Jonathan: Anticipation (we're still on our detour about the engagement)

That one word pretty much describes how I felt as the day drew closer for Missi to arrive. I’ll tell this part of the story later, but I had already talked to her dad and gotten permission to propose, so I felt settled about that aspect. The other big thing was finding and purchasing the perfect ring. I spent about three weeks researching and looking for it (I think I know enough now to start a diamond-importing business…), and purchased a ring just in time to pick it up on Thursday morning as I drove to the airport.

Oh, the other thing that I had to figure out was the time and place of the proposal. At first I contemplated a nice restaurant or a romantic spot in the woods, but then remembered that restaurants can be very crowded, and that it often rains in Washington. I give all the credit to this blog, though, for my next thought was how we had this coffee theme in our relationship. I thought, “hmmm, wonder if I could arrange a private moment in a coffee shop…” Being in Washington state I have many coffee shops to pick from, and I remembered one that had a private conference room with a nice view called Mud Bay Coffee.

So I called the shop and reserved a half-hour slot at 2:30 on Friday. Then I recruited a close friend, Rachelle Reitz, to act as my accomplice to set up the room before I arrived.

I picked Missi up at the airport on Thursday, carefully hiding the ring box inside the jack compartment in my trunk. I never breathed a word about marriages on Thursday or Friday morning. Friday we visited my workplace and then toured my stomping grounds in Olympia. Truth be told, I ran out of stuff to visit about 1:30, and drove around until I thought of a cool store to visit – World Market. We popped in there for a bit, and then I tried to call Rachelle to let her know we were on our way. Stupid me, I had forgotten to get her cell phone, so I just had to trust all was ready.

I casually said, “Hey, Missi, I feel like some tea or coffee. Wanna check out this cool coffee shop with me?” Being ever ready to try new things, she cheerfully agreed, and we headed to Mud Bay. As we walked in the doors I noticed Rachelle in a corner peaking out behind a newspaper, which told me that all was ready. We ordered tea, then I escorted Missi into the empty conference room…