With Valentine's Day fast approaching, I am getting the urge to propose to my long time boyfriend. We have talked about getting married, and are sure we are to each other. It's just that time. How did you propose to H-town? What made you take the initiative, instead of waiting for him to do so?
*****
Um. First of all, F*CK VALENTINE'S DAY. Saccharine, rose-petal strewn proposal stories always make me barf. (I know what you're thinking: What doesn't make her barf?) But February? February is a terrific time to propose. Peonies's thoroughly unsentimental, utterly adorable story about the "unremarkable day" in February when she proposed to The Boy gets me every time.
My story is a little less adorable. I wasn't actually planning to propose. But, you see, H-town had proposed a month earlier and I failed to give him a proper answer.
He said, "Will you marry me?" Out of the blue, mind you. The man wasn't holding a ring. Thank god.
And I said, "Don't make fun of me."
So he said it again. "Will you marry me?"
And I said, "The next time you say that you better mean it." And I waited for him to say it again. I waited a whole month.
And then... I dunno, I just blurted it out one night. "Will you marry me?" I wasn't holding a ring, or a bracelet, or even a fucking card. But he said yes. Thank god.
(Photo of none other than The Boy himself by Peonies.)
I LOVE THIS. I am basically in a similar situation right now, where I told my boyfriend/permanent roommate that if we did move in together it meant only one thing (GETTING HITCHED!). At his suggestion, we went on craigslist constantly and we eventually found a place to rent together last July and he has yet to propose, but we have already started planning for the wedding. He always tells me that he feels so bad he doesn't have a ring yet, but I'm just like, whatev, as long as you have it before our wedding day (and I honestly wouldn't even care if he didn't get me one!), who cares what people think! We just celebrated our 5 year dateiversary a few days ago and I couldn't be happier. I don't need roses in a shape of a heart and candles on a beach for a proposal!
ReplyDeleteHaha, such a great story. Nothing mushy or sentimental, just plain and simple. Love it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough, every proposal story sounds good to me after my boyfriend just opened the ring box and stared at me without saying anything. I had to clue him in and tell him that he should probably say at least one or two words. Oh, how that moment predicted the rest of our lives...
i went down on one knee. on cobblestones, in fishnets. it was highly ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteooof. my partner has proposed several times. i think it's my turn.
ReplyDeletekeep the ideas coming.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePractical, schmactical, I am in the same boat!!!
ReplyDeleteperfect timing! i have to propose to my... husband. although we've been married 3 mos. (!), he's insistent that HE needs a proposal from me - where he gets to say yes - to seal the deal. i've been wondering all week how to do it. this is the weekend, since it's the third anniversary of our first date.
ReplyDeleteThe 'right' time is the time you ask. I asked my boyfriend (still call him that) after work on an otherwise unremarkable March day by the recycling bins outside a teeny pub in London. I asked in an embarrasingly roundabout way and, although I had intended to ask (and taken him to the pub deliberately for a bravery-fortifying beverage), I think my actually asking took us both by surprise... anyway, what I took from this is that a) being a feminist doesn't necessarily include burning underwear and never getting married, but might include asking for what you want, and b) romance is wonderful, real , more often than not pretty unromantic (in the conventional sense) and all the better and more meaningful for it...
ReplyDeleteFavourite bowling alley, engraved bowling trophy instead of ring, score screen reading "You Bowl Me Over, Will You Marry Me" (planned weeks in advance).
ReplyDeleteReader, he said Yes.
I did it because I wanted it to be fun, some sense of occasion but not "romantic" or with any roses or bended knees. And I wanted a good story. Also, I just really, really think it's fair to ask for what you want and not wait around for some dumb diamond ring.
that is so awesome and sweet. i hate to say it, but for me it was a pride thing. at least h-town did it first -not entirely for reals - a month before. i was at the point where it was going to happen, and he probably would've loved to not have to do it himself, but i was all -silently, in my head - no, you're going to ask me. and he did, and it was all very ordinary and silly and awesome, but i love when girls propose.
ReplyDeleteFebruary is a very good month to propose.
ReplyDeleteAnd the story makes a lot more sense if you read parts one and two too.
oh i like it like that! without all the huge planning and stories. i never got that and always thought it should be just the simple question when you feel ready to ask it.
ReplyDeletei also like it when the girls are proposing.
Valentine's Day is overrated.
ReplyDeletega! i saw the title and thought it read "HOW TO REPURPOSE YOUR BOYFRIEND." As in, reduce, reuse, recycle. which would be awesome.
ReplyDeleteyour engagement story is soo refreshing. and funny, because he was sporting a mustache whilst proposing (both times), which is also awesome.
and you so very well better check out beth's hilarious, totally bizarro blog and her post on FACIAL HAIR AND FLATWARE:
http://sixorangecarrots.wordpress.com/2010/01/25/flatware-and-facial-hair-a-highly-serious-discussion/
Your story made me laugh out loud. Maybe it wasn't supposed to but your "don't make fun of me" comment is EXACTLY the thing I say at moments when I was probably supposed to say anything but that. I like your proposal; its the down to earth kinda thing I can get behind.
ReplyDeletehttp://thebusiestbee.blogspot.com/
Aww congrats to you both :) I got proposed to twice (the one over the phone "didn't count" since what he really proposed that we get engaged over the summer, hehe). I think it's cute that you both proposed though :)
ReplyDeleteBrilliant story! Made me laugh out loud. Would you consider writing a similar post as a 'guest blogger' for my blog, Ramblings of a Singleton?
ReplyDelete