The Story of Us

Chandler and I met the fall of 2005.  I was a sophomore at DFHS, and Chandler was a senior at BCHS.  We met at a LHS football game (although neither of our schools were playing them...don't ask).  We broke up right before Chandler started his freshman year of college and muddled through that fall with our separate group of friends, but we both could not shake a feeling that something was amiss.  After that breakup, we decided that a choice needed to be made - either we leave one another alone for good and move on with our lives, or we get back together with the intention of never parting again.  ...We chose the latter.   We leaned on one another for support when Chandler's father passed away January of 2008 after a long battle with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) Syndrome.  We survived countless family vacations, midterms and end of term exams, roommates, and even being stranded with a boat on the side of the highway (see image below).  So naturally, the talk turned to marriage near the end of Chandler's college career in 2009, and then came the question we (my mother and I) had all been waiting for...   No, there were no surprise photographers to capture the moment... No, there is no video of the moment he got down on one knee... BUT, I refuse to let that momentous day NOT go down in history (and Chandler can never refuse the opportunity to bring it up to show my stubborn nature)...   So proudly I give you...Our Engagement Story...(the short and sweet version)   For those of you who need more detail...

Chandler came by to pick me up for our usual Friday night "date night."  When he asked me what I wanted to do, I simply said, "Bellacino's and a movie, please."  (I clearly remember that, because to this day I cannot tell this story without suddenly wanting a Bellacino's grinder...)  But alas, my dear beau did not feel like a "typical" date night.

Chandler countered my offer with, "How about we go on the lake and do dinner at The Quarterdeck?" (*Quarterdeck = our favorite hang out on the lake which usually has live music.)  It was a late July evening, and it had been THUNDER STORMING all afternoon mind you... So naturally I replied, "Uh no...so Bellacino's and a movie?"  Chandler just laughed and went to change into his bathing suit, urging me to "hurry" so we could get there and back before dark.

Grumbling and throwing my towel and phone into my bag, I got ready and grumbled my way into the truck.  When we stopped to fill the boat with gas, I called my mother (which I am notorious for doing when I'm frustrated).  She scolded me and told me to be grateful that I had a boyfriend who wanted to spend an evening alone with me on the lake.  As we crossed the dam, however, the waves were churning up their own storm across the lake and I couldn't help but give Chandler my best "Are you absolutely kidding me right now?" look.  Chandler just smiled and said, "Looks like we'll have the lake to ourselves tonight!" And I replied by rolling my eyes sky high and breathing a frustrated sigh.

Sure enough, it was a rocky boat ride to The Quarterdeck.  The Black Eyed Peas' "I Got a Feelin'" played on the radio as we crossed the vast lake to our dinner destination, and I couldn't seem to shake the butterflies that had suddenly taken up residence in my stomach.  "Odd," I thought.  "I haven't felt like this since high school."  When we reached The Quarterdeck it was completely abandoned aside from the staff, so we were able to enjoy dinner all by our lonesome.

When we started to head back, Chandler asked, "Why don't we go see the Purple Martins?" And as we were rocked by the waves yet again, I didn't even need to reply.  He quickly said, "Never mind" and continued to drive back towards the dam.  As we made our way to the two islands that signify the half-way point on our trek, Chandler slowed the boat and pulled between them, the sun peeking through the purple and orange clouds, sinking slowly on the horizon.  He said, "I thought we could enjoy the sunset for a moment, and I need to check something in the back of the boat anyway..."

So as I gazed out past the front of the boat, taking in the now beautiful evening sky, Chandler tinkered with things in the back of the boat.  Brad Paisley's "Then" came on the radio, and when Chandler called my name and I turned around, he was down on one knee with the ring box in his hand...