So let's begin with setting the context. If you know about me and Leah, then you can probably just skip this paragraph. But let's face it: you won't skip this paragraph. Anyway, We started dating 9/24/2010, soon after her birthday (the 19th). We've had our ups and downs throughout the year, like any other relationship, faced the test of time and turbulence, and made it through. My favorite words to describe Leah are funny (with both meanings, like humorous and curiously interesting) and considerate. I'm not going to try to describe myself. Let's just say that me and Leah are the same in some areas, and completely opposite in others.
Anyway, so let's begin with Saturday afternoon, 9/17/11. It's Leah's birthday weekend, so I promised to take her out to the city (specifically Madame Toussaud's Wax Museum). My "secret" plan was to take her to central park, put her on a rowboat, and whip out the ring under the Bow Bridge (here's a pic >> http://bit.ly/r4KXaF), followed by an awesomely delicious meal at the super-fancy Loeb Boathouse Restaurant right next to the boat rental spot. That was the plan.
So on our train ride uptown, we rode the subway packed to the brim with obnoxious crowds of New Yorkers and tourists. The streets, trains, and platforms were so congested, that it took us more than 5 minutes just to leave World Trade Center. Leah is not a fan of big crowds like this. Her mood was slowly evolving from an curious "where is he taking me? =)" to "UGH!". As I keep trying to maintain her in good spirits, the trip up Manhattan was not helping. That didn't stop Leah from asking some surprise-spoiling questions like "are you proposing today?". My answer would always be "our anniversary is next week. This weekend is your birthday."
When we arrive to E 77th St., we walk a few blocks, we walk over to Central Park, do some more walking inside the actual park, (I was looking for the lake). FYI, Leah is also not a fan of walking. And finally, there was the restaurant. But lo and behold, a big crowd of protesters were chanting and beating on drums, holding up signs, and screaming at whoever passed by. "This restaurant is rat infested!" and "the manager sexually harassed 7 ppl!" and "if you go into this restaurant, you are supporting sexual harassment!". These ppl on strike would literally follow you around, and yell at the back of your head "don't go in there!"
My heart dropped. My mouth dried out. This sucks.
TOTALLY ruining the atmosphere. I look over at Leah, and she's pretty much fuming. I couldn't blame her. Not only did it take swimming through oceans of people to get here, we walked into a strike, with some very angry employees. On top of it all, I'd forgotten to make a reservation at the restaurant. We get inside, and Leah goes to the ladies room. For all I know, it could have just been a 5 minute escape from reality for her.
I lean over to the hostess and tell her "I know this place is going to be packed for dinner, but please squeeze us in! I have a ring in my pocket!"
Leah comes out of the bathroom, and I give her the bad news. Lucky for me, we weren't really hungry yet, so the boat thing could happen while we wait for a table (the rental spot is right next to the restaurant). We step out for two seconds to go next door, and right there are a buncha strikers, yelling at us for setting foot in the restaurant, and shouting "thank you for supporting sexual harassment!".
At this point, Leah is so angry, that she shouted back "I LOVE sexual harassment! You're harassing me right now!!" (or something similar to that). I was pretty pissed myself.
We get to the boat dude, charges me my deposit, and Leah had her arms crossed. There was no way she was getting on that boat. We were both pretty pissed. But this ring was burning a hole in my pocket. After a bit of begging, I managed to get her to climb into the rowboat. Whew! finally.
So there we were, rowing along (it was my first time, I had no idea what I was doing. In fact, I was rowing the boat backwards the whole time). But this was good. As we drifted into the lake, it became quieter, and the sounds of the strikers wasn't audible, nor was the craziness of Manhattan or the screeching of subway trains. The experience was serene. The water was completely green (eww lol), but it was still a beautiful place to be.
Finally I can see the Bow Bridge. The moment was drawing near. As we get a bit closer, I couldn't wait any longer. I started speaking to Leah, and the corniest and cheesiest words that I prepared myself to avoid, were the only ones that successfully were able to roll out of my nervous and sobbing mouth. As i began speaking, Leah immediately picked up my corny/cheesy demeanor, and looked around, "is he really doing this right now?!" (LOL). I told her that I wanted to take her to a bridge, because it represents a crossing, a transition to a new chapter in our lives together. God is the path we need to make it to the other side. And this happens to be the most beautiful bridge in the greatest city in the world. Out came the little box, and then the words (while i was basically crying), "will you marry me?"
She said yes, the ring was clumsily slipped on (took us a while to figure out which hand haha), and finally, I could breathe. I rowed the boat a bit, and a bride/groom passed by, still dressed in their wedding gear. "Congrats on your wedding! We just got engaged!" They were technically the first people to find out.
We headed back to the restaurant, where the dinner reservations were still locked for an hour. We were super hungry. It was time to find an alternative. As i googled for a fancy alternative eatery, next thing you know we were in Dallas BBQ in Time Square eating ribs and french fries.
It was the perfect day. My whole life, I'd watch corny romantic comedies, where things go wrong, the dude drops the ring in a drain, retrieves it, but the girl still says yes to a him, covered in sewage. Or like in "Hitch", where Will Smith takes the girl to Ellis Island with the intent of making a romantic gesture, but ends up being a total disaster. I have literally prayed for a story like this. Like a movie. And God was like "you know what? Here you go!"
The moral of the story:
Be careful what you wish for. Cuz God can get randomly generous.
He was definitely overly generous with the girl He placed in my life.
A woman of God, with a good head on her shoulders. The funnest and funniest girl you will ever meet, with a smile that will soften the hardest of hearts.
And I get to marry her!
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Pics => http://on.fb.me/q6s28g
