Engaged, ¡En Fuego! Style

On Monday, July 21, 2008, at approximately 9:20am HST (3:20pm for you in EDT), I turned to IP and asked him if we should move on to our next overlook at the World Botanical Gardens.  We had just finished viewing the Umauma Falls, three-tiered falls within the garden.  A man, another tourist, had just chatted at us about how not many flowers were in bloom and I noticed IP gave him looks of irritation rather than interest.  As the man droned on about how orchids had been in bloom the last time he was there, IP simply nodded while I gave a polite smile.  The man finally wandered off and drove away, and we contemplated the falls for a few more minutes.  I then asked if we should move on; IP said it was time, but before we did, he had something to say to me.

IP told me he loved being with me, and that he loved me.  I managed to get out a smile before the tears came as IP suddenly got down on one knee and continued that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me — he then pulled out a ring and asked me to marry him.  Utterly shocked but deliriously happy, I immediately said yes and IP slipped on the ring.  As IP hadn’t wanted to pick out anything without my input, he had borrowed one of the rings I had left behind before I had gone on my business trip.  I had left behind two rings, but he picked out the gold ring that links up two hearts in the center.  My grandmother had given it to me when I was a teenager — the tears came even stronger when I saw which ring IP was slipping onto my finger and it felt absolutely perfect.  IP then got to his feet and I hugged him like crazy, whispering the word “Yes” what probably seemed like a million times to him.  We then took pictures of ourselves at the spot where we got engaged.  Funnily enough, we got engaged not only in front of the falls, but in front of what was labeled as the Mexican flame vine (“It’s ¡en fuego!” IP joked at the time).

I was an absolute loon the rest of the day (and continue to be one).  I don’t think I’ve ever grinned so continuously.  I was totally surprised by IP; he had always said he would propose after he had settled his job situation (it’s in flux, I’m guessing it won’t be for long).  When people had asked me whether I thought IP would propose in Hawaii, I had answered in the negative.  It was no big deal and besides, there was a plan and I was sure IP would make a proposal memorable no matter where he did it.  IP thought differently and says he didn’t want to pass up the opportunity; he jokingly says that he didn’t want to propose to me in the Wheaton Mall or some other place we unwillingly visit on occasion.  He also says he didn’t know when he would do it, but he knew he wanted us to be alone; neither of us is much of an exhibitionist, and now I know why IP wasn’t interested in what our fellow tourist had to say about the blooms at the World Botanical Gardens.  I have to say that I’m glad the guy left quickly!

After a few more days of vacation, we returned to Kona for our final day.  We visited a few jewelers, but none had a ring that impressed me all that much.  Keep in mind that I did not want a diamond (bohr-ring; no pun intended) — I’ve always wanted an emerald on a silver, white gold, or platinum band.  From across Ali’i Drive, I spotted a tiny storefront with the name Gemfire — “It’s ¡en fuego!” IP cracked.  Upon entering the store, my eye was immediately caught by a pear-shaped emerald ring framed by six small diamonds.  The jeweler explained that all the jewelry in his store was custom made; when we had walked in, he had been working on another piece.  The jeweler told us the price as I looked fondly at the ring on my finger; after probably visibly paling (it was in our price range, but I never imagined that IP would spend that much on an engagement ring), we thanked the jeweler and looked at other stores with no luck.  IP then told me that the rings we had seen so far were all great in his opinion, but that the ring in Gemfire had caught his eye, too, and that it had looked great on me.  After some debate (supporting a local jeweler versus a chain; having a unique design that was not mass produced; getting a ring where we got engaged as opposed to trolling Wheaton or Rockville), we decided to go back to Gemfire.  The jeweler measured my finger (a whopping 5-1/2, and apparently my finger was swollen at the time) and told us he could resize the ring within an hour.  We wandered off for a bit, then returned to pick up the ring.  After making sure he had resized it correctly, the jeweler gave IP the ring and took a picture of IP on bended knee, placing the ring on my finger.  “You said yes before, I hope the answer’s still the same,” he joked.  I held back tears and laughed, nodding my yes so I wouldn’t burst out crying.

We’re thinking about an August 2009 wedding in Ann Arbor (dead time in DC means friends from DC could attend); we spent some time on Friday night looking at venues and ended up getting to bed at midnight because of it.  We want a small wedding with less frills and tradition than we have typically observed at our friends’ weddings; we really just want a fun party in which people get to see us exchange vows at the beginning.  Good booze (paramount!), good food, good times.  We just have to dress up a bit, that’s all.

How to sum it all up, though?  I’m now engaged to the man I already consider to be my family.  I know that the planning will be alternatively exciting and stressful, but the best day will be the day after the wedding, knowing that I’m looking at my husband, knowing that I’ll continue to build a life with a magnificent man, knowing that we’ll make decisions for us, reminding ourselves that we’re a damn strong team.  Here’s to a marriage that’ll no doubt be ¡en fuego!