it began in the summer of 2004.
every summer following the end of spring semester, Allison and I would contact each other to meet in gotham city(new haven, CT) and peruse in the proverbial sights and sounds that a quasi-city could offer. one particular night after an evening of restaurant hopping and countless attempts from her verbal wooing, I was oblivious to these courting words!
call it captain oblivious.
I always enjoyed her company and that evening was no different, we were laughing it up and having a good time over a myriad of conversations and little did I examine the minor details she was complimenting. this is a weak link: I need a post-it note or memo as everyone knows!
so the evening concluded and to me, it was a normal great evening with a friend over food, sights, and conversations; however she was a little frazzled that her clues were not reacted upon. not only did the time tick away, so did her courting.
our friendship continued and so did my resilient oblivous nature.
a month passed without contact.
the fall semester resumed for her and we picked up phone conversations. the frequency increased and just now, it was now late November and revelation struck me that maybe…just maybe she is interested in me. recanting these tales makes me laugh about my obliviousness! haha.
a risky move was planned: we spoke on the phone one evening and I suggested to her that I was really busy and could not speak to her for one week. confused and slightly upset, Allison agreed.
december 3rd 2004.
we met at the UConn Dairy Bar after a week of not communicating. I missed her terribly and the feeling was mutual from her end and normally I would get a slap from her on my arm, which either means “I miss you” or “you’re a bastard for making me wait one week to speak/see you and I’m pretty much upset, but thanks for coming up to see me.” to this day, she continues to slap my arm and ambiguity strikes me every time about the meaning.
true love.
christmas is in the air and probably one of the coldest connecticut evening, we parked in east hartford and walked across the windy bridge to hartford where the hartford festival of lights light up constitution plaza. strings of lights billowed in the wind while creating a beautiful back ground against the air we exhaled. throughout the evening, I would say to Allison “it’s time for picture!” she would delightfully turn around with a smile a habit could only love. priming her for a good part of the walk, there’s a congregation of decorated tall christmas trees that ends the walking tour and behind the trees offers privacy.
it’s time for picture!
cold, she would continue to turn around and smile, however instead of pulling out my camera I pulled out a red velvet box.
confused, she opened the red box and inside was a white satin cloth.
on top of the white satin was this…
then I said, we’ve been friends for a while now, can we be more than friends?
Allison was speechless.
half an hour later, she said yes.
the proposal.
Our breath masked the cold air of New York City and left a trail as we began our second anniversary on December 3rd, 2006. Waiting in the cold and huddled amongst strangers, the doors finally opened to Serependipity 3.
One of our favorite movies.
When John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale shared a Frozen Hot Chocolate, the angst from waiting in line melted and dissipated into our taste buds as we took our first sip and understood the magic and allure the place has to offer.
Throughout our daycation, I had to prime her by saying do you know what time it is?!! It’s picture time! She poses in her adorable manner while the city backdrop served as a palette for a surprising evening.
Enjoying our evening as daylight began to fade and the city lights came to life, we ventured to Central Park for ice skating. It was here that I planned to propose, in the middle of the rink and in the spirit of people of all ages gliding their little hearts out. However, things took a turn. The presentation of the ring came in a small case and the rules were you could not carry a bag let alone a camera while ice skating! So this posed a quagmire in my plans and meanwhile, I am frantically thinking about the next possible staging of the proposal…and then I figured it out.
We de-laced our skates and began walking toward the top of the bridge over-looking the ice rink. Listening to the joy and laughter of the skaters, I primed her one last time as we stood next to each other looking at the people enjoying themselves as they whisked in circular patterns.
Do you know what time it is?!
I know..I know! as she began to smile and pose.
Instead of reaching for my camera this time, I reached for a blue velvet box.
Inside was black satin. Sitting on top of the black satin was this…
A Cinderella carriage.
The egg was adorned with at least 500 Swarovski Crystal rhinestones. As you look through the delicate windows, a solitaire ring gleamed against the city lights awaiting these special words:
Will you marry me?
Allison was speechless…again.
the cake topper.
so here we are, with two months and change and the date drawing ever so closely by the minute.
most of the designs for the eggs are drawn on two dimensional platforms before any sequins or crystals mosey onto the eggs. the process consumes a good block of time and patience anywhere from novice levels of six hours or three hours for hard-core decorators. the sequins are slightly more challenging since the glue dries and each sequin is placed under the previous to replicate fish scales. in this circumstance, you must utilize your bathroom breaks sparingly or tap into a catheter. jk:) the new generation of crystals are made by Swarovski and provide superior optics that outweigh the orthodox plastic rhinestones.
the first egg my family received during our first christmas back in 1979 was when we just arrived and a member of the First Congretional Church of Branford made us several eggs with a scene of the holidays in various ones. these are heirlooms and adorned every christmas.
now you know and without further ado…two dimensional form of our wedding cake topper:
