When we got to the seafood restaurant overlooking the water we sat at the bar with two flutes of celebratory champagne and watched the Wisconsin Badger basketball game on TV. By the time we sat down to dinner I was a little tipsy. After dinner Larry suggested we go take a walk out on to the pier. I clearly remember being hyper focused on not letting my heels fall in between the planks of the wooden pier as we walked arm in arm. I told him I was cold so he had to move the ring box from his jacket pocket to his jeans pocket. He then slid of his jacket to give to me and I promptly responded with, “Oh you know what? I think I’m fine actually.” When we got halfway down the pier there was a man and woman standing in the dark embracing each other. The woman was crying tears of joy. She turned to me and said, “Would you mind taking a picture of us? We just got engaged!” On the inside I was like, “(insert expletive here) I wish that were me.” On the outside I gave an enthusiastic “Of course!” and a “Congratulations!”

As we got to the end of the pier I still had no clue it was coming because I was the girl that received a very pretty pearl necklace. “It’s okay, Hannah. You have a man who loves you so much and a beautiful NECKLACE,” I kept reassuring myself. Larry started to talk and was saying some really beautiful and romantic things. I remember him saying, “When I first met you there was this beautiful light around you and I was hoping I could be around it always.” What I didn’t put together was that this was the beginning of a prepared speech. So I turned it into a back and forth (also known as a conversation).  “I also felt something really special the first time I met you,” I replied. Then he’d say something else really sweet and I’d respond, “Me too!” enthusiastically. Finally, he put his hands on my upper arms and squeezed them as if to say, “Will you please shut your mouth so I can get all of this out.” I’m not sure if I calmed down or not, but then I looked down and saw a ring box. I looked up at his face and tears were coming down his cheeks. The moment I saw his face I knew THIS was happening. I started shaking and looked down to see what the HELL I was wearing. Am I even cute right now for the BIGGEST moment of my life so far?!?!!!

He bent down on one knee and asked me to marry him and I started bawling and saying, “Is this real life?!” as he slipped the most gorgeous diamond ring ever onto my finger. Then we were that couple crying the end of the pier asking some stranger if they wouldn’t mind taking a picture of us and wanting to tell everyone it’s because we just got engaged!!!

After shaking and crying I was pumped up on adrenaline in excitement and so elated that it was our secret. I suggested we head to the local dive bar aptly named Larry’s Luau and celebrate.

He agreed, but then asked if we could stop back at the hotel room so he could grab some Tums first. If you know Larry, this is not unusual at all as his emotions often correlate to a stomach ache. When we got back to our hotel room he had me walk in first and there were lit candles and rose petals in a pathway to the bed and rose petals on the bed. There were fresh flower arrangements on the night stands, two bottles of champagne on ice and a plate of chocolate dipped strawberries. I almost passed out.

How could I take any more excitement in one evening? I started crying again and the rest as they say is history. Yes, I knew he was my forever person the first time I met him and I’m so glad I waited because his proposal exceeded my wildest expectations. I love everything about him and if the last three years are any indicator of what a lifetime together will bring I’m ready for that lifetime to start now.

Action Steps:

1) Always treat others with kindness. I’m so glad I didn’t push that happy newly engaged couple off the pier.

2) LET THE MAN BE THE MAN. In case you didn’t get this the first time. It’s sooo worth it.

3) Prepare your heart because after getting engaged you are guaranteed to fall more deeply in love.