One Step Closer

I meant to blog about this happy occasion instead of trumpeting it around Facebook, but since I didn't have it with me shortly after arriving back in Malaysia until today, I didn't feel like I should until it was back safely with me.

So folks...

Yours truly has gotten engaged!!

You guys (you know who you are) can stop pestering me to tell you how it happened. It happened on Christmas Day when Phil and I were in Venice. It was my first time there and he has been waiting until I finally visited Venice to ride the ridiculously priced gondola.

No, no, no.

Contrary to what you thought, we did not get engaged on the gondola...and singing gondoliers are a myth anyway. After the gondola ride, we walked around a little bit until we got to a place called the Rialto market which happened to be closed that day. We walked to a quiet, deserted part to an arched walkway overlooking the river where we could see gondolas rowing by. 

We stopped at the edge to enjoy the scenery. Then, he turned to face me and took out a small, gift-wrapped box. He said, "here's your second Christmas present". I gleefully unwrapped it, revealing a brown and obvious jewelry box. I had a smile plastered on my face as I looked at him. 

I was afraid and a little hesitant to open the box. I had my hopes up. Really, very high up. I wanted it to be what I thought it was. But at the same time, I was worried that I might open the box only to find a pair of earrings or something absolutely the opposite of what I hoped it would be. Silly, right?

Anyway, I did open it. The ring was beautiful, exactly what I would have wanted. My actions were swiftly followed by his words "I know we don't have a date yet but I was wondering if you would marry me...".

My heart leaped out of its cavity completely!

I hugged him and half-whispered,

"Yes!"

He put the ring on my finger and we kissed...

on a date which would forever hold significance more than just Christmas and in the one place I would never forget.

Next month, on February 20th, will mark our four years together.

I really can not wait for the future.