Dennis & Misty

Engagement Story (Told by Dennis)

 

When one conjures the courage to ask such a paramount question as "Will you Marry ME?" to a partner of their liking, one must make the moment meaningful in some way, shape, or form.

 

When it comes to our story, well...I tried my best.

 

"My Best" included grand visions of being down on one knee in the hills of Napa Valley as the sunset cast our shadows down open rows of grape vines ready for harvest. I would eloquently recite my love and finish with THE QUESTION.

 

The clouds would wisp away into a starry night sky and we'd drink champagne to the sounds of wind wrestling the orchards.

 

SLAP.

 

Snap back into reality. I am driving on the Pacific Coast Highway in route to Napa Valley from Santa Monica. We are about 7 hours into the drive and Misty needs a little juice for her iPhone. "Look in my camera bag", I said. "There is a lime green charger in there by my camera", I probably mumbled. 

 

What hadn't struck a chord in my mind yet was that I had hidden the engagement ring inside my camera bag. It was in the top pocket, no need to worry. It's in a completely different pocket then the camera. We're safe....

 

30 seconds later I ponder what could be taking Misty so long to find a LIME GREEN charger in a black camera bag. 

 

I peek in the rearview mirror. She is elbow deep in the engagement ring pocket....

 

"AAHH! NO! STOP!...IT'S IN THE POCKET WITH THE DAMN CAMERA NOT THE TOP POCKET!!" 

 

She quickly finds the charger after my slight freak out and looks at me and says, "Well...you didn't have to make me feel stupid."

 

HA!

 

I felt terrible. I mean, I never raise my voice or anything like that. It was a close call. I had hidden it for almost an entire week in my bag with no problem. 

 

Jeesh.

 

The drive continues.

 

Napa Valley...Here we come...

 

The drive is a beautiful one. So many places to stop and take pictures. So many winding roads to carve in our sporty Toyota Corolla. Things were back on track...Until I start thinking about how close of a call that was and how big of a dickhead I was for snapping at her about a stupid phone charger in my camera bag...

 

Anxiety sets in...

 

It's time...Proposal cannot wait any longer....Screw Napa...Let's do this....

 

We pull over to the side of the road to a place just big enough for a car or two. This is as good of a place as any? Right?

 

I get out of the car to see what the view looks like. 

 

WOW.

 

It is beautiful. The cliff drops down to the ocean and the fog is barely hugging the coastline. You can hear the slight crash of each wave against the rocky beach below.

 

This is as good of a place as any? Right?

 

I go to my camera bag to get the ring. Misty is taking pictures of the sign near us and of the view.

 

I get the ring and put it in my pocket. She is still taking pictures of the sign.

 

Did I mention how beautiful it is?

 

She is still taking pictures of the sign.

 

EHEEMMM...*Cough cough*...Eternity over here...HELLOOO

 

She finally gets the award winning photo of the sign and walks towards me.

 

The rest, as they say, is history.

 

THE BEGINNING.

 

 

 

From the Passenger Side

 

Clueless is an understatement.  As we drove from L.A., and were experiencing the most scenic drive you can imagine, I found myself just enjoying the moment and taking it all in.  We had spent 2 days in L.A. and prior to that, had caught up with some great friends in the Laguna Beach area.  It was a perfect week.  

The week prior to our California trip, Dennis and I spent time with Robyn, The Crafty Cougar in her new home as well as the Danimal.  We explored the most freezing river of Denver and also went to one of our favorite singer's concerts over the weekend.  It was perfect.  

 

Fast forward to Big Sur...  

 

I reach in the bag to retrieve "MY OWN" charger to get snapped at, because I am in the wrong compartment of a camera bag.  Mind you, it has 100 zippers, and I picked the wrong one.  So, Dennis yelled at me for the first time.  Ha.  So, I felt like Wilson after eating a pair of my shoes, and just went into the right part of his bag, and got the lime green charger, and told him he didn't have to make me feel so dumb for going in the zipper in the front and not the back.  

 

We stopped yet again to take more photos of the beautiful California coast.  But this time, I wasn't really feeling like getting out of the car.  I heard what I thought was a really nice sports car coming up the road, so I grabbed my camera and got into position, only to find a rental Corolla cruising around the corner.  I went back to the car to wait for Dennis who was still taking pictures of the "same thing" and walking around.  He asked me to grab my phone.  So I grabbed his, because I didn't know what he wanted.  

 

When I came over to where he was, I turned back around and then turned again and there he was on his knee.  Neither of us spoke and I think we both blacked out for a good 10 minutes, but it was the most special moment I have ever shared with anyone.  It was perfect and we were able to share the spot and moment with one another for about 15 mintues.  

 

Now, I know there was some making fun of me for taking photos of that sign, but since I did that, we know exactly where we were and I have a great pic of the mile marker.  It is a spot I will never forget.