Looking Back...The Proposal

For those of you who never heard the full story, here it is:

2005 was a very rough year for me. I had started a new career in real estate and was learning to adjust to the demands of a busy schedule, and trying to establish a plan and a set of goals for myself since I was my own boss. Things had gotten off to a slow start, but I was making it. Jessica and I had been dating for several months, and had known each other for a little more than a year when summer finally arrived. We were already talking about our plans for the future, and we wanted nothing more than to get married and begin our lives together. The last thing I needed, was a car wreck.

It happened on June 3rd, and it was a complete crush to everything that had been going on with me at the time. My car was in the shop, money was tightening up quickly, and worst of all, my insurance had lapsed. The next several weeks were really hard, and seeing how stressed I was at trying to do everything, Jessica decided to use some of her extra money to plan us a trip to the beach. What she didn't know was that I had already purchased her engagement ring, and that I had been trying to plan the perfect proposal. With no money, and now a wreck to douse any fickle flame of an idea that sprang to mind, the beach was the perfect opportunity to take her completely by surprise, and to make something really special.

We went to Panama City Beach and stayed in a nice hotel overlooking the water. I was a total mess the entire first night, which she easily picked up and questioned me about. With my incredible diversion skills :) I passed it off as nothing more than being overwhelmed since it was the first vacation I had ever had where I was the one making all the decisions and overseeing that everything got done. The second night we were there, July 1st, I wanted to take her to a wonderfully romantic dinner at the Pirate Ship, and then back to the hotel for a photo shoot on the beach with us being all dressed in our Sunday best. We had a great time, and on several occasions as we were dancing under the moonlight on the beach, she nearly discovered the ring box in my pocket. My heart was pounding, and I knew that I couldn't get away with the secrecy any longer. Stepping back and looking into her eyes, I dropped to one knee in the surf and ask her to marry me. She was so surprised that when she saw the ring, she actually grabbed it and started to run away towards the hotel so she could better see it in the light...leaving me waiting on one knee for her response. It was great though, and we couldn't stop laughing about how funny it was. She of course said yes, and we proceeded to dance the night away under the beautiful moonlit night. To make things even more perfect, some kids down the beach began shooting fireworks in honor of the 4th of July, just seconds after the proposal. It was a moment we will never forget :)