ENGAGED!!!

Eric and I are extremely happy to announce that we got engaged August 20th, 2008!
(I know, a little late to the posting...what did you expect from the world's worst bloggers?)





When it didn't happen on the sunset stones of Angkor Watt in Cambodia or on the romantic candle-lit sandbar of El Nido Palawan, (between awkward moments of silence following a friend's pronouncements that he needed a girlfriend and a ring to propose to there and then) I had put it out of my mind that it would happen this year .


Angkor Watt

So when Eric told me a week ago that his parents wanted to have dinner with my parents (and even added hesitation at the presumably awkward get together) I had no suspicions in my mind. It would be just another dinner before we headed back to Beantown.

Eric and I had been hanging out every day in Toronto since he had postponed returning to Boston for work to drive back with me (so amazingly sweet huh?) so again, I thought nothing of it when he said he would come over for a morning run and we'd go for lunch somewhere "following the theme of something I said on Friday". I searched through the fog that is my holey memory and couldn't remember what in the world I had said to inspire such mysterious romaniticsm, but I went along with it.

mystery location lunch

So after an intense workout (and a rewarding view of the TO skyline under clear blue skies), we went downtown for lunch. I must admit, I asked Eric if our mystery location lunch would be at Burrito Boyz or perhaps we'd have cheap Asian food? But in the end, it was a return to 5 Senses, the restaurant where Eric and I celebrated our 6 month dating anniversary, and a place we've revisited since for special occasions.

Following a delicious and relaxed lunch, his plan for us was to go walk around U of T campus. It's been a while, and there's always something to see there so I was happy he suggested it - but before we got there, I sidetracked us to visit my old friends at Canada World Youth.


I told Eric that my Tabish had left, so the visit would be 15 minutes max (which would have been impossible because Diane and I always talk for much longer anyway). He agreed, and to our amazement, the first person I saw (and who excitedly screamed my name) was Tabish. We chatted for an HOUR, and when we came out, were not surprised to find a parking ticket - only it was written for the wrong license. God was certainly looking out for us that day :)

Diane, Tabish and I at CWY

Well past planned time, we arrived at U of T and Eric began casually walking us up to Innis where we first started seeing each other. We laughed about all the crazy time s we had there and revisited the good memories we held there. On our way around campus, we bumped into Michel, who we hadn't seen in years. We stayed a while to chat again. For me, it was such a wonderful reminder of what home meant to us. This was Toronto for us: a place where we felt connected, where we had good friends who shared in our lives.

As 6 p.m. was quickly approaching and we had dinner plans uptown at 7, Eric began to rush us to have our picnic dessert. I must admit that this was very suspicious and I began to wonder, not for the first time that day, whether he had a pressing question to ask. He shuttled us up Philosopher's Walk and began to pick a spot for us to picnic. Up on a shady hill between the university and the museums, he laid out a gingham tablecloth and we both sat. He asked me to pull out dessert. On a cupcake tray - 6 pictures from the beginning of our relationship until our most recent trip together. Underneath the pictures were 6 perfect cupcakes, and written on the pink buttercream frosting, "Will you marry me?"

Without hesitation, I said Yes! and in a moment of grand insecurity, asked eric "really?!" It seemed like there was no response for a minute. He began to explain the pictures and then, coming back to the moment, got up on a knee and took a ringbox out of his pocket. He spoke from his heart and brought tears to my eyes, and asked if he could put the beautiful ring he had in the box on my finger.

From there, we toasted our engagement over kir royales in champagne glasses I had bought for him when he got his first job on graduating! He had kept them all this time. We packed up and talked excitedly all the way to dinner where not only our parents met with us, but our extended families as well! His grandma, my grandpa, aunts and uncles, my brother and sister-in law too. It was the best way to celebrate our news!