Last weekend was our first trip back to Karla's home town, Kincardine, this year. I know Karla's pretty sentimental about the town and thought that proposing there would mean a lot to her. In my mind, I wanted to just find a quiet patch of beach and then propose.
Once we decided to go to Kincardine for the long weekend, the clock started ticking. I started looking around at a few places and talking to jewellers. I knew Karla didn't want anything too bulky or ornate. It took a bit of looking, but I found just the right setting at a jeweller down the street from our house. Choosing the diamond was pretty simple... Princess cuts are square. It's a rock that sums up our relationship perfectly.
Karla had a pretty full weekend, so I thought my best chance would fall on Saturday. We were going out for a walk with her mother and I thought I should be ready with the ring, just in case I had my moment.
The walk was nice and covered a lot of the town. Towards the end, we were walking along a road that was separated from the beach by a rock wall. Every now and then, there was a small bridge that you could use to go from the road to the beach. When we got to the last one, I asked what was on the other side of the bridge. Mama said there was a beach over there and I suggested that we check it out.
I lead and Karla was right behind me. I was thinking this was it and was pretty surprised that I wasn't nervous. I guess when you know something is right, you don't feel weird about it. Just before we started walking down the steps on the other side of the bridge, Karla handed the camera to her mom and asked her to take a picture of us.
Mama was standing on the bridge looking down on us with the camera. I snuck the ring out of my pocket and onto my finger. A couple of pictures were taken, and then I turned to Karla, told her I loved her, and then dropped to one knee.
I remember her looking at me with that quizzical look that she gets and her eyes getting really wide when she realized what I was doing. She remembers me asking "if you're not busy for the rest of forever...". That's about all we remember. Everything else was a blur. Oh, I do remember getting up, hugging Karla, and hearing her mother yell, "DID YOU JUST GET ENGAGED?!?"
We walked back to her mom on the steps. Mama was wiping away some tears and told us that she got some pictures of the whole thing. Honestly, it couldn't have gone better. We were lucky to get a set of pictures from the proposal -- how many people get that? -- and Karla really likes the ring. I was more nervous about the ring than anything else. Karla doesn't wear jewellery and I knew for her to wear this ring, it would have to be perfect. I think I did okay. :)
Karla's mom has been emailing the story to her friends and family this week. I really like her version of the story as well, so here it is:
Every one's been asking if I was 'in' on the surprise because of the pics! Believe me I was NOT!! Here's how it happened.Sanjay, Karla and I all went for a walk Saturday, all over town and whilst heading back up King street to our house, Sanjay asked what the little bridge was leading to at the bottom of King street? I told him - just over the rocks to the beach. Oh.........let's go here the said, and up over the bridge he goes, Karla following, and she hands me the camera, and says... take a pic of us! So there they are down on the beach and I'm on the bridge. I snap a couple of pics...........and he drops down on one knee!!!!!!!!!!! Pulls a ring out from his back and starts to propose to her!!! When I realize just what he's doing. ......I start shouting!!!! "hey!!! what are you doing down there??!!!" Of course I knew but wasn't quite believing it!!! I cannot hear what he's saying of course, and Karla has her hands up to her face and is a bit in shock herself. He's proposing! When I realize what's going on..........I think... OH MY GOD!!!! and start clicking the camera and giggling and taking as many pics as I can!!!
We were all happy, in shock, and laughing!! It was surreal!!! It looks like I was 'in on it' but truly I was not. How he could have planned this is impossible but he did say he wanted it to happen in Kincardine! :0) How sweet is that!!? Anyway.... ...........we're all very happy and now waiting to hear the next step............i.e. date of wedding etc. :-)
Sanjay (Aug 10, 2006)
