Re-living the Proposal

For those of you who were not there, maybe you had already boozed too much that night, I proposed to Juli on February 23 at our going away party in Hermosa Beach.  I was originally planning to propose around Christmas, but the process of getting a ring took more time than I had anticipated.  In December I had also told Juli that I could not even entertain the thought of getting engaged with everything going on - our plan to move in together and move to SF, my plan to quit my job, etc. - I had deliberately done this (not in a mean way!) so that the proposal could be a surprise.  After so many memorable gifts/celebrations during our relationship, I wanted to make this occasion memorable as well.

After a handful of trips to various jewlerly stores in LA, I decided to go with the one closest to my house in Hermosa, Seymour Jewlers.  I was actually worried that Juli might think I had just been lazy and gone to the only store within walking distance, but I really did check several out, including one not-so-fun trip to downtown LA's 'Diamond District.'  I decided that I should design the ring myself, so I came up with a few potential designs and visited the store a couple times to discuss and to look at diamonds.  Though the design process really only consisted of a few sketches on a piece of paper and one CAD-like drawing, when I picked up the ring it looked great.  I thought it might have been a little too blingy for Juli's style, but I guess girls don't mind that every once and a while.

To celebrate five great years in Hermosa, Jesse had organized one last bash at the house.  Most of our beach crew was able to make it, as well as Kari and Phil (Juli's sister and brother).  In the days leading up to the party, I had told Juli that I was planning to make a toast to all of the folks from our crew that had made the HB life so incredible.  I told her she should try and think of a few things to say as well.  Around 10:00PM there was a good crowd of about 25-30, the rumblings of a buzz had started amongst most, and I had slipped the ring into my pocket, so I decided it was toast 'go time.'

For the first five minutes or so I went around the room to everybody in attendance, giving them a little mini-roast and thanking them for something specific about our friendship, then yielding the floor to Juli who did a little of the same.  Then I said something to the effect of, "of course I cannot forget the most important person from the past five years, the reason I moved here in the first place..."  The more astute listeners in the room told me afterward my voice sounded different, and at least one person said afterward they knew what was coming next.  I asked everybody to raise a glass to Juli, and used that momentary distraction to pull the ring out of my pocket.

I then wrapped up with something like "We've had too many great times to count in Hermosa and beyond, and I am excited for more of the same in San Francisco and all over the world, for the rest of our lives" - at which point, amidst much shrieking, I got on one knee and asked Juli to marry me.  In the hysteria and teary-eyed events that followed, I think it was Kari who probably cried the most - as she said, "I never thought it would actually happen!" - hey I know it took a while but isn't having a good proposal story worth it?