wanted to go to the games room on the other side of the University. That sounded like fun, so we headed over there. On the way there, M said, "Hey let's check out the observatory", so we went in. Now, M had been carrying around this mysterious piece of cardboard under his arm all night. There was a link between the trip into the observatory and the mystery cardboard but I wouldn't find that out till later.

Inside the observatory we were surpised to find about 20 people all waiting in line to see the stars and planets. At the point we got there, I think they were looking at Jupiter. We got a glimpse and then left pretty quick. It was a bit cold. We headed over to the games room, us and our piece of cardboard.

Our relationship is pretty playful, we like to do things like challenge each other to a few rounds of air hockey or other games like that. So, we had a good time. We ended with a game of pool, and as we were close to finishing, m asked if I wanted to go for dessert with him, and I really couldn't bear the thought of eating a bite more, I was still so full from supper. So, he then asked if I wanted to go for a drive.... ok let's go.

M had this favourite route that he liked to drive on his way to my house, so that's where we drove, it was along by the river. As we came to one particular spot over looking the river with the old Besbourough Hotel on the other side, he stopped the car. It was a beautiful view. And that's where M proposed and I said yes. I don't remember exactly how everything went but as we were sitting there looking out, he pulled out the cardboard. It was actually a folder. Inside there was a star chart, and he told me that he had had a star named after me. When we were at the observatory he had wanted to show me the star but we didn't realize that the observatory actually had programmed viewing, so his plan was thwarted a bit.

Then as I was ewwing and awing about how incredibly sweet and stunning it was to have someone name a star after you, he said, "But that star is too far away, you need one for your finger" and he pulled out the ring box holding a gorgeous diamond ring. Then he proceeded to tell me some things he appreciated about me and asked me to marry him. And I proceeded to say yes.

And so, we'll celebrate today. Just a little. If you get a chance to gaze at the stars, mine is just to the side of the constellation "Lacerta".... it shines it's brightest every year right around November 30th.