How it all began…
The words I would use to describe our engagement story are “perfectly imperfect”. For me, the one on the receiving end of the proposal, it was perfect. For Matt, the one who had worked so hard to plan it perfectly, not so much. Since I’m the one doing the writing, I believe it is a story too beautiful not to tell. So here goes…
Matt and I had been dating on and off for years, but in July of 2000, we decided it was all or nothing. This story takes place in October of my senior year at Kentucky Christian University (Kentucky Christian College at the time). On October 24th, to be exact, I received a package in the mail at school. For those of you who have never lived on a college campus, mail is a big deal. Packages are even better, but packages from your boyfriend are the best. This package was different. It was in a manila envelope and had no return address. However, I recognized the handwriting. When I opened it, I pulled out a piece of parchment paper on which was written a letter in that same undeniable handwriting. It described for me a prize I had allegedly won - A Lifetime Adventure Walk. On the bottom of this invitation was a key. I was to bring this key to the Grayson Lake Nature Trail that evening to begin this adventure. Of course, I accomplished nothing else that day. I was so anxious and excited. We had talked about engagement over the previous months, so I had a pretty good idea what this was all about.
As I prepared to leave campus, I was intentionally running late. Matt had a tendency to be late, so I wanted to make him wait…. but just a few minutes. As I arrived at my destination, heart pounding, I drove to the end of the parking lot. There were no other vehicles there. I began to get frustrated because I thought he was late again. (He’s late for our engagement! What in the world?!) I waited and waited…. and I was getting angry. I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt and walk to the head of the nature trail to see if there was any sign of him. As I approached, I noticed something hanging on a branch. Ok, now there was evidence that he was there somewhere or had at least been there. As I looked down the trail there were signs hanging in the trees as far as I could see. On each of these signs was a picture of me throughout the years and a note written about each one. I walked down the trail reading each one as I went. When I got to the end, there was a huge tree with a little wooden box at the base. On the box was a lock. Still, there was no sign of anyone. I was all alone. I bent over and unlocked the box with the key I had been given and inside was a ring box. I stood and opened the ring box to find…nothing. It was empty. At that moment, I heard something and turned around to see Matt walking down the trail behind me, out of breath. He asked how long I had been there and if I was looking for something. He then proceeded to get on one knee, pull the ring out of his pocket and ask me to marry him. With no hesitation, I of course, said “YES!”
Now, remember, that’s my version of the story and it seemed perfect. His version is a little different. For many years, he would get frustrated when I would tell the story, but he is beginning to accept my version as the one that matters. Again, I was the recipient and it seemed flawless... until he explained to me how things really went down.
Matt had every detail planned meticulously. That alone says something about him and how important this moment was for him as well. He had spent hours at my parents’ house (without my knowledge) going through old pictures and picking out the perfect ones. He had prepared each sign and handwritten the notes to go with the pictures. He had come to the trail early, after teaching all day, to make sure everything was perfect. This was something that mattered to him, which made it even more meaningful for me.
The first mishap was that I had driven past the sign he had posted in the parking lot. On this sign were my instructions for the Lifetime Adventure Walk. Had I slowed down, I would have seen the sign and knew exactly what to do instead of waiting in the parking lot getting angry because I thought he was late. Because I missed the sign, I didn’t start down the trail at the time he had planned. Therefore, when I didn’t arrive at the tree with the key at a certain time, lots of things started going through his mind… what has happened to her? Why isn’t she here? Did she even get the letter in the mail? (Could you imagine if I had not gotten the invitation?! If he had prepared all of this and was there waiting for me and I had no idea?!?)
You see, there was a service road that went along a cliff above the trail. He was at the end - on the cliff above the tree - with a video camera focused in on where I would open the box. His intention was to capture the moment on video. He was on the ground beside the camera covered in leaves so I wouldn’t see him. When I didn’t arrive on time, he got up and ran back down the service road to the parking lot, only to see my truck parked there… empty. He panicked and ran back up the service road and down to the tree…. just as I opened the box. Just as I said in the beginning, from my perspective it was perfect. I had no idea what was happening behind the scenes.
Even though the video camera wasn’t on as it was supposed to be, it was still beautiful and we still got engaged. At the time, I was glad it wasn’t videoed - I’m much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. However, looking back now, I wish we had captured it, if not for us, to share with our kids and grandkids. The only problem would be that it would be on VHS tape and we would probably stick it in a box with our wedding VHS and throw it in storage. #reallife Thankfully, I haven’t forgotten any of the details. I do, however, want to find those signs he made for me. I’m hoping they are in storage in my parents’ basement. As soon as I find them, I’ll share, I promise.
As Matt read through this post, he had a smile on his face and even laughed a couple of times. I think he’s warming up to the fact that, 20 years later, life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.