I said "YES"!!!!

What is Leap Day?
Friday, February 29, 2008 was Leap Day. Because it takes the Earth 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds to travel around the sun, an extra day was added to the calendar every fourth year. It was the Romans who first designated Feb. 29 as Leap Day. In the 16th century, a more precise formula was adopted when the Gregorian calendar fine-tuned the calculations to include a leap day in years only divisible by four. Years which are evenly divisible by 100 are not leap years, unless they are also evenly divisible by 400, in which case they are leap years. However you look at it, Leap Day is a little gift, a special extra day in our lives which only happens every four years.

An Exceptional Leap of Faith

My Leap Day started out like any other day. Run in the morning, work, meeting over lunch, afternoon conference call, etc. Ryan and I had talked about going out for dinner that evening, but we both decided to get as much work done that day as we could to help with hours, since we have a few trips planned. He sent me an email around 5:00 saying that he was ready to go home and told me to hurry up and finish my work and meet him there. I told him to just go home without me and I’d be there as soon as I could. I got a few more calls and emails and was starting to get a little ticked off that he just wouldn’t go home without me. What was the damn hurry?!

I left the office a little before 6:00. Traffic was bad, as usual. I stopped by Walgreen’s and got a bridal shower card and some wrapping paper. I took my time and thought about when and where I was going to do my long run the next day. As I pulled into the garage I noticed the floor covered with something…”What did he spill?” was the first thing I thought of. When I got out of the car I noticed they were rose petals. There was note on the door with my name on it, telling me to go inside and follow the notes.

Inside, the entire place was covered with rose petals. Thousands and thousands of them. They were all over the floors, the countertops, everywhere. And there were hundreds of tealight candles lit. There was music playing and pictures of us flashing on the laptop. I started crying immediately. Ryan was nowhere to be found. There was a bottle of Veuve champagne on the countertop and another little note. I made my way down the hall to find another note and a fishing pole next to the laundry shoot. The note told me to go “fishing” and see what I caught.

I cast my line down the laundry shoot and reeled in a card. “Do you love me? If yes, cast again.” I got another card. “Do you want to spend the rest of your life with me? If yes, cast again.” I was smiling and crying and laughing. I couldn’t believe this was really happening. This time I got a card and a little blue box with a pink bow on it. “Will you marry me? If yes, turn around.”

I turned around and Ryan was standing there. We walked into the living room where he asked me if I would marry him and I said yes. I jumped up and hugged him so hard I thought I’d strangle him. “Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES!!” We were both crying and laughing. He finally pulled me away and asked, “Does it fit? Do you like it?” I started laughing because I hadn’t even opened the box!! But when I did…WOW!! I love it!! It’s perfect!!

We poured ourselves some champagne and I finally said, “Oh my God, we’re getting married!!!” 

We both spent the next 45 minutes on the phone calling our families and closest friends, giving each other hugs and kisses in between calls. Finally he told me to go get ready; a limo would be picking us up at 8:00 to take us to our favorite celebration restaurant. We had a romantic corner table in the back and a fantastic bottle of champagne waiting for us there (thank you J&B).

I couldn't believe it was actually happening. Four years into our relationship, on a day that only comes once in every four years. It was perfect.

At dinner he told me all about his secret proposal plan: how he got the idea, how many roses it took, how he made the music mix and the picture montage, how long he’d been planning, and how he pulled it off. Turns out he wasn’t at work waiting for me to leave, after all!! I was so surprised, which was exactly what he wanted. I couldn’t believe he went to so much trouble. And he couldn’t believe I stopped at Walgreen’s on the way home!! 

Dinner was fabulous (as always). Afterwards, a few close friends met us at the bar to toast our engagement and celebrate with us. More champagne, hugs, dancing, laughing and toasting. It was such an amazing night!!! 

Ryan, I love you more than you’ll ever know. I have been blessed beyond belief!! My cup runneth over.

(…and yes, I’m crying even as I type this out)