We went to my parents', in my hometown 2 1/2 hrs away, just before my birthday. Jeff didn't talk to my dad.
We went home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I asked Jeff if he wanted some space to talk to my dad. He told me he was waiting until Cancun when he could get a few drinks in my dad (who by the way, goes from Grizzly to Teddy after a Mexican Flag or two).
I convinced myself that I was waiting until the summer. Of course, Jeff knew that it wouldn't be that long. But I'm glad he threw me off the scent!
Jump forward, to the morning of January 4th. We arrive at the airport to discover there are no seats left together on the plane. Bummer! Our two options are an aisle seat and a middle seat behind it, or two aisle seats, me in front, and Jeff behind. We jump on the second option, recognizing that I could turn and talk to my sweetie much easier this way. I'm sure inside, Jeff was doing a 'thank goodness' dance of his own.
Cue plane ride.
We befriend a fellow in the seat across the aisle from Jeff. I forgot my gum and my ears suck on plane rides so he offers to share his (gum, not ears) - and so the plane relationship grows.
No in-flight movies really tickle my fancy. Instead, I read, with the flight tracker on the screen in front of me. As we start to cross the Gulf of Mexico, I get tired of reading, and plug in my iPod. I'm still a little fidgety though and music is not enough, so I start fiddling with an app I've had for a while - 24/7 Spanish Tutor (might as well spend the last hour brushing up on my phrases!). I remind Jeff one more time that if he goes to the washroom, can he bring me some tissue, as I am starting to develop a sinus cold.
I'm not sure how much time passes but as I'm working away on my Spanish, our friend with the gum walks past me, and turns. I realize he has a camera and seems to be taking a picture. I figure it's of the people in Jeff's row, just behind me, as they'd been speaking earlier - but he seems to also be smiling at me. I give him a creeped out look under my eyebrows.
Then, Jeff appears beside me. I believe his words were 'I have a gift for you'. 'Finally, my Kleenex', I think. But alas, he never did bring me a Kleenex.
Instead, Jeff kneels beside me in the aisle. I give him a death stare, because, although Jeff is incredibly shy and hates talking in front of people, and there are lots of people around us, I am convinced that he is, once again, mocking the fact that I'm waiting for a proposal. I don't hear what he's saying. Instead, I keep thinking 'Get out of the aisle before you piss off a stewardess'.
Then, I see the Tiffany's box.
"I love you, I've loved you for a long time". Embarassingly, I don't hear much else as I'm having a panic attack in the cup of my hands. I don't even remember if he actually asked me to marry him (which my sister will mock me about until we're 80, I am sure).
He opens the box. I kiss him, and shaking, put the ring on my finger.
And that's basically the story of our proposal. A few people clapped. Most were oblivious to what just happened on their flight though. And that's okay, because I realized very quickly that, just like Jeff, I wasn't a huge fan of all the attention anyway.
Once my tears stop, I poke my head around the seat and whisper 'I'm gonna kill you'. He smiles back at me and says 'I love you too. I'm glad that's over.'
Video Disclaimer: It is hard to hear over the jet engines and that whining noise that sounds like crying, it's just the engines too. I swear.
In November, after nearly 5 years together, Jeff and I went to try on rings. My favourite style ended up being what my mom classified as "Dainty". I reminded Jeff that if he was thinking of buying one, he would still have to go through...(cue ominous music)....my father.