Drum roll please ...

{Did anyone think this post would really come? I've been promising it for three months now, but with the wedding behind me, I actually have time (and clarity) to write it! The wedding was perfect, the honeymoon was wonderful and married life is awesome. I'll write about each of those things soon (it won't take me 3 months, I promise) but now it's time for ....}

The Proposal.

Scene 1: My office. 4:30pm, Friday afternoon. My boss had been hinting for several hours that we had had a long week and should head home early. She finally told us to just go home. Not one to challenge authority (...) I took a short bathroom break (for the 40 mile drive I had ahead of me) and headed back to my office. En route, I was paged by my boss to return to my office. There she stood, with the HR director, asking where my purse and phone were. She handed them to me, and as the HR lady turned off my computer, my office lights and ushered me outside, my boss told me it was time to leave. Knowing that this was a textbook firing scenario, I shifted into mediator mode and tried to figure out what was going on and what I had done wrong. When I didn't get the hint, the HR lady finally said, "There's an envelope on your car, okay? Just go!" I had an idea what that meant and with my boss and assistant trailing behind wishing me luck, I ran to my car and found an envelope under the windshield wiper that had 'Babe' written on it.

Exhibit A:





It's semi-common knowledge that the first thing Matt and I ever did together was call in sick to work and go to the Fort Worth Zoo. I was on my way.

Scene 2: The zoo. 5:00pm. I was a little confused at the clue (did I actually have to go inside the zoo?) so I called the Lost hotline. Unfortunately, the Lost hotline went to voicemail for an unnamed accomplice. I sent Matt a quick text message telling him I had a question, knowing full well I would be left to my own devices. I called the hotline again, and this time someone answered, clarifying my question. I walked up to the zoo's ticket booth that was marked with a sign reading 'Mandy' and a red rose. When I told the zoo employee behind the glass that I was Mandy, she gave me a blank stare and said, "ok." When I told her I had a password, I was met with the same response. When I finally told her the password was 'Deere', she cheerfully said, "OK!" and turned over a clipboard. I was asked three questions. First, where was I when I first decided to call in sick to work to go to the zoo? (Answer: Matt's balcony.) Second, who called in first the next morning? (Answer: me.) Third, who felt worse about it? (Answer: Matt.) Having successfully answered all questions, I was presented with a red rose and another envelope, this one with 'I' written on it. The zoo employees broke character for the first time and giddily asked me where I was headed next.

Exhibit B:



Scene 3: Deluxe Nail Salon. 5:30pm. I hesitantly walked up to the man standing behind the counter. Was I in the right place? Was I going to look crazy? Nothing I hadn't done before, right? I told the man that I had a password and he just looked at me and said, "ok." Sheesh. When I told him the password was 'puzzle' he escorted me back to a waiting manicurist for a french tip pedicure. Does Matt know me or what? What was the task I had to complete, you ask?

Exhibit C:



Upon finishing the puzzle (it took longer than usual, as I was a little distracted) the man at the salon presented me with another red rose and an envelope marked 'LOVE'.

Exhibit D:



After getting the fastest pedicure known to man (and verifying that Matt had, in fact, already paid for the pedicure!), I was on my way yet again.


Scene 4: AMC Theater, Sundance Square. 6:15pm. After driving around for parking I made my way into the lobby of the theater. As I entered, two women in the corner squealed, "She's here!" Perfect. Everyone knows how much I love being the center of attention. I carefully perused the movie posters on the wall and what to my wondering eyes did appear, but

Exhibit E:



After sheepishly telling the man standing there (the graphics guru from Matt's firm) that I was the lady in the picture, he had one question for me. Who is better looking, Brad Pitt or the guy on the poster? After answering correctly (it's Matt you guys! come on!) he handed me another red rose and another envelope, this time reading 'YOU'.

Exhibit F:



Scene 5: My car, in traffic. 6:45pm. I had a good 45-minute drive ahead of me. I normally call Matt while I commute, but I figured he wouldn't answer his phone that day. I called Lisa instead. I giddily explained everything that was going on to her and I giddily drove home while we giddily hypothesized about what would happen next. We were both already so impressed with the effort and coordination this whole thing took and I couldn't imagine what else he could do. I finally got to Matt's apartment, climbed the three flights of stairs to his apartment, only to find

Exhibit G:



I got back in my car and drove to the back of the complex to the sand volleyball courts. I jumped out of the car and walked back to where I could see Matt putting the finishing touches on the setup. There he was, with the rest of the two dozen red roses in the vase and a framed list of '101 Reasons & Counting Why I Love Mandy ...' He told me he loved me, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I said yes. Aww! {Matt also had a battery-powered radio with him and the plan was to dance under the trees, but we nixed that idea when the 103-degree reality set in and we realized we were both miserably hot.}

He had thought of everything. Each stop went off without a hitch. Matt will tell you he came up with this elaborate plan so I would have a great story to tell my friends. It also doesn't hurt that someone told him he just makes all other men look bad! I love my Matt and love my proposal story! I'm sorry it took so long to put up here, but I hope you all enjoyed it! Matt, if you feel like I left something out, just let me know and we'll add some editorial comments to set the record straight!