The Beginning

Total cost: a half tank of gas 

I am going to start by being mushy; Nathan is the love of my life. I knew this more than a few years ago, but it has taken us about five to get to the "tying the knot" stage. Both of us our wedding-shy and perhaps even a little marriage-shy. I personally love weddings. It is the ultimate party. Nathan, on the other hand, not so much...


And that brings me to May 1st, the day of the proposal. A day I was beginning to think would never come. We had been out a few times earlier in the Spring for morel hunting, and I kept thinking to myself that perhaps he would ask me now...or now....or maybe even now. Not only did we come home with empty mushroom baskets, but my ring finger was also empty--not that I cared for a ring. I cared for the question more than anything. We had already decided that we were getting married through some very casual conversations, but I wanted to be asked. I wanted to know that he was in this thing for real.

So, May 1st arrived. May Day - a day of protest, a day of Spring rites...but I told myself that I mustn't get my hopes up for morels or proposals as we headed out into the woods. We decided to go on hike up a mountain. It was a dreary day with cold drizzle and whipping winds. When we reached the top, we hung precariously on a clifftop for a timed photo of ourselves. After losing my balance, I decided it was time to go. I noticed a grotto of sorts composed of white-bark trees in front of evergreens with a bit of snow still left on the ground--a perfect photo opportunity. Nathan asked me to take of picture of him there which was strange, because he has never asked that of me before. After I took the photo, I commented that it turned out well because he smiled--another strange occurrence for him in photos.

(Oh brother, brace yourself, this next part is pretty mushy...)

Nathan said, "Since I am already on one knee, will you marry me?" I flung my arms around him with an enthusiastic yes while he murmured, "Er, I have a ring..."

And that is how this all began: with a sweet and simple proposal atop a windy mountain. I need to keep reminding myself of that feeling I had of floating on air and not let minor details cloud a beautiful day.